Green Heron at Heligan on day 21

After 21 days of non stop crowd-pulling, this stunning little nearctic heron continues to please.  Today I paid my second visit in perfect weather and light.  It performed well on the lower pond, exactly where it was first found by Bob Mitchell.  No more than half a dozen birders saw it today though being half term, hordes of yelling kids ran past though it barely flinched. 

Green Heron at Heligan Gardens, Cornwall

The discovery of this Green Heron puts the cream on the cake of what has been a vintage year in Cornwall (so far).  Congratulations to Bob Mitchell on the find and certainly a bird that everyone would like on their PFL.

The first record in Britain and Europe was back on 27th October, 1889, when  one was shot at Hay Bottom, Pentewan, remarkably just a couple miles away from Heligan!  In the UK there are six accepted records and one from Ireland.