Key facts
- A western reef heron, a tropical bird usually found between West Africa and India, has been sighted in North Wales.
- This marks the first confirmed sighting of the species in the UK.
- The bird was observed feeding in Caernarfon harbour.
- Experts suggest that milder winters due to climate change are allowing such species to survive and expand their ranges northward.
- Another tropical bird, a squacco heron, has been sighted in Lincolnshire.
A western reef heron, a species typically found in regions spanning West Africa to India, has been sighted in North Wales, marking what is believed to be the first occurrence of this bird in the UK. The heron was initially spotted in Foryd Bay before moving to Caernarfon harbour, where it was observed feeding.
Birdwatchers have expressed excitement over the sighting, while experts from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Manchester Metropolitan University suggest that changing climate conditions, particularly milder winters, are facilitating the northward shift of such species' ranges. Nick Moran, training manager at the BTO, noted that the reduced frequency of frozen water bodies makes survival easier for these birds, which typically feed in shallow waters.
This sighting follows other notable occurrences of formerly tropical species in the UK, including a squacco heron in Lincolnshire, a black-winged kite, a brown booby, and a white-rumped swift. Alexander Lees, a reader in biodiversity, highlighted that species like the zitting cisticola, a Mediterranean warbler, have also begun breeding in the UK due to the absence of prolonged harsh winters.
The western reef heron, distinguished by its blue-grey plumage, is similar in size to the little egret but visually distinct. While it is impossible to confirm the bird's exact origin without tracking, experts believe it likely arrived from Europe rather than directly from Africa. Moran anticipates more sightings of the western reef heron in the UK, though not necessarily in large numbers.