The Yellow-crowned Night Heron, first confirmed at Belcarra, Co. Mayo on 26/5/2024, has got to be one of the most spectacular firsts for the Irish list. It is believed to have been in the area for a number weeks prior to confirmation of its identification. It has proved to be a most reliable and confiding bird.
The bird appears to be well acclimatised to its new surroundings and has been seen catching and eating crayfish in the Manulla River regularly. It would appear to be a third calendar year bird based on the presence of a few immature wing coverts.
Previous records of this species on this side of the Atlantic have been largely confined to the Azores so its very much a new species in north west Europe. It's largely a migratory species in America, breeding in along the east coast as far north as New England and south to Florida and west to Texas. It's wintering range extends from South Carolina down to tropical America. There has been much speculation about its arrival in this part of the world. It may well have arrived in Europe in mid September 2023 as part of the unprecedented of influx of American vagrants driven by Hurricane Lee.
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