A rare visitor to the UK from southern Europe. There have been a handful of Norfolk records but first few photos below show an individual photographed in Devon. It was discovered in a very atypical environment, an urban park, and quickly acquired a reputation for performing exceptionally well to birders, photographers and the general public.
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Squacco Heron, Granelli (Sicily, Italy), 28th April 2012
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Squacco Heron, Portopal di Capo Passero (Sicily, Italy), 1st May 2012 - a flock of 8 on the beach until flushed by a fisherman - presumably migrants
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Squacco Heron, Ebro Delta (Cataluña, Spain), 20th May 2013
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Squacco Heron, Granelli (Sicily, Italy), 1st May 2012
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Squacco Heron, Ebro Delta (Cataluña, Spain), 21st May 2013
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Squacco Heron, East Khawr (Dhofar, Oman), 11th November 2017 (I'm not sure if the bird photographed in flight was the same bird as the one photographed on the ground or not)
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Squacco Heron, Khawr Rawri (Dhofar, Oman), 9th November 2017
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Squacco Heron, Granelli (Sicily, Italy), 28th April 2012
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Squacco Herons, Camargue (Bouche-du-Rhone, France), 12th September 2002
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Squacco Heron, Birecik (Turkey), 14th May 2010 |
In Africa I found them very approachable (though being in a boat helps). Although the Palaearctic race ralloides winters in Africa these birds were probably the extremely similar locally-breeding form paludivaga.
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Squacco Herons (race paludivaga), Lake Chilwa (Malawi), 15th May 2011
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Squacco Herons (race paludivaga), Liwonde National Park (Malawi), 24th-25th September 2008
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Squacco Herons (race paludivaga), Liwonde (Malawi), 26th May 2011
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Squacco Herons (race paludivaga), Lake Chilwa (Malawi), 26th September 2008
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Squacco Heron (race paludivaga), Mpatsanjoka, Senga Bay (Malawi), 9th October 2008
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