Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea

Local status: Very rare vagrant

This species is mostly recorded in the UK as a spring overshoot between April and June. It is surprising therefore that the first accepted record in the York area was of a bird seen in flight at Bishopthorpe Ings in early January. The second individual was more typical, a subadult seen on the Pool at Wheldrake Ings in late June. Another bird seen several years earlier at Wheldrake Ings, was also recorded in early January and found dead weeks later. In spite of this evidence, the record was rejected by BBRC.

Records:
1997: Wheldrake Ings, 24th June. Sub-adult.
1988: Bishopthorpe Ings, 9th January. Juvenile.