Bird Island Diary — October 2000 (vagrants)

31 October, 2000 Bird Island

Bird Island vagrants

Bird Island Diary

Keith Reid (BAS, Cambridge) adds the following on the Bird Island October-vagrants.

Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix): This drake was recorded in Freshwater Bay, Bird Island at the beginning of October and stayed for over two weeks. There have been six previous records on South Georgia the last in 1985 on Bird Island. This species is common throughout South America and has been recorded on the South Shetlands and South Orkney Islands.

Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica): This rather tired individual even flew into the generator shed for a little warmth after it arrived on Bird Island in the middle of October. This bird had probably migrated from North America to it’s wintering area in South America when it got blown off course. All of the previous records from South Georgia are at the same time of year.