Peterborough Bird Club annual report Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax | A* | Vagrant 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Escape but genuine vagrants are possible. The sole record of 2003 was of a single bird on the Nene Washes at Eldernell on 21 Jul (SPD, KAF).
2002	Escape but genuine vagrants are possible. Careful assessment (SPD) of recent years’ records has shown that there have been (and could still be) at least three escaped Night Herons in the PBC area – two colour-ringed birds (one with red ring on right leg, and another with a yellowish ring on right leg) and an unringed bird. One of the colour-ringed birds and the unringed bird originate from the Peakirk collection. All are adults. This year, the first sighting was of a bird flying off the Nene Washes and disappearing into Bassenhally Pits on 27 May at dusk (SPD). A bird was seen at Peakirk on 16 Jun (BEA). An adult was seen at Bainton GP 7 Aug (JHe) and again on 8 Sep (BT) and from the same date at Lolham Fisheries to 19 Sep (BT, BHS, SPD) - pictured. The last sighting of the year was one at Peakirk on 28 Dec (BEA). Image © Steve Dudley. Click for more. Status of Night Heron in the Peterborough area Steve Dudley writes: "I first found this bird (pictured above) on 25 May 2001 when it flew over me on the Nene Washes RSPB reserve late in the evening. A week or so later, it was located by RSPB research staff on the reserve when it was seen to be colour-ringed - a certain escape. "On evening of 27 May 2002, I saw what was almost certainly the same bird flying over the RSPB reserve and dropping down into Bassenhally Pits. Then, in September 2002, Bob Titman relocated what was thought to be the same bird at Lolham, well to the north-west of the washes."
2001	Escape but genuine vagrants possible. A bird flushed from a dyke on the Nene Washes RSPB reserve late in the evening of 25 May (SPD) (see above) was later found by staff on the reserve from 8-17 Jun when it was seen to be colour-ringed. Whilst a wild colour–ringed bird from mainland Europe is quite possible, it was later traced to a collection from Greater Manchester. This is probably the same bird reported from the Welland valley in 1999. There is an accepted record from Stibbington GP in the 1960s and an unringed bird is now keenly awaited.
2000	No records.
1999	Feral. An adult at Maxey GP in May was probably the same suspected escapee as at Bainton GP (where it was seen to be colour-ringed) on 12 Dec (PB). If so, this shows how easy it is the overlook such species - where was it during the intervening seven months?
1998	No records.
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