ATLANTIC YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS

An immature ATLANTIC YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Thalassarche chlororhynchos crash-landed on Brean beach (Somerset) on Friday 29th June 2007. It was discovered by two passing dog-walkers and taken into care. It was forwarded on to Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Burnham-on-Sea, and recouperated overnight

The bird was given a clear bill of health the next day and taken to Brean Down for release, where it flew strongly out to sea just after 4.00pm on Saturday 30th.

This represents the first record of this species in Britain and Ireland and remarkably followed the occurrence of a further bird in Norway the same day, northwest of Grip, More og Romsdal, Kristainsund (2nd record for Norway). Furthermore, an adult was found emaciated in the North Atlantic on 28th April 2007, in a cow pasture in Cape Neddick, Maine, New England (USA). It was taken into care and successfully released at Farmouth on 20th May, after being fitted with a satellite transmitter. Consequently, it was found dead at Banstable Harbour, Massachusetts, on 20th June (per Arnoud van den Berg).

It is most disappointing that the Rescue Centre did not realise the enormity of the bird in their midst and missed out on an ideal opportunity to raise an awful lot of money at the Somerset bird’s subsequent release. As it was, no birders witnessed this unique event. An excellent trail of video footage was obtained by the centre of the bird’s release and this can be viewed at HERE

Full documented report uploaded in the members area July 3rd 2007