Hoopoe
Upupa epops
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This is a spectacular and sporadic breeder in Britain with about 20 attempts in the last 200 years — mostly in fine summers when spring migrants have overshot. The best, recent, year was 1977 when four pairs were proved but, since then, a Welsh pair in 1996 is the only proved record. A pair in Greater Manchester in 1997 may have bred. Pairs have summered in Ireland (latest 1982 Kilkenny) but they have never been proved to breed.
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead