HOOPOE INFLUX

The Hoopoe influx began in mid-March, with as many as 80 birds reported between the 17th and 23rd of March. During the final week of March, more birds were found, with at least 31 in Cornwall and  27 in Ireland.

Hoopoe reports 17th-to 31st March

From Monday, March 31, 2025, strong winds began blowing from the east, gradually shifting to the southeast. By April 2, at least 25 Hoopoes had been found in County Cork by lunchtime. By the end of the first week of April 2025, the number of recorded Hoopoes had skyrocketed. Fresh arrivals were reported at no fewer than 130 sites, extending as far north as Caithness and the Outer Hebrides, while numbers in Cornwall and southern Ireland continued to rise. Notably, one Hoopoe even landed on the Scillonian III boat, which was travelling between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 

After all the recent sightings, it was finally my turn to try to see one. Fortunately, while driving down to Birmingham, news came through that a Hoopoe had been found in some horse paddocks near Halesowen Riding School. I soon arrived at the location and saw the bird.

Always nice to see, and apparently the first twitchable bird since 2010 in the West Midlands