Had a call from a chap called Dave Wood from East Sussex about a funny bird he had had in his garden which he described as looking like a Magpie but with red instead of white in the plumage.... I could not work out what it could be so he sent me a picture......
... and it is exactly what he said it was....
Now, I only really have one theory on this bird and that is based on the fact that it appears to bear a small silver ring...
I suspect that it is an escape and has been fed pigmented food in the same way that Flamingos are to be kept pink thus causing the white parts of the plumage to turn red. It has obviously not been spray painted as part of a tracking survey (like happens with some gulls on landfill sits) as even the white in the wings is red (if you look closely!)
Anyway, an amazing bird and if anyone has any more theories please let me know!
7-7-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer