I often use the Merlin app to identify bird calls when out on my early morning dog walk. I do have all the latest bird song and bird call libraries for the UK and for Western Europe loaded in the app. This morning I disturbed a large heron that took off in front of me, squawking, and the app recorded it as a Purple Heron. Apparently there are only approx 20 sightings of this bird per year in the UK. I live in Somerset. Has anyone seen this bird?
There are a small number of Purple Herons in the UK at the moment, but as the calls of both Grey and Purple Herons are similar I suggest the commoner, former option is the most likely one.
Possibly. I also recorded a grey heron on the same walk. So both birds recorded within a single Merlin app recording session. Obviously I have saved the recording.
Check out the weekly reports on Rare Bird Alert. Says a dozen PH are in country currently. Somerset is as good a place as any to find them.
I am a casual monitor of the birds I encounter on my dog walks. Where do I find the Rate Bird Alert? …I do live in an area that is exceptionally good for bird species. Over the past five years of using the Merlin app, I have now recorded what I find to be quite shocking list of 90 different birds recorded.
Mixed views of Merlin. Clearly, a really handy tool, and I probably ought to try it out. The biggest flaw with it is 'human error' where interpretation often appears to be, "Merlin tells me its, for example, a spotless starling, so it must have been". That and not setting the continent to the one it's being used in.
However, in this case, I am fairly confident Merlin is right. Ham Wall and around the Levels (assuming it's that part of Somerset rather than Yeovil town centre!), and it being May, support it.
I have four libraries loaded and up to date versions of each. Europe. Europe, Britain & Ireland. Europe Western. Plus Western Palearctic. …as an aside, I have just been emailed by Cornel Labs (which make Merlin that they have a number of new smaller - file size - libraries that can also be added to help with offline usage. I find it fascinating and very useful.i live near to Great Elm (near Mells) which is akin to a mini rainforest of tracks, trails disused Victorian quarries and waterways. The bird life is unusually broad.
I think you have been lucky - if you let your CR know what you've recorded and your impressions and where they may be able to confirm your probability. We had one here in Jersey last week - luckily a decent photographer was in the right place at the right time - Due to weather conditions in the rest of Europe we may be in for some very interesting sightings this year - It seems to be forcing the more mobile species to do some exploring/prospecting
Cin J
CR?
County Recorder. See https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdtrack/bird-recording/county-bird-recorders.
Rare Bird Alert is a paid for service, but has (free) weekly reports. See www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/.../Articles.asp.