Rare bird sightings recorded in Isle of Man and Shetland

Rare bird sightings have been recorded in two distinct locations within the British Isles. In the Isle of Man, birdwatcher Brian Liggins spotted an Eleonora’s falcon at Glascoe dub. This species, which breeds in the Mediterranean and winters in Madagascar, is an extremely rare visitor to Britain and Ireland. If confirmed by the Manx Bird Records Committee, it will mark the first official sighting of the species on the island.

In Shetland, Scotland, ornithologist Roger Riddington recorded the first sighting of an Egyptian nightjar in the region. This marks only the third sighting of the species in the UK, and the first official record in over 140 years. The bird, typically found in North Africa and the Middle East, is believed to have been displaced by warming climates in southern Europe. The sighting has drawn birdwatchers from across the country to the isles.