Call me Mr Cynical but I think you have a case of mistaken identity. I'm damn sure that a bird of this rarity would have been spotted. It's not likely to be a migrant, shoebill's aren't migratory as far as I'm aware and I'm fairly certain that the UK doesn't have any privately held individuals.
I am aware of what it is now and where it is from and i tell u it was a shoebill
It was also spotted at my sons school field the next day i dont know how it came to be there and if u choose not to believe it that is your perogative.i am not a bird watcher but my interest in them has increased since this sighting and am eager to know if anyone else has spotted this rare bird as i have.
Yes hun it was a shoebill i thought i was a stork just an ordinary one but it was grey and was much bigger and its beak looked old and pitted.the only reason i joined zoo chat was i wanted to kno if anyone else had seen one. I have a lot of hobbies and interests but researching strange birds was definitely not one of them.but seeing this has Got my attention and will never forget it. All i can assume it was a private collector that had this bird.
