Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)

STATUS AT LONGHAM LAKES

Very rare vagrant, with, remarkably 2 spring records.

Ortolan (Kevin Lane)

Ortolan Bunting, Longham Lakes, 18th April 2011 (Kevin Lane)

1. 1 male was discovered on the causeway between the two lakes at 07.15 on 17th April 2011 (Trevor Thorpe and Robin Trundle). The bird drew an appreciative crowd and was last seen on the evening of the 18th.

Ortolan Bunting (Joseph Baldwin)

Ortolan Bunting, Longham Lakes, 17th April 2011 (Joseph Baldwin)

2.Remarkably, another male turned up mid-morning on 8th May 2013 (Dominic Couzens), seen first on the western perimeter of LR South, and then along the Causeway in the afternoon (Chris Parnell).