Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

[attachment=558]Hi
This is my first post so I hope I get it right, including the attatchment.
I saw this bird in France a few days ago. Royan, on the west coast.
It was in a pine wooded area and sandy ground. It was the size of a thrush, brown head with a crest like a lapwing. A long thick beak maybe 2 inches. It had white bars on it's wings as it flew away and has a large white V on it's tail. It was pecking around on the ground as if looking for food. It was very shy and I was lucky to this picture.
So, if anyone knows what it might be I would be happy to find out.
Regards

It is a little difficult from the back but I think it might be a Hoopoe. I saw a couple of them for the first time in Lanzarote this year.

Yep - that's a Hoopoe

Thank you for identifying my mystery bird.
I have checked pictures of the Hoopoe and it is the bird I saw.
First sighting for one of these.
Regards

Yes it is definitely a Hoopoo - lovely bird isn't it - I've seen them on holiday too.

There has been a few sightings in the UK - the Scilly Isles and somewhere else in the south but I can't remember where off the top of my head

In the late 1960s, I was living in a flat in Rustington, West Sussex. I came home one lunch time and there was this bird on the drive. I described it to one of my colleagues who was a birder and he confirmed it was a hoopoe. I've also seen them in Egypt.

Pretty much annual now in the UK, mainly in the south as a Spring overshoot. Very common on the continent. Stunning birds wherever they are!