Little Auk Sighting in Leicestershire Marks First Since 2007

A seabird has been observed in Leicestershire, marking its initial appearance in the county since 2007. Specifically, a little auk was photographed at Leicester Cathedral on Monday; however, it was being transported in the beak of one of the city’s resident peregrine falcons. The RSPB indicates that small populations of little auks typically frequent waters surrounding the UK during the winter season. The Leicester and Rutland Ornithological Society (LROS) characterized the bird as a “rare vagrant to the county,” noting that the most recent prior sightings were documented in 2007 and 1997. LROS further reported that a second little auk was seen “flying around” at Rutland Water, a nearby location, on Tuesday. For further updates, follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.