Other events in Baltic States

For the first time ever, a squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) was observed in the wild in Latvia yesterday, Kitija Balcare, communication consultant at the Latvian Ornithological Society, told LETA.

The bird was observed by bird-watcher Andris Erts by the Daugava River near Daugavpils (southeastern Latvia).

The squacco, or yellow heron, nests in southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The closest nesting sites to Latvia are in Ukraine, but the species has also been observed in Finland. The bird belongs to the heron family, which also includes species nesting in Latvia - fish heron, great white heron, great bustard and little bustard.

The last time a new bird species was observed in Latvia was just this past April, when a greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) was observed in the wild.