AN extremely rare bird which is largely extinct in Wales and Ireland has been spotted on more than 30 different occasions on a Scottish island.
Brian Timms, an ornithologist and a world-leading specialist on avian flu, spotted the rare creature in a recent visit to North Uist, in the Outer Hebrides.
The 86-year-old bird expert told Hebridean Hosteller that he spotted 37 different corn buntings while trekking around the island in April.
The species has a "red" conservation status, with the remarkable discovery described as "something of a revelation" by the hostel newsletter.
The corn bunting is notoriously difficult to spot, according to the RSPB.
Nicknamed the "fat bird of the barley", the brown, streaky bird is often described as dumpy, due to its stocky build and its short tail.
They have a wingspan of up to 32cm and weigh around 35g, and they dangle their legs during flight.
Corn buntings are one of 60 species of bird to be placed on the UK Red List, which assesses the extinction risk of bird species across the UK.
The species declined by 83% between 1967 and 2022, with a particularly steep decline between the mid 1970s and 1980s.
It continued to decline at a reduced rate until around 2000, since when numbers have remained relatively stable.
There have recently been signs of recovery in some areas, particularly in Scotland, where the number of singing males in Fife increased from 102 in 2014 to 426 in 2024.
The corn bunting is largely absent from Wales and Northern Ireland, but can be found in areas associated with arable farmland in the north east and Fife, along with the south west and eastern areas of England.
They are usually seen perched on a wire or post.
