American Coot
Fulica americana Gmelin, JF, 1789 (0, 9)
Photo © Phil Woollen - Loch Flemington, Highland, 4 January 2014
STATUS
Nearctic. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Arrival time is November then wintering through to late April, mainly Scotland with the first two individuals appearing in England.
RECORDS
1). 1996 Kent Stodmarsh, possibly first-summer, 16th to 29th or 30th April, photo.
(C. Hindle, Birding World 9 (4): 137-140, photos; Birding World 9 (12): 467, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 90: 467, plates 157-158; C. Hindle, Kent Bird Report 1996: 120, plates 1 & 2; BOURC (1998), Ibis 140: 182; C. Hindle, British Birds 97: 444-447, plates 281-284; Kent Bird Report 2001: plate 10).
2). 1999 Cumbria South Walney, first-summer, 17th April, photo.
(Birding World 12 (4): 141, photo; N. Littlewood, Birding World 12 (4): 151, photo; Birding World 12 (12): 490, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 611, plate 161; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 528, plate 314).
3.0). 2003 Shetland Loch of Clickimin, Mainland, first-winter, 30th November to 5th April 2004, photo.
(Birding World 16 (11): 447, photo; S. E. Duffield, Birding World 16 (12): 496-497, plates 1 & 2; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 575, plates 27 & 336; R. Riddington, Birding Scotland 7 (1): 16-18, plates 7-11; S. E. Duffield, Shetland Bird Report 2003: 105-106, photo; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).
4). 2004 Outer Hebrides West Loch Ollay, South Uist, 25th January to 7th April.
(Birding World 17 (4): 143, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 647; A. Stevenson, Birding Scotland 7 (2): 64-65, plate 68).
5). 2004 Dumfries & Galloway Castle Loch, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, 10th to 17th February.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 647).
3.1). 2004 Shetland Loch of Benston, Mainland, 13th November to 28th March 2005, photo; presumed returning individual.
(Birding World 17 (11): 447, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 647; Shetland Bird Report 2004: photo).
6). 2005 Outer Hebrides Coot Loch, Benbecula, 25th February to 6th April, photo.
(Birding World 18 (4): 142, photo; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 709).
3.2). 2005 Shetland Loch of Benston, Mainland, 24th September to 1st October; presumed returning individual.
(Birding World 18 (1): 8, photo; Birding World 18 (9): 357, photo; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 35; Shetland Bird Report 2005: photo).
7.0). 2014 Highland Loch Flemington, Inverness-shire, first-winter, 4th January to 14th April, photo; also in Moray & Nairn.
(British Birds 107: plate 61; S. J. Eaves, Scottish Birds 34: 178-181, plates 179-185; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 581, plate 330).
7.1). 2014 Highland Loch Flemington, Inverness-shire, first-winter, 18th March to 18th April; presumed returning individual.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 581).
8). 2014 Outer Hebrides Loch nam Feithean, Balranald RSPB, North Uist, 1CY, 16th November to 3rd April 2015, photo.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 581; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 109: 583).
9). 2016 Outer Hebrides Loch nam Feithean, North Uist, 1CY, 11th November to 17th April 2017, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 574; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 568).
