I found this photo, which I had forgotten all about, when I was clearing out an old cupboard. I can't remember exactly when it was taken, other than that it was in spring, probably in the early 1990s.
It was taken at Harperley Hall in Co. Durham, which at that time was a training centre for police horses. These birds love to forage for insects in dung heaps, so the sweepings from the stables would have been a magnet for a passing hoopoe.
I was tipped off that it had been spotted by residents but at that time didn't have any decent photographic equipment and the camera that I had was loaded with colour print film. When I arrived it was sunbathing in the middle of the track, unperturbed by the approach of a car - but as soon as I stopped and got out it was off.
Sadly there are no police horses at Harperley any more, but I hope that one day another of these exotic birds will drop in locally, wafted along with the swallows by warm spring southerlies. Maybe this spring. I'll be ready this time.......
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