LEACH’S STORM PETREL (Oceanodrama leucorhoa)

 Very rare visitor.

Two records: one was picked up exhausted by Martins Way on 19 October 1969 and, was released by the R.S.P.C.A. on the River Mimram at Welwyn four days later; following prolonged wet and windy weather from the west, another was found alive at 7a.m. on 14 December 1978 at St. Michaels School in Sandown Road, but subsequently died and, was given to the Stevenage Museum, where there is a specimen of this species in their collection, which could be this individual. 

The Stevenage Museum specimen – Courtesy of Stevenage Museum