In addition to Steve's info from Chris Batty, a couple of other observations re. the White Stork.
First, a bit of research from Shaun Barnes...
Fylde Bird Club noted that On 26th March 2011 Bob Danson and Barry Dyson discovered a White Stork feeding in a flooded field at Pilling Lane Ends, before it relocated to a field alongside Taylor's Lane, Stake Pool. However, the presence of a narrow metal ring above the bird's left foot proved it to be an escape from captivity, and the same individual that had earlier been noted in Scotland over Fairlie, Ayrshire on 13th March 2011, then at Ormiston, Edinburgh and Whitecraig, Lothian on 17th-19th March. After leaving the Fylde it overflew Halton, Lancashire then Tebay, Cumbria on 27th March before visiting Lockerbie and Moffat, Dumfriesshire on 9th-10th April and Banchory, Aberdeenshire on 11th-12th April 2011. The bird originated from Harewood House, north of Leeds, West Yorkshire, where free-flying White Storks are known to have been kept as exhibits since at least April 1997, and they successfully fledged young later that year. Ringed White Storks from this source are occasionally recorded at large around northern England and southernScotland, particularly in the early spring (see http://at2h.blogspot.com/2009/03/not-so-great-escape.html). The individual seen on the Fylde is believed to have been visiting Scotland since at least January 2001 (see http://sedgewarbler.blogspot.com/2011/03/wknd-19-20-march.html) and http://birdingsometimes.blogspot.com/2009/03/quiet-on-coast.html).
And finally, a note from Josh Marshall to say that Paignton Zoo used to use such rings on their storks to distinguish between males and females [and perhaps still do?]
