Twitchers in a flap over rare bird

A RARE bird has caused a bit of a flap in South Tyneside – the first time the species has been recorded in Britain this year.

Twitchers have been flocking to Whitburn Coastal Park after a northern treecreeper was spotted.

The tiny creature, which normally lives in northern Norway or Sweden, was caught in one of the Coastal Conservation’ Group’s (CCG) nets last week as members carried out their ringing programme.

Group member John Brown was responsible for finding it in the nets, and records show it’s only the fourth time the species has been recorded in the area since records began.

National Trust ranger, Dougie Holden, said: “Members of the CCG had the nets out as part of their ringing work and the northern treecreeper ended up getting caught.

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