Is this not North Africa? Rare bird flies off course and end up in South Shields

Hundreds of bird watchers flock to see rare bird the Isabelline shrike near Souter Lighthouse in South Tyneside

ByTom Wilkinson
13:29, 1 NOV 2016
Updated13:29, 1 NOV 2016


Hundreds of birdwatchers flocked to see a rare bird blown thousands of miles off course.

The Isabelline shrike spotted near South Shields, South Tyneside, over the weekend should have been on its annual migration from China or Mongolia to North Africa.

The bird came to rest on land managed by the National Trust north of Souter Lighthouse and its visit delighted assistant ranger Dougie Holder.

Usually only one Isabelline shrike is spotted in the UK every year.

Mr Holden, a keen birdwatcher, said: “We get a lot of migratory birds flying over the lighthouse, but I didn’t expect to see the shrike - it was a dream come true.


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