BIRDWATCHERS flocked to
Wearside after two rare sightings.
A little bunting was spotted in
Elba Park, off Chester Road, Sunderland, bringing in birders from across the
UK, and enthusiasts travelled from as far afield as Cumbria, Birmingham and
London to catch a glimpse of a European bee-eater in Fulwell.
They are generally found in
southern Europe and Africa, as well as Asia.
They survive on a diet of
insects, specifically bees and wasps.
It’s thought the bird was blown
off course as it migrated towards North Africa for the winter.
More than 50 twitchers gathered
outside Kirk Adamson’s Dartford Road home as the bird fed off a wasps’ nest at
the gable end of the property.
“It’s been a bit weird, but the
people watching have been no bother so it’s not a problem,” said Mr Adamson.
Pensioner couple Roy and Linda
Harvey drove about 130 miles yesterday morning from their home in north
Lincolnshire to Sunderland to see the bird.
“It’s so rare to see a
bee-eater,” said Mr Harvey, who spent hours taking photographs and videos of
the bird.
“They are not a resident bird
in Britain and the other interesting thing about this is that it’s so late in
the year to see this bird in this country.
“It’s been worth coming as
we’ve got here with the bird still here.”
A 37-year-old birdwatcher from
Fulwell, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s a youngster that has been
blown here.
Continued: http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/environment/second-rare-bird-spotted-in-sunderland-1-5104924
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