As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 8 November 2012

Rare Little Bunting spotted by Sunderland bird watchers


A bird rarely seen in the north-east of England has been spotted in Sunderland.

The environmental and communities charity Groundwork North East said the Little Bunting had been spotted on "several occasions" at Elba Park on the outskirts of the city.

Fewer than 30 are seen in the UK each year and this is the ninth ever recorded in the County Durham area.

County recorder for Durham Bird Club, Mark Newsome, said the bird had probably been confused by the weather.

"Quite often in autumn birds get blown over this way, if you have a period of easterly winds," he said.

"It's likely that he came over to this area a couple of weeks ago when it was all murky."

He said the bird might stay for the winter if it is mild, latching on to similar local species, or "feed up for another week" and carry on its migration.

"People don't really know what happens to these lost birds," he said.

"No-one knows whether they reorientate and get back to where they're meant to be."

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