Support worker shocked to glimpse 'rarest garden bird in UK' in Somerset village

The ultra-rare bird was spotted in a local garden

A local support worker has spoken of his shock after catching a glimpse of the "rarest breeding garden bird in UK" in a Somerset village.

Paul Galvani, from Yeovil, was working at a home in Martock when he spotted a Black Redstart in the back garden.

The keen birdspotter even captured a picture of the orange-tailed rarity sitting on a fence as it fluttered around the area on Friday, January 24.

"I managed to get a superb photo of one of the rarest garden birds in Britain," said Mr Galvani.

"Over the last decade there is estimated to be less than 100 breeding pairs in the whole of the UK.

"When I first saw it, I thought it could be a pigment anomaly or a juvenile bird of another species, but after speaking with other birdspotters, it was confirmed to be a Black Redstrat.

"It was just a fantastic feeling to get a photograph of the bird"

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Why the arrival of this bird on the North Wales coast is causing excitement

Birdwatchers have gathered to try to catch a glimpse of the rare visitor

By

Jez Hemming

18:07, 8 JAN 2019

UPDATED21:38, 8 JAN 2019

A rare bird with a wintering population of about 400 has been spotted by sharp-eyed watchers on the Denbighshire coast.

There are only between 19 and 44 pairs of black redstarts to be found breeding in the UK and approximately 400 wintering birds between October and March.

The bird, which was spotted near Rhyl harbour on Tuesday, was formerly considered a member of the thrush family but has since been classified as an Old World flycatcher.

Keen ornithologists made the trip to see the unusual find, which likes to winter in coastal regions.

Amanda Fiddler said she made the trip with Warrington's New Cut Heritage Trail Bird Club, after seeing news of the bird on social media.

She said: "I've only ever seen one before, and I saw on Facebook it was here. It's out on the twitchers' network now."

Around half a dozen birdwatchers managed to get down to Rhyl's harbourside to see the bird, including Terry Egan, also from the Warrington club.

He said: "It's nice to see one, and especially when you see it within a few minutes of arriving."

The black redstart is a robin-sized bird with black, grey, red, orange and white plumage and, despite its limited numbers, can be found in various parts of the UK all year round.

According to the RSPB, it is on the red list of birds of conservation concern, and is also a Schedule 1 species according to the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means "it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb at, on or near an 'active' nest".

They typically forage for insects, spiders, worms, berries and seeds and tend to look for mainly urban areas like Greater London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Ipswich when breeding.

Some pairs have been spotted at cliff sites, power stations and coastal areas between Suffolk and Dorset.

In winter, you will find them in coastal areas of Ireland, Wales, England and the east of Scotland.

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Rare bird spotted in Herefordshire

2 days ago / Sally Boyce

A RARE bird sighted in Herefordshire could well cause some twitter among spotters.

The robin-sized black redstart, photographed by a reader in the Golden Valley, is a “very rare” sight in the county, according to Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

With fewer than 100 breeding pairs in the UK, the black redstart is on the the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ endangered red list.

A continental bird, in this country the black redstart has adapted to living in industrial and urban areas. Its name comes from the plumage of the male, a grey-black colour with a red tail. Their decline has put them on the official red list of birds of conservation concern.

“Seeing a black redstart here in Herefordshire is exciting,” said HWT expert, John Clark. “They are very rare, the only places they tend to breed are on building sites in London.

“They tend to prefer upland areas and dry, rocky habitats.”

The location of the county sighting was an area of uncultivated pastureland.

John advised the reader to record spotting the black redstart as an official sighting for the county with the British Trust for Ornithology.

“It is important to record such sightings of birds not commonly found in Herefordshire,” he said.

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