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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/may/30/rare-birds-hartlepool-redcar-teesside-orphean-warbler
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| Warbling visitors bring cash to Teesside | Warbling visitors bring cash to Teesside |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Teesside has had the third boost to its economy in less than a year from small, rare birds which have each brought thousands of twitchers to the estuary. | Teesside has had the third boost to its economy in less than a year from small, rare birds which have each brought thousands of twitchers to the estuary. |
| Although usually well-equipped with flasks and home-made sandwiches, the bird-spotting enthusiasts have spent much-appreciated funds in local shops, garages and other outlets before zooming off to the next report of a rarity. | Although usually well-equipped with flasks and home-made sandwiches, the bird-spotting enthusiasts have spent much-appreciated funds in local shops, garages and other outlets before zooming off to the next report of a rarity. |
| Back in November, it was a Hume's Leaf Warbler which caused a stir in Redcar, on the Tees' south bank, especially when it flitted on to South Gare where a model in a G-string was being photographed for a motorbike advertisement. | Back in November, it was a Hume's Leaf Warbler which caused a stir in Redcar, on the Tees' south bank, especially when it flitted on to South Gare where a model in a G-string was being photographed for a motorbike advertisement. |
| In June last year, a White-throated Robin had the same effect on the Headland at Hartlepool (scene of the notorious First World War bombardment by German cruisers). It was the first to be seen in the UK for 11 years. | In June last year, a White-throated Robin had the same effect on the Headland at Hartlepool (scene of the notorious First World War bombardment by German cruisers). It was the first to be seen in the UK for 11 years. |
| The latest arrival has trumped that by some margin. It has the beautiful name of the Orphean Warbler and the UK hasn't been visited by one of those for over 20 years. Total records number fewer than ten, because the species traditionally spends its life around the Mediterranean in summer and further south in Africa during the winter. | The latest arrival has trumped that by some margin. It has the beautiful name of the Orphean Warbler and the UK hasn't been visited by one of those for over 20 years. Total records number fewer than ten, because the species traditionally spends its life around the Mediterranean in summer and further south in Africa during the winter. |
| Grey with a black head and white throat (the Hume's Leaf Warbler has a more exciting combination of yellow and green), it was seen on the town's bowling green and word flashed round the birders' grapevine – whose fluttering when news arrives of a rarity accounts for the 'twitcher' nickname. | Grey with a black head and white throat (the Hume's Leaf Warbler has a more exciting combination of yellow and green), it was seen on the town's bowling green and word flashed round the birders' grapevine – whose fluttering when news arrives of a rarity accounts for the 'twitcher' nickname. |
| Local landscape gardener Chris Brown, 59, who works as a volunteer ringer for the British Trust for Ornithology, says: | Local landscape gardener Chris Brown, 59, who works as a volunteer ringer for the British Trust for Ornithology, says: |
| You'll find them in France or Spain, but it's very rare to see one here in Britain. The warbler was spotted on the bowling green and an alert went out instantaneously and people came from all over England and Scotland to see it. There were thousands. They were all around the bowling green trying to catch a glimpse of it in the bushes. | You'll find them in France or Spain, but it's very rare to see one here in Britain. The warbler was spotted on the bowling green and an alert went out instantaneously and people came from all over England and Scotland to see it. There were thousands. They were all around the bowling green trying to catch a glimpse of it in the bushes. |
Brown sets up mist nets on the Headland as part of his recording work for the BTO and the warbler was caught, ringed and photographed before being released safely. He says: | Brown sets up mist nets on the Headland as part of his recording work for the BTO and the warbler was caught, ringed and photographed before being released safely. He says: |
| There are still some people here looking for it. It hasn't been seen on the bowling green so they've headed further out to track it down. A lot of people will have come to tick it off their list. | There are still some people here looking for it. It hasn't been seen on the bowling green so they've headed further out to track it down. A lot of people will have come to tick it off their list. |
The bird was first recorded in the UK at Portland, Devon, in 1955 and has been seen five times since, most recently in 1991 in Cornwall.It should be somewhere like Spain. | The bird was first recorded in the UK at Portland, Devon, in 1955 and has been seen five times since, most recently in 1991 in Cornwall.It should be somewhere like Spain. |
| Here's a clip from YouTube of some of the twitchers as the word spreads. | Here's a clip from YouTube of some of the twitchers as the word spreads. |
| And here's another of the bird they're peeping at. Look very carefully. It's behind the prominent leaf mid-frame. Both clips by Foghorns Birding Video, with thanks. | And here's another of the bird they're peeping at. Look very carefully. It's behind the prominent leaf mid-frame. Both clips by Foghorns Birding Video, with thanks. |
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