A TINY yellow finch is causing quite a flap in County Durham – as the first of its kind to be spotted in the county for more than 60 years.

Twitchers from across Northern England have been travelling to the hamlet of Royal Oak, near Shildon, hoping to catch a glimpse of the little yellow serin every day since it was spotted in a hedgerow just over a week ago.

Andrew Kinghorn, chairman of Durham Bird Club, said: “The serin is quite a significant event in the North East of England, let alone in Durham.

“It’s a small yellowish passerine with a distinctive song, though it won’t sing at this time of year unless there are calm and bright winter mornings.”

The species can been seen year-round in France, Spain, Italy and Greece but only makes occasional appearances on the UK’s south coast.

Mr Kinghorn said: “The bird in Darlington is highly likely to be from the migratory populations to the east of the UK and is spending the winter here before moving back in the spring to its breeding location.

“Visitors hoping to see the bird would need to be patient as the bird can be elusive as it feeds amongst the weedy mounds it has favoured for feeding."

The last serin recorded in the Durham area – south of the Tyne and North of the Tees – was in 2011 when a bird flew over Cowpen Marsh, but was not seen again.

Mr Kinghorn added: "The last bird that birders could go and see in Durham was back in 1955, when a bird was at Westoe in South Shields from August 27 to September 15.

"So, it’s been over 60 years since the last bird people could enjoy.”

 

Stuart Outterson

Stuart Outterson said as many as 30 birders have gathered some days to look for the bird - anyone visiting is urged not to trespass on private land and to park considerately

Stuart Outerrson, who runs The Cook House fast food van in the A68 layby at Bildershaw, between West Auckland and Darlington, said: “I haven’t seen it myself but some of the spotters have been over to get a coffee and shown me pictures, it just looks like a little budgie to me but they've been getting really excited.

“There’ve been 30 people here at times, from all over including South Shields, Billingham, Sunderland, Hartlepool just hoping to see it.”

 

The serin is rarely seen in the UK, and it has been more than 60 years since it was spotted in the Durham recording area Picture: DARRAN WESTON, NORTHERN ECHO CAMERA CLUB

Darran Weston's shot of the serin, rarely seen in Northern England

Among them was Darran Weston, of Newton Aycliffe, a member of The Northern Echo Camera Club.

He said: “I heard through the grapevine that the serin was at Brusselton, a quick Google search later as hadn't a clue what one looked like, and I flew up to Brusselton Bank and was met by a crowd.

“I heard one guy almost hyperventilating a few minutes later saying "it's there, it's there”. I had a 300mm lens on my Canon and managed one store before it took off.”

Other birders are sharing their pictures and videos of the serin on social media.

 

People are urged not to trespass or block the road if visiting the area.