A coastal headland was the top attraction for Britain's twitchers hoping for views of the most unusual bird in the country yesterday.

They made for Flamborough Head, near Bridlington, to see a taiga flycatcher, a tiny Russian forest insect-hunter that has never been recorded in Britain before - and only once previously in western Europe (Sweden, 1998).

John McLoughlin, of the North East Birdline information service, said: "Hundreds of people travelled to see it after its weekend discovery and as the word spread farther, a lot more came on Monday.

"Unfortunately, the poorer weather made it harder to see in the woodland of Flamborough's South Landing ravine. But after the rain stopped, it began to show, rewarding the patience of those waiting to see it."

Normally, this type of songbird is not found anywhere near Britain.

One theory is that this young male may have headed south-west instead of south-east last autumn and ended up overwintering in Africa, from where it is now trying to find its way back to Siberia for the nesting season.

Peter Hogg, who travelled from Cleadon, South Tyneside, to see it, said: "It is a delightful bird and well worth the journey, especially as there are so few opportunities to see something that is completely new to the country."