BIRD watchers from all over the British Isles are flocking to the North-East in a bid to see a rare visitor.

A tundra nesting Red-Throated Pipit was blown off course on its way from its wintering ground in Africa to Scandinavia and the Bering Straits, to land on Seaton Common, near Seaton Carew, Teesside.

The rufus chested bird, which is only 16 centimetres long, is the first to be seen in the North-East by more than one or two people since 1976 and is only the fifth ever to be recorded on Teesside.

The bird was spotted quite by chance by seasoned birdwatcher Colin Dodsworth, from Billingham, who recognised its call after seeing Red-Throated Pipits on bird safaris abroad.

Chris Sharp, secretary of the Teesmouth Bird Club, said: “It has become rarer in the last 15 years with less than ten records in Britain every year. Because of this it is only since the beginning of this year that it was reintroduced on the British Bird Rarity List.’’