A BIRD which made wildlife history when it hatched chicks in the North-East for the very first time has returned to the region.

In July 2006 a pair of avocets - which traditionally nest in southern England - hatched two chicks at Washington Wetland Centre, the most northerly hatching ever recorded in the UK.

The same pair returned to Wader Lake to breed last spring, successfully hatching three more chicks, and to the delight of staff and visitors they are now back on the water - only the third ever sighting in the centre's 33-year history.

Biodiversity warden Giselle Eagle said: "Providing they have a successful nest, avocets become loyal to that site for their entire lives.

"The average avocet age is seven but the record is 24-and-a-half-years, so hopefully they will become regulars at Washington Wetland Centre for many more years to come."

The distinctive wading birds - which have striking black and white plumage and elegant upwardly-curving beaks - have wasted no time in beginning their courtship, displaying synchronised feeding within two days of arrival.

Ms Eagle said: "Their first return in 2007 was taken as a great sign, showing how vital successful wetland conservation projects can be in supporting rare wildlife.

"It was a great reward for the hard work put in by staff and volunteers to transform Wader Lake into a habitat favoured by wetland dependent species.

"As a result, this year's arrival has demonstrated to us the importance of maintaining successful wetland habitats after their creation, including work to remove vegetation from the islands and create mudflats rich in invertebrates by controlling the water level."

The avocet was declared extinct as a breeding bird in the UK in 1842 but has since recovered. The nearest breeding pairs to the North East are in Yorkshire and Lancashire, with fewer than 900 pairs in the UK.