Dark-eyed Junco visits Hartlepool garden

A Dark-eyed Junco has drawn crowds to a Hartlepool garden after the bird was identified on Facebook.

In a post on the social media platform late on 23 April, homeowner Kevin Boddy asked what the mystery bird he'd photographed in his garden was. Quick-thinking birders replied to confirm it was a Dark-eyed Junco – a first for Co Durham and a national rarity to boot.

Mr Boddy was forthcoming with information, stating the bird had been present since 22nd, and subsequently allowed access for anyone wishing to twitch the bird until it was last seen on 27 April.

The Dark-eyed Junco in Hartlepool attracted plenty of birders during its six-day stay (Carolyn Farry).

 

Back-garden rarity

He told BirdGuides: "I have always enjoyed watching birds and I put out food out for them. On the morning of Monday 22 April I noticed an unfamiliar species feeding on seed outside my back window. It looked like a blue finch with a very pale bill.

"On the Tuesday the bird was still feeding outside my window. I still had no idea of its identity. There is a Facebook group on bird identification and I posted some pictures of the bird – what happened next was quite remarkable.

"The bird was soon identified as a Dark-eyed Junco – a rare visitor from North America. I was contacted shortly after this by Sam Viles of BirdGuides, who informed me that the junco was the first record for Durham, second for Cleveland and that lots of birders would want to see it!"

 

Happy twitchers

Mr Boddy continued: "The following morning the junco was still present. BirdGuides put out news of the bird's location and access arrangements were released. Within an hour there were tens of twitchers outside my house. Fortunately, over the next four days the junco showed regularly affording excellent views, with twitchers coming from as far afield as Kent.

"Birders were well behaved and the experience, despite being surreal at times, was a positive one."

It is the second record for Cleveland after a one-day bird at Guisborough, North Yorkshire, on 1 June 2017.

Dark-eyed Junco, Hartlepool, Cleveland (Paul Coombes).

Dark-eyed Junco, Hartlepool, Cleveland (Sam Viles).