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Rare bird ends up in Wigan
Here's news that will get the region's birdwatchers twitching – a rare Russian bird has taken up residence in Wigan.
The yellow-browed warbler is one of Europe's smallest birds and is hardly ever seen in these parts.
But eagle-eyed conservationists at the wildlife-rich Wigan Flashes were delighted to see the creature, sometimes known as the Siberian Jewel.
The most popular theory is that the tiny creature got hopelessly lost as it winged its way from northern Russia to warmer Asia for the winter.
Its arrival is another coup for the local nature reserve which has been visited by the rare bittern and marsh harrier.
The yellow-browed warbler is so called because it has a yellow stripe, called a supercillium, over its eyes. While predominantly green, it also has a bright yellowy- cream double bar in it wings.
Flashes manager Mark Champion said: "The bird should have been making its way from its breeding grounds in northern Russia to Asia for the winter but has apparently taken a wrong turning somewhere and ended up in Wigan. These tiny birds, which are only four inches long, are more regularly found on the east coast of the country rather than in the North West.
"The bird is spending its time with our local long-tailed tits, feeding on insects in the willows and sycamores adjacent to Scotman's Flash.
"It is common for small birds to form flocks in the winter so they can hunt for insects more efficiently, and keep a mutual eye out for any marauding sparrow hawk or other predators. It is their excited contact calls that attract other birds to join the flock for protection. The unusual call of the yellow-browed warbler first attracted the attention of local birders."
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
