Scarlet Tanager: Video shows crowds flocking to cul-de-sac to see rare bird last seen in UK ten years ago

Footage shows the hundreds of twitchers who flocked to a UK cul-de-sac to see an ultra-rare bird that unexpectedly blew in from America.

Around 300 bird watchers crowded into the road in Shelf, where the Scarlet Tanager was first spotted on Monday (November 11) on a washing line.

It is thought the small yellow and black bird arrived in Britain after being blown off course by strong winds from a hurricane in North America.

Some of the assembled twitchers had travelled hundreds of miles to see the unusual species, which was last seen on mainland UK back in 2014.

Dave Stone, 75, said he had travelled 280 miles from his home in Exeter to the road in the early hours of Tuesday with three friends.

The retired foundry moulder said: “We left Exeter in Devon at 2am. We got up here at first light. It’s near enough the furthest I’ve travelled [to see a rare species]. I’ll wait until the light goes to see it and then we’ll go back again. I’m retired. Three of us came up in one car”.

Speaking about his hobby, he said: “I’ve been doing this since 1985. If I get this bird, it will be my 500th. There have been quite a few rare ones. It’s been seen this morning, and it would be a new bird for me”.