Rare bird spotted at Welney and caught on camera by one of our readers

THEY may not be the rarest birds in the world, but their appearance in Fenland at this time of year always captures the imagination of the twitching community. Nigel Searle of March provided us with this wonderful photo of the White Spotted Bluethroat tak

THEY may not be the rarest birds in the world, but their appearance in Fenland at this time of year always captures the imagination of the twitching community.

Nigel Searle of March provided us with this wonderful photo of the White Spotted Bluethroat taken during a visit he made on Saturday to the Wetlands and Wildlife Centre at Welney.

"It has been at the centre for over a week and is a very rare overseas visitor" says Mr Searle.

The RSPB describes the male small robin like bird as being "unmistakable in spring with his bright blue throat, bordered below with bands of black, white and chestnut. "Its central throat spot can be white or chestnut, depending on which subspecies you are looking at -'white-spotted' or the more numerous 'red-spotted'.

"They can be quite secretive, flicking into the cover of a bush with a flash of their chestnut tail patches."

May or early June is always a good time to spot them- and enjoy a diet of insects, caterpillars and berries.