Twitchers rejoice as rare hawfinches flock to UK for winter sustenance

FLOCKS of rare hawfinches have begun arriving in Britain in huge numbers following crop failures in Germany and Romania.

The little birds usually bypass the UK in the winter, staying in central Europe, but poor harvests on the continent have sent them further north looking for winter fruit and nuts.

Nature experts are urging people to get outside this weekend to glimpse the elusive birds that are renowned for their parrot-like bills, and which are flocking in groups of 100 or more.

The National Trust has reported seeing them at Fyne Court, Somerset – after an absence of seven years – as well at Clumber Park, Notts, Sizergh in Cumbria and the Slindon Estate in West Sussex.

The birds have also been spotted at Sissinghurst in Kent, Felbrigg in Norfolk, Hatfield Forest in Essex, Basildon Park, Berks, Steps Hill at Ashridge in Bucks and Wimpole in Cambs.

Nature specialist Matthew Oates said: “There has been an unprecedented influx of these shy and secretive birds to our shores.

“The keenest of birders may only spot a handful of hawfinches during years of birdwatching but right now, everyone has a chance.

“The best places to look are around hornbeam trees and yew groves that still bear their autumn fruit. If you’re at a loose end what to do this weekend, get outside to try and catch a sight of these enigmatic characters – it may be quite a while until such an opportunity comes round again.”

The remarkable invasion of the bird – which is the UK’S largest, rarest and most elusive finch – has been attributed to poor seed crop yields in other parts of Europe, notably in the bird’s main winter feeding grounds of Germany and Romania.

By contrast, Britain has seen an explosion of berries, nuts and seeds after fine spring weather earlier in the year.

Records logged by the British Trust for Ornithology suggest that several thousand hawfinches have arrived in recent weeks and delighted twitchers are reporting the same number of sightings as it would usually take a lifetime to accrue.