Bluethroat - Luscinia svecica

The Bluethroat is a scarce visitor to north east England with one or two records most years. In the last decade, the majority of sightings have been on Holy Island and the Farnes so when a bird was reported from the much more accessible location of Tynemouth, it was always going to be popular with local birdwatchers.

The Bluethroat favoured the gardens around the Spanish Battery, showing well at times while looking for insects on the lawns. Present until the evening, it was not seen the following day having likely departed for the breeding grounds in Scandinavia overnight.