Big-hearted birder allows twitchers into Shetlands back garden to glimpse mega-rare Siberian Blue Robin

                                          

Juvenile Siberian Blue Robin

WHAT do you do if a mega-rare bird touches down in your own back garden?

After the first flush of exhilaration, comes the tricky dilemma. 

Do you keep the information under your hat until the bird has gone? Or do you put out the word and invite twitchers to come see it - with all the domestic risks that might ensue?

Such was the situation birder and Shetland Wildlife tour guide Hugh Harrop found himself  soon after breakfast on the morning of October 1.

After scrutinising an unfamiliar-looking bird for more than an hour, he realised his rose bushes were harbouring a juvenile Siberian Blue Robin.

To his immense credit, he released the news - not just to his 20 or so birding contacts, including former British Birds editor Roger Riddington,  in the Shetlands, but also to the wider world. 

Says Hugh in an article for the online site, Bird Guides: "Within minutes, the first birders arrived, and within an hour there were more than 100 people gathered in our garden. 

"Clearly some kind of structure was needed, so I made sure the bird was given some space. 

"This worked well on several occasions, with people getting some excellent views despite it being predictably elusive."

The bird was gone by later that morning, so Hugh's inconvenience was brief.

Doubtless, those who saw the vagrant are grateful for his hospitality, yet it was Hugh whose gratitude seems to echo loudest.

He continues: "Thank you to all that came into the garden to share this magnificent bird and for following all the on-site instructions and parking requests. 

"Your co-operation was appreciated, not only by myself but by my neighbours and other local residents.

"Be assured that if I discover any more rarities in there, I would hope not to have any hesitation doing the same again and allowing people entry to enjoy whatever is making the headlines."

If accepted by various records committees, this will represent the fifth British example of  Siberian Blue Robin.

Typically the species breeds in dense forests in Siberia and spends winter in South-eastern and Eastern Asia.      

* Photographs: JJ Harrison/ Wikimedia Commons                             

Adult male blue Siberian Robin