Twitchers fined for mockingbird travel

Birdwatchers broke lockdown in Exmouth

When an Exmouth birdspotter glimpsed what they suspected to be a northern mockingbird perched in a bush in his garden, little did they suspect it would lead to others breaking lockdown to track it down.

Far from being common in the north of England, the little feathered friend of East Devon is just the third to be seen in Britain according to Rare Bird Alert UK, describing Exmouth as 'suburban Devon' to boot.

Chris Woodward-Biddle's Tweet on 6 February got twitchers twitching in excitement. So much so that five of them headed to Exmouth from Cornwall to track down the mysterious mockingbird. They're normally found in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

@RSPBExeEstuary @exeterbirder @RSPBEngland Spotted this little chap in our garden in Exmouth over the last few days, mainly in the holly and palm flowers. We think a northern mockingbird, any ideas? pic.twitter.com/CMFesX23Vx

— Chris Woodward-Biddle (@ChrisBiddle109) February 6, 2021

The twitchers were snitched on though, with police being called. They swooped on the birdwatchers and dished out fines.

Repeated breakdown of lockdown restrictions can result in escalating fines.

But no one usually does bird.