Rare bird survives attack

The black lark is thought to have come from the Urals

The visit of a rare bird to an Anglesey seabird reserve nearly ended in tragedy after it was attacked by a sparrow hawk.

More than 1,000 birdwatchers had visited the South Stack RSPB reserve near Holyhead within days of the arrival of a black lark more commonly found in Central Asia.

Many more who had been unable to see the bird during the week because of work came over the weekend.

But the journeys of hundreds of 'twitchers' would have been in vain if the bird's attack on the lark had been successful.

Alan Davies of the RSPB said 250 people had come to the reserve by 0400 BST on Saturday to look at the bird, although only a handful witnessed the attack.

The hawk missed the lark by inches before flying off again

Alan Davies, RSPB

"The sparrow hawk was flying across the heath, spotted the black lark and swooped to try and catch it," said Mr Davies.

"All the black lark could do was flatten itself against the ground as the sparrow hawk flew down towards it.

"The hawk missed the lark by inches before flying off again."

The lark was first spotted at the reserve last Sunday, and within hours hundreds of bird enthusiasts had arrived to catch a glimpse.

It is thought the bird, native to the Ural mountains in Central Asia, has drifted thousands of miles off course to arrive in the UK.

The RSPB has reported a "constant stream" of excited visitors arriving since news of the bird got out.

Birdwatchers are travelling to the reserve to view the lark

And they are encouraging dedicated birdwatchers to make the most of the opportunity to see the bird, which has never been spotted in Wales, or possibly Britain, before.

"People who have regular jobs have been biting their nails with worry all week in case the bird had flown off before they had a chance to see it," said Mr Davies.

He added that a sighting of the lark, with its distinctive black plumage and white beak, would be something twitchers would talk about for years.

Bird enthusiasts have travelled from Cornwall, Glasgow, Norfolk and Ireland to witness the historic visit.

"It's so exciting for us as birdwatchers," he told News Online.

"Anyone who misses this will never be allowed to forget it for the rest of their lives.

Russian steppes

"For birdwatchers, it'll have the same significance as asking where you were when Kennedy was shot."

Mr Davies said bird lovers had cancelled holidays in order to make the trip to Anglesey, and some had returned early in order to do the same thing.

People were even travelling from abroad to catch a glimpse of the bird.

"We have seen quite a lot of people from Ireland as it's quite easy for them to get here," he said.

The lark normally stays close to the Russian steppes where it lives, although there have been sightings of it in western Europe in the past.

RSPB staff and volunteers have been watching the site from dawn to dusk to ensure none of the visitors disturb the lark or other residents, such as the more common puffins and guillemots.