Scarlet Tanager Sighting Raises Nearly £300 for Children in Need

Birdwatchers, eager to observe a rare avian visitor, have contributed almost £300 to Children in Need, following a homeowner’s request for donations in exchange for access to his back garden. The scarlet tanager, having arrived earlier in the week, has drawn hundreds of individuals from across the UK to a quiet cul-de-sac in Shelf, located near Halifax. Resident Oliver Patchett stated his decision to leverage this unique opportunity by making his garden available to anyone prepared to make a charitable donation. He described charging visitors £10 each as “a bit of fun” intended to help generate funds for a worthy cause. Mr Patchett said: “This kind of thing is not usual for this area, as it’s just a quiet road.“There were a few sightings yesterday and then very early this morning, so this lot have been waiting a long time“It’s also cold today while yesterday it was sunny, but I’ve left everyone to get on with it and go on my lawn as it’s all for charity.” Enthusiasts have journeyed from locations as distant as Weybridge, Newcastle, and London, hoping to catch sight of the uncommon bird, which was initially observed perched on a garden washing line. This songbird typically migrates twice annually between the eastern United States and the lowland forests of South America. According to Cornell University’s All about Birds website, male breeding birds are characterized by a bright red body with black wings and tails, while females and juvenile birds display a yellowish-green body. The website noted that the duller, yellowish birds are usually the ones seen in the UK, having been diverted off course by storms during their southward migration in the autumn. Website Bird Guides reported on X that the bird is a “first-winter male scarlet tanager” and represents the first recorded sighting of its kind in Yorkshire.