Dad-of-two Dougie Holden spent his 26th wedding anniversary at Trow Quarry in South Shields yesterday on the off-chance he would spot a rare bird.

And he was delighted when he snapped what he thought was a Yellow Browed Warbler nesting in the trees.

But the 47-year-old, from Garth Crescent, South Shields, was stunned when it was actually identified as an Eastern Crowned Warbler – the first time the bird has been photographed in Britain.

Speaking this morning, Mr Holden, who works for a Sunderland engineering firm, said: "I would have been delighted with it being a Yellow Browed Warbler, but after I put it on the Internet I got a phone call from the recorder for County Durham who told me what it was.

"I couldn't believe it. I've been interested in birds since I was a small boy, and this is the absolute ultimate.

"In the bird watching world, this is the equivalent of winning the World Cup."

There have been four sightings of the bird in Europe since 1843, but this is a first for the UK.

Mr Holden, who was with fellow watcher Derek Bilton, thinks strong winds blew the insect-eating bird off course and caused it to land in South Shields.

News of the rare sighting brought hundreds of twitchers flocking to South Tyneside to see if they can catch a glimpse.

Richard Millington, from Birdline Information Service, which is connected to the Birding World magazine, travelled from Norfolk overnight.

He said: "This is such a rare sighting for Britain and it's causing an awful lot of excitement from twitchers. Occasions like this will happen maybe half a dozen time a year.

"We've currently got people flying in from the Isle of Scilly.

"We're all more than happy with what we've seen so far and are very lucky, as the bird is not likely to move until starlight, so we'll be able to watch it for the rest of the day."

Dr Colin Bradshaw, a GP at Marsden Road Health Centre in South Shields, was so desperate to see the bird he dashed from work to see it.

He said: "I've had to juggle my work about, but I've managed to create an hour to come along and see it – I had too.

"I first saw it a few years ago in China, but it's lovely not to have to go as far this time with it being right on my doorstep."

The warbler is expected to be in the area for the rest of the day, but spotters are asked to tread carefully and stay quiet.