A WORCESTERSHIRE nature reserve warden spoke of his eight hour wait to see an extremely rare bird last weekend.

Craig Reed, visited the Monkwood Nature Reserve, on May 15 and waited several hours to catch a glimpse of the rare Golden Oriole.

He said: "I managed to see it after about eight hours on site but it was singing regularly. I went back for another four hours on Sunday but didn't see it at all!"

Birdwatchers gathered in the car park at the nature reserve in Hallow on Saturday and Sunday in the hope of catching a glimpse of the bird which is rarely seen in the UK.

He said: "Lots of people saw it, but usually only briefly, or in flight. The original finder managed to see it a couple of times before the news was broadcast to the wider public to make sure it wasn't another bird mimicking Oriole song. That is how he confirmed it was a 1st summer male, still in its green immature plumage".

Worcestershire Birding confirmed the rare bird’s visit to the area on twitter, but thought it had left the nature reserve as the shy bird's song hadn't been heard since Sunday.

Birdwatchers have since took to the social media site to report the songbird's music still present in the woodland.

Craig said: "It wasn't heard yesterday, but someone has reported having heard it today, so it may not have departed just yet. But when it has left, it is probably unlikely to visit again, we are much further west and north than their usual range"

After his four hour wait on Sunday, Craig wrote on twitter: "Lovely to visit the Golden Oriole again at Monkwood this morning. Uplifting to hear its fluting song echoing through the woods. Singing regularly, but you need some serious luck to actually see it! Worth it just for the sound though".

The Golden Oriole are rarely seen in the Midlands, as their usual migratory route is through Suffolk.

Craig said: "There had been an influx this spring so presumably it just overshot where it was meaning to go. It may be a species we see more regularly in the future though as conditions further south in Europe become less suitable for them".

According to the RSPB, only 85 of the birds migrate through the UK each year and they are endangered globally.