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© SWNSFlying visit: The chestnut bunting bird
A rare bird thought to have touched down in Britain for the first time on a remote island has got twitchers in flap - and are even hiring planes to catch a glimpse.

Keen birdwatchers have been spending hundreds of pounds to reach Papa Westray, SWNS, Scotland, to see the chestnut bunting.

It is believed to be the first appearance of the bird, which is normally found in Asia, on British soil.

Josh Jones, from birdwatching website birdguides.com, said: "It's really quite a long way from home. If accepted it would be a first record of its kind for Britain.

"It's kind of a big deal. Everyone is getting quite excited about it."

The small bird was first spotted on October 19 and identified two days later before disappearing until Saturday.

It has now been in the area for nine or ten days, which is unusual for a rare bird .

Josh said: "It's not often you get one that lingers for so long."

And since the bunting's appearance, twitchers have been travelling from across the country to catch a glimpse - some from as far afield as south-west England.

Josh added: "There's been a monumental effort to see this bird.

"People from Hampshire did a drive to John O'Groats then got a ferry.

"Some people are spending £500 a piece to fly up and see this bird, flying back the same day.

"They're getting charters from Nottinghamshire and North Yorkshire where there are airfields."

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© SWNSRare: Bird touched down on Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland
He said people were gathering at airfields early in the morning and waiting to hear news from Orkney of whether the bird was still in residence before hopping on their chartered flights.

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Distribution range map for Chestnut Bunting (Emberiza rutila)
Josh added: "There might well be more come the weekend - there will be quite a few people trying to get up there."

Chestnut buntings live in eastern Asia and southern Siberia, but migrate each autumn to southern China and northern Vietnam.

While the creatures have been spotted in Europe and Britain before, they have usually been dismissed as domesticated birds.

This would be the first time a wild chestnut bunting has been spotted in the country.