Tiny warbler's giant presence

AN EMERALD sprite shimmies through frost-licked leaves in frenzied efforts to survive another day far from its jungle retreat.

- Stuart Winter

The Hume's warbler should be basking in tropical Bangladesh but is braving freezing temperatures in a Bedfordshire country park a few miles from Junction 13 of the M1.

At six grams, the miniscule songbird weighs the same as a 5p piece, and how it finds enough sustenance to survive in frigid woodlands is a miracle witnessed by a procession of birdwatchers.

I have joined the throng and marvel at the way the warbler helter-skelters through the foliage to glean miniscule bugs full of nourishment from willow leaves yet to drop.