WATCH: Flying visit of rare bird in Upton Warren marks first for Worcestershire

Bird-enthusiasts from across the country travelled to The Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve at Upton Warren to catch sight of a single Baird’s Sandpiper.

The shoreline bird, which is rarely seen in the UK as it breeds in the high Arctic and winters in South America, attracted excited crowds on a flying visit between September 9 and 16.

ABOVE: The Baird's Sandpiper swoops down to water at The Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve (Photos by Vern Wright)

Wendy Carter from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, who own the nature reserve, said: "There have been fewer than 500 records ever of a Baird’s Sandpiper turning up in the UK.

"This is the first time one has been seen in Worcestershire and there are only a couple of records for the whole of the West Midlands.

"It’s a small bird – a little larger than a house sparrow – and we’re delighted that one has turned up at our Upton Warren nature reserve this year.

ABOVE: The bird, making its first recorded visit to Worcestershire, stopped for a drink (Photos by Vern Wright)

"It has provided a fantastic opportunity for local birdwatchers and wildlife lovers to see this really rare bird.

"Not only that but it’s attracted a lot of people from further afield with over 1000 people lucky enough to see it.

"They breed during summer in the high Arctic and at this time of year they should be migrating south through the Americas, right over the other side of the Atlantic to us.

"When they arrive in the UK, it’s normally in September to west or southwest coasts following westerly airstreams."

ABOVE: Thousands came to visit the Baird's Sandpiper, pictured on the right with a lawping (Photos by Vern Wright)