Birdwatchers Gather at UK Lake to Spot 'Rare' North American Bird

BIRDWATCHERS have been itching to catch a glimpse of a rare North American bird in the UK over the weekend.

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust said watchers were “flocking” to see the young Baird’s sandpiper, which was seen off the Whitwell Peninsula at the Rutland Water reserve.

The Baird’s sandpiper had birdwatchers rejoicing after a rare sighting in the MidlandsCredit: Alamy The North American bird was spotted on the banks of the Rutland Water reserve over the weekendCredit: Getty

The bird is believed to have flapped its wings across the Atlantic, exciting birdwatchers, with some saying the bird had not been spotted in the UK for “over 20 years”.

One observer, 39-year-old Will Bowell, travelled to the reserve both Friday and Saturday to photograph the “real treat”.

He revealed the bird sighting was reported in local groups and “on various bird apps“, including X (formerly Twitter).

He told News: “Because of it being exceptionally dry this year, there’s been a lot of exposed mud, which the waders like, and so the opportunity to get close, unusually close, meant that it was a great bird to go and see for close , really.”

“There’s probably about one to six a year recorded in Britain, and they’re usually on the West Coast”, he added.

“They’re normally on the Hebrides, so to get one inland, so close to home, is just a real treat.”

Mr Bowell said he had been birdwatching for all of his life, and the bird was “incredibly tame” and “just walked straight up to you, which is, from the photography point of view, really, really good”.

Some birdwatchers travelled from across the country to ensure they caught a glimpse of the rare sight.

Some bird observers reported not seeing the species for over 20 years before it was sighted in Leicestershire over the weekend.

One wrote on X: “A lovely juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper, Rutland Water, Leicestershire, October 2025 – on my third visit it showed well – I haven’t seen a confiding juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper for over 20 years – I wonder if this is the bird I saw at Eyebrook Reservoir?”

The bird has been described as an uncommon visitor from , usually making an appearance on this side of the Atlantic during time.

Recently, another rare bird was found fluttering it’s way around UK shores.

A scarlet tanager was on its way to South America before it was blown off course by a hurricane.

The stunning rare bird had bird enthusiasts travelling from long distances to catch a glimpse

It’s sighting marked the first for the bird species in this country for over 40 years.

The brightened up gardens in Shelf, , and has created quite a stir.

One bird-watcher made a 40-minute journey from his home in just to see the feathered-delight.

Joe Eckersley told The Yorkshire Post: “I never thought I’d see a scarlet tanager in the UK, let alone in Yorkshire.”