When a bird that is rarely seen in the UK is spotted, it can spark a stampede of twitchers desperate to try and catch a glimpse. So when astronomers Kris and Les Fry spotted something different in their garden, they suddenly found themselves with plenty of company.
The pair couldn't believe it when an exotic looking hoopoe, which is a pinkish-brown colour with striking black and white wings and does not breed in the UK, turned up in the front garden of their home in Trawscoed, Aberystwyth, on Saturday morning (April 29).
Only around 100 are normally spotted in the UK in spring when the birds, who are migrating north to Europe from Africa, overshoot and end up here instead. They are normally only seen on the south coast of England. You can get more local news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
