An extremely rare bird has been spotted at a reservoir in Cambridgeshire.
A kelp gull was seen at Grafham Water, near Huntingdon, on Tuesday.
The seabird first appeared two years ago at the reservoir and was spotted briefly last summer. Kelp gulls are mostly found in the southern hemisphere and coastal areas of West Africa.
Anglian Water manages the reservoir and a spokesman said it was “delighted” by the sighting.
Matthew Rodgers, an avid bird watcher since the 1970s, managed to photograph the seagull on Tuesday.
“This bird was here two years ago and last year it showed up briefly, but only for one morning,” he said.
“We hoped it would come back to Grafham and it did.”
Adult kelp gulls have a black back and wings, and very little white in the flight feathers.
When the species was first spotted at Grafham Water in 2022, the British Bird Rarities Committee said it was “one of the most astonishing records to reach Britain”.
Grafham Water is England’s third largest reservoir and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Mr Rodgers expected more birdwatchers to visit the reservoir this weekend.
“It’s very important that we keep trying to catch up,” he added.
“It’s a difficult place to see because it’s a big reservoir. But I think there’s a good chance I’ll see it again.”
The British Bird Rarities Committee, one of two organisations that can verify the identification, was asked for comment.
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “We are delighted to hear that the kelp gull has returned to Grafham Water this summer, especially as it is a rare species that is not often spotted in the northern hemisphere.
“They are just a small part of the amazing and diverse wildlife that can be found in our park throughout the seasons. It is an Area of Special Scientific Interest and we look forward to hearing from our visitors about the latest sightings of this rare breed.”
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