Piper captivates bird enthusiasts

A feathered American visitor is bringing in the crowds at a nature reserve in Gloucestershire.

Hundreds of birdwatchers have flocked to Coombe Hill Nature Reserve, where a stilt sandpiper has been spotted.

The bird usually winters in South America, but experts believe it may have flown off course or become trapped in a weather system.

Emma Bradshaw from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust said the sandpiper's visit was quite rare.

The adult bird, native to the arctic tundra of North America, was spotted because of its distinctive long and pale legs.

Birdwatchers from Cornwall and Norfolk are among those who have travelled to the nature reserve.