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Bird-watchers get into a palaver over Pacific Golden Plover
Dozens of dedicated bird watchers have been getting into a flap at a beauty spot near Tamworth after an ultra-rare bird flew in - thousands of miles from where he should be.

Flustered 'twitchers' have descended on the RSPB's Middleton lakes armed with long-lens cameras after a Pacific Golden Plover was spotted in the site's Jubilee Wetlands.


The arrival of the bird, which is spotted gold and black on the crown, back and wings, was quite a surprise.

That's because at this time the year it should be in its breeding ground, thousands of miles away in the Arctic tundra, from northernmost Asia into western Alaska.

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It nests on the Arctic ground in a dry open area. Why it has decided to take a summer detour to sunny Staffordshire is unknown.

The exotic visitor was still drawing crowds of admirers today (Sunday).

Twitcher George Makin tweeted: "Spent the afternoon staring down a scope at this bird. What a daft hobby!"

Did you get a snap of the feathered celebrity? Send it to us at Tamworth.editorial@cintamworth.co.uk