A RARE bird has been spotted on a nature reserve near Whitchurch – in what one local wildlife expert believes may be the first such sighting in over 25 years.

The red-backed shrike was spotted by photographer Kate Long at Whixall Moss, and she shared the picture she took with the Whitchurch Herald's Camera Club.

The migratory species breeds in an area from Western Europe to Russia and migrates to Africa during the winter, but is not a common visitor to Shropshire

"I was thrilled to see the bird because I'd been there at 7am and was told I'd just missed it," said Kate, who is also a wildlife writer and novelist.

"I wasn't expecting success when I went back in the evening, but there it was, perched obligingly and ready for its photo."

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Nathan Brake, assistant project officer at Natural England, who works on the Marches Mosses BogLife project, said: "It is not a frequent visitor the the UK, definitely not a common bird for Shropshire.

"It seems to have put itself right next to the new bird hide that's been put in in partnership between Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Natural England and it does seem to be favouring that area where there are plenty of insects to feed on.

"It is the third form a rarity we have had since the bird hide went in, I don't think it is because of the bird hide specifically.

"It is incidental but it does show what we are doing here is benefitting more species."

Mr Brake said it was really good for the Mosses.

He said: "It is really good for us as a project because it is now coming to its end at the end of this year.

"So we have recently got some more interpretation in on the Mosses to explain what we are doing, what we have been trying to accomplish.

"Getting the bird here also helps us explain what we have been working towards over the past five years."

"It arrives in May normally from Africa, but normally you are looking at the south-east coast, it is mainly seen in the UK down there.

"We're not sure when it will head off from here, I am not sure we expected it to stay round a week in the first place to be honest.

"We thought it would be a really short stay.

"It has obviously got the food source it needs and the habitat that it needs so it is sticking around for now."