Twitchers flock to Devon to spot rare bird

Hundreds of birdwatchers from all over the UK are flocking to a Devon beauty spot to try and catch a glimpse of a rare bird.

The least sandpiper is the world's smallest shorebird. Two of them have been spotted at Seaton Wetlands in East Devon since Wednesday. It is understood only 12 have ever been seen in the UK.

One of a number of bird watchers hoping to catch the rare sight at Seaton Marshes Credit: ITV News

Its proper name is calidris minutilla - some say it comes from the Ancient Greek - kalidris - which was used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds.

Minutilla comes from Mediaeval Latin and means for "very small".

Generally the name means 'tiny speckled water bird'

  • Watch the least sandpiper at Seaton Wetlands:

This footage by Tim White of Colyton Wildlife does not have any audio