BIRDWATCHERS from across the country are flocking to New Brighton after the arrival of the rare Laughing Gull.

The bird is normally found in America and breeds year-round on the east coast of Mexico but was spotted close to the resort’s Marine Lake last week.

Allan Conlin, director of AMCEcological said: “The bird is called a Laughing Gull, so called because of its ‘laughing’ call and is a first year bird having been born last year – you can tell this due to the amount of brown feathers in an otherwise grey bird.

“Ordinarily, this bird should be on the beaches of Florida and the Caribbean. Following an extended period of Storm Force winds from across the Atlantic this little bird has founds itself blown all the way across the Atlantic to arrive of the shores of New Brighton.”

The RSPB Liverpool’s local group said New Brighton would be “knee deep in twitchers” in a post on its website.

Allan added: “It has become quite the attraction and along with its British counterparts, happily accepts bread from birdwatchers who have flocked to see it.

“This is only the third ever record of this species on the Wirral peninsula and the first time in a generation birdwatchers have had the chance to see one on the Wirral.”

Have you seen the Laughing Gull? Send your pictures to emma.rigby@newsquest.co.uk