TWITCHERS HAVE been flocking to Vane Farm reserve near Kinross following the arrival of an “extremely rare” visitor.

Simon Bussutil, RSPB’s east of Scotland reserves manager, was delighted to confirm details of the sighting of a little ringed plover.

“Little ringed plovers migrate annually out of Africa, over the Sahara and across France,” he said.

“Almost a thousand stop for the summer in England or Wales, but there are only around 20 breeding pairs in Scotland, making the sighting at Vane Farm very special indeed.”

The birds look similar to their larger cousin, the ringed plover, but have a yellow eye ring and long legs.

Bird watchers began arriving at Vane Farm yesterday after news of the arrival was posted on the internet.