Birdwatchers are all of a flutter after an unusual visitor stopped off near the edge of a nature reserve, south of Lincoln.

A juvenile Great Northern Diver, also known as a Common Loon, was spied by an eagle eyed twitcher on Apex Pit - part of the North Hykeham quarry complex which is also home to Whisby Nature Park.

And now avian fans are being urged to flock to the area to catch a rare glimpse of the sea bird - which hasn't been seen in the area since 1995.

Grahame Hopwood, deputy warden at Whisby Nature Park, said the bird seemed to be enjoying it's new surroundings.

"It was finding the feeding to it's liking," he said.

"It was diving a lot, then it just sat preening itself on the water and we could get quite close, to within about 100 feet.

"It's an immature bird, born last year and it's so nice to see.

"It's wonderful, as a birdwatcher, when you can go out and find something unusual."

The water filled Apex Pit is on an area of land off Newark Road, still owned by cement producer Cemex, but which now is a home to anglers and sailors.

Mark Grantham, research ecologist at the British Trust for Ornithology, said: "In Lincolnshire you do get some sightings but usually only once or twice a year on coastal reservoirs.

"They are called loons because of the sound they make when they are singing – but it's not something you would hear very often in Britain.

"They are fantastic looking birds and it would be worth going to see."