A rare ‘snake bird’ has been seen in Weymouth.

Patricia Beavis reported seeing the wryneck in her garden in Lodmoor. It has dark brown wings and tail with a brown stripe around the eye and beige underneath.

She said: “I’ve never seen one before and was quite thrilled to watch it.”

RSPB reserve manager Nick Tomlinson said the bird was nicknamed the ‘snake bird’ because of the way its head sways about.

He said: “They are quiet rare migrant birds and Mrs Beavis is a very lucky lady to have seen it – it’s the sort of bird that bird watchers would love to see.”