Bearded vulture spotted in the Peak District

One of the largest wild birds ever seen in the UK has been seen roosting in the Peak District National Park.

The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said it was only the second time a bearded vulture had been seen in the UK.

Birdwatchers flocked to the moors to catch a glimpse and a photograph of the rare raptor, which is larger than a golden eagle.

Indy Kiemel Greene, who photographed the bird, said he was so overwhelmed by the sight he "almost fainted".

The 15-year-old said he had woken up at 02:00 BST on Sunday to be driven for an hour-and-a-half and he then hiked for another 90 minutes to get to where the bird, also known as a lammergeier, was spotted.

"It was absolutely unforgettable," he said.

"There were about 100 people watching it and we were all so pleased. When I saw it I almost dropped my camera.

"We watched it for five hours and it was so chill. It was definitely worth it."

Pete Garrity, 58, also woke up early in the morning to get to Howden Moor near Sheffield.

He said: "It's a unique experience to see a bird like that in this country. It was very exciting - it made my mouth go dry."

Tim Birch, from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said the bird was about two years old and had flown over to the UK from the Alps, where the endangered species is being reintroduced.

He said it scavenged bones and despite its size - the full-grown bird boasts an almost 3m wingspan - it was not dangerous to people or farm animals.

He added the only other of its kind ever seen in the UK was in 2016, around Dartmoor.

"It's incredibly rare and so impressive," he said.

"It's without a doubt one of the biggest birds ever seen in the wild here."

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