Dozens of twitchers dashed to a UK lake to see a giant crocodile-eating bird – only to discover it was a prank.
The 4ft shoebill was thought to have flown into Britain from its home 6,500 miles away in the tropical wetlands of East Africa.
Word of its arrival soon spread and excited bird-watchers rushed from all over the UK with binoculars, cameras and logbooks.
But the stampede to Rutland Water Nature Reserve in Leicestershire turned to disappointment when it was revealed the rare visitor was only a plastic model.
It had been planted by Tim Henshall, a UK representative of the Ugandan Tourist Board, in a PR stunt ahead of the British Birdwatching Fair at the site next weekend.
Reserve officer Rebecca Pitman had reported she couldn’t believe her eyes when she spotted the shoebill, which feeds on baby crocs, fish and snakes, lurking in the reeds.
But Tim confessed: “We thought we’d have a bit of a giggle.”
After the hoax was confirmed @RutlandWaterNR tweeted: “Sadly no shoebills on the sighting board today (or ever) but we have had reports of black terns and a bittern on Lagoon 3 this afternoon #birding.”
The shoebill's normal diet includes baby crocodiles, frogs, water snakes and lungfish, and is usually seen in Uganda, Sudan or Zambia.
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