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Birdwatching World Frenzy

The long-billed murrelet has become a major tourist attraction (or let's call it a niche tourist attraction) in Devon, England. Yep, the birdwatchers of the world have whipped themselves into a bird-ogling frenzy this week, and we hardly even noticed.

Apparently the LBM normally only turns up in Russia or Japan, but one must've got lost or fancied a Devon seaside holiday. Once word spread amongst binocular-wielding birdwatchers, some 2000 people turned up in double-quick time to catch a glimpse of the bird for themselves--including one guy who abandoned his wife at her own birthday party to get down there. This whole "come and see a rare bird" thing sounds like a cheap marketing campaign to us: we're just sorry we didn't think of it ourselves.

[Photo: Dave Appleton]

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· 2000 Flock to See Rare Bird [Mirror]
· Takes Swan to Know Swan [Jaunted]