'The coolest bird you'll ever meet' - Birdwatchers go west to see rare Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Birdwatchers near and far are making their way to the village of Belcarra, near Castlebar, following the sighting of a rare North American bird.

A yellow crowned night heron nestled in the trees above the village riverside sparked excitement among locals and bird enthusiasts in the area.

The sighting of the bird is the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland, with only a couple of sightings recorded across mainland Europe.

_{The rare heron in Belcarra}

Almost 50 bird watchers arrived in the Mayo village from the UK over the weekend in hopes of catching a glimpse of the animal.

The village's Facebook page shared details this morning about the rare sighting of the ‘beautiful creature’.

Lorraine Ryan Jennings was first to spot the bird, with Geraldine Nee snapping some amazing photos of the bird.

The duration of the heron’s stay in Belcarra is unclear, however, the excitement is sure to linger over the coming days.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Eric Dempsey of Birds Ireland photography said this is Ireland and the UK's first sighting of the bird.

While it likely won't make, according to Mr Dempsey, it is "the coolest bird you'll ever meet", adding that the bird's area is sealed off and it cannot be disturbed by the public.