A rare bird has been spotted in a high school car park. 

Graham Parker, from New Costessey, was leaving work at North Walsham High School on Wednesday afternoon when he spotted an "unusual" bird sitting by his car.

He snapped a quick photo, which the Norfolk Wildlife Trust has used to identify it as a rare hoopoe.

It was sitting on the grass close to his carIt was sitting on the grass close to his car (Image: Graham Parker)

Hoopoes are very distinctive with their pinkish-brown bodies, black and white wings, black downcurved bills and pinkish-brown crests.

Only 100 migrate through the UK each year and they usually remain on the south coast of England.

They are often solitary birds and are listed as a Schedule 1 species under The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

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"I couldn't believe it," Mr Parker recalled. "It was just sitting there, crouched down on the grass in the car park.

"It was all squashed up so I couldn't see it too well - I just quickly pulled out my phone and took that dodgy photo."

"I'm a member of the RSPB and we do go to bird places but I don't know too much about them.

"I bet all the local bird watchers will be camping out in North Walsham now!"