A flock of nine exotic birds have been spotted feeding in a garden on the city outskirts.

Carolyn Smith, who lives just off Keswick Road in Cringleford, has been welcoming the occasional group of parakeets into her garden for the last year but never expected to see nine all at once.

She said: "We spend a lot on bird food because we like watching the birds. We first saw the parakeets a year ago and they normally come in a group of three, five at most.

A flock of nine ring-necked parakeets have visited a garden in Cringleford (Image: Carolyn Smith)

"I think it is a rare sight. Lots of people tell me they'd love to see the parakeets. They're not everywhere yet but they've definitely settled in Cringleford. 

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"We're really chuffed with it."

The species of parakeet found in our fine city are called ring-necked parakeets and are originally from India - having first settled in the country in Norfolk in 1855 before dying out and reemerging in London and Kent in the 1960s.

"They're very loud and as soon as you go out in the garden to see them they disappear quickly," she added. 

"People are also concerned about them bullying other birds but it's not an issue here."

According to the Cringleford local, the parakeets love to eat sunflower seeds but they're not so keen on other seeds and peanuts.

It is believed that bird feeders help the exotic birds to survive the British winters which is potentially why they remain in urban areas - nesting in old trees often found in city parks as opposed to the countryside.