Hundreds flock to Maryland park to view 'exceptional' rare bird

Birders headed to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park to view brightly coloured painted bunting

Hundreds of people have flocked to the Washington DC area to catch a glimpse of a new, celebrated arrival who has offered some welcome relief following a bruising year. No, it's not Joe Biden.

Excited birders have crammed into a Maryland park, braving rain and dismally low temperatures, to witness the painted bunting, a brightly coloured bird that usually reserves its elan for the warmer climes of Florida.