County Press reader Hayley Taylor had to do a double take when she spotted this brightly coloured bird in the trees near St Mary's Hospital pond on Sunday.

Hayley posted her pictures on the Lost Pets Isle of Wight Facebook page in case it was a lost pet, but Islanders were quick to tell her the ring-neck parakeets are on the wing south from London, where they are a common sight in parks.

Bird experts believe it is only a matter of time before they reach the Island and this could be one of the first.

Hayley said: "I saw it about 8.30am on Sunday on my way to work and posted it in case someone had lost a pet.

"It was about 25ft up in the tree and I have since found out through the RSPB website that it is now the UK's only native parrot, with around 8,600 pairs."

Birders believe it is only a matter of time before they arrive here.

Island twitcher Jim Baldwin posted about the sighting on the IOW Birding page, saying: "They are now common visitor to Southampton parks."