Three brown pelicans have been spotted along North Shore, offering a rare sight for curious birdwatchers.

The pelicans were first spotted on Friday near Gibbet’s Beach in Smith’s before moving to Shelly Bay Beach, in Hamilton Parish.

Janice Hetzel, the director of the Bermuda Audubon Society, said: “Brown pelicans are seen here most years, but it is unusual to have three all together and so clearly visible from shore.

“Their feeding behaviour is unmistakable as they plunge headlong into the sea to catch fish.”

Brown pelicans are native to the Caribbean and can be found along the east and west coasts of the Americas from as far north as New Jersey and British Columbia to as far south as Chile and the mouth of the Amazon River.

Ms Hetzel said the species was considered a “conservation success story” because of its endangered status for many years owing to the overuse of pesticides.

She said: “Conservation efforts and legislative changes have allowed the species to recover, and they are now fairly common along the southeastern US coast and Caribbean.”

The pelicans are expected to move around the North Shore area.

• Video by Eva Botelli