TWO pairs of rare bee-eaters have set up home and are raising chicks at a quarry in Cumbria.

Bee-eaters are normally found nesting in southern Europe and are a very rare breeding bird in the UK. However, visits to the UK have increased in recent years, prompting speculation of colonisation.

The Cumbria bee-eaters are residing at Hanson UK’s Low Gelt sand quarry near Brampton in the North Pennines, where they have made nests by burrowing tunnels in the quarry banks. They were discovered by the quarry’s foreman who noticed the colourful birds flying amongst the site’s colony of nesting sand martins.

Hanson UK alerted the RSPB who quickly set up 24-hour nest protection programme.

Mark Thomas, from the RSPB, said: “Bee-eater sightings have really been on the increase in recent springs and we’re delighted to confirm they are breeding in the UK for the second consecutive summer. Pushed northwards by climate change, it is highly likely that these exotic birds will soon become established visitors to our shores thanks to partnerships like this one with Hanson.”

The RSPB has set up a viewpoint on the perimeter of the quarry and it opened on Saturday.