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Many experts think it could have made the journey in wading birds, such as herons and egrets.

Mr Darby said there has also been a "collapse" in the number of breeding wading birds, which are monitored by the partnership.

Thousands of pairs of flamingos graced Spain's famous Fuente de Piedra southern wetlands last year to hatch their chicks in what was one of the largest colonies of these iconic wading birds in Europe.

Poole is the largest natural harbour in Europe and a site of special scientific interest, which is home to a range of wading birds.

Earlier studies found that Burmese pythons, which are nonnative apex predators originally from South Asia, had decimated native species, including wading birds, marsh rabbits and white-tailed deer.