Gallery: Magical merlin is now on the mend

THE team at a wildlife rescue centre are helping an unusual bird of prey recover after it suffered a wing injury

The feisty little merlin – one of the smallest birds of prey – was found in St Osyth and taken to the Wildlives animal rescue centre in Thorrington.

Merlins are found across northern Europe and fly south for the winter, but a small number tend to spend time in Essex at this time of year.

Rosie Catford, of the Wildlives centre, said: “It’s a female who has probably come down from Scotland or northern Europe.

“She was found collapsed in St Osyth on Friday with an infected wing injury.

“She’s got to be kept here for about four weeks for the bone to heal and the infection to clear.”