A kestrel had to be rescued from the grille of a sports car after it swooped to chase a mouse and got stuck.
The RSPCA was called after staff at Graham Gillis Auto Repair in Whittington, Norfolk, discovered the bird of prey trapped in the car on Friday.
They managed to carefully release the bird and contain it in a box until the RSPCA arrived, and took it to a nearby wildlife centre for care.
Animal welfare officer Craig Plumley said: “It is very rare that a kestrel gets stuck in a grille like this. It is the first time I have known it happen in the 19 years I have been working at the RSPCA.
“This bird was victim to very unfortunate timing. He got hit by the car at the exact moment it swooped up from catching a mouse. The dead mouse was also found in the car grille.
“Thankfully, the quick-thinking driver drove slowly to a garage just around the corner from the incident and it was released by the garage’s technicians.”
Sue Levings, from East Winch wildlife centre, said an x-ray showed the bird had not broken any bones.
She said: “Apart from tail feather damage, the bird is making a good recovery. He is receiving treatment for a wound but it is eating well and it seems bright. We hope to release him back to the wild soon.”
To donate to the RSPCA text HELP to 78866 to give £3.
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