A stricken short-eared owl has been recovered from a back garden in Derbyshire miles away from its moorland habitat.
Wildlife photographer and falconer Oliver Booth was called by a friend when the juvenile was discovered on the ground in Glossop, unable to move.
According to Mr Booth, the bird of prey “shouldn’t have been anywhere near the town”, which he said was far from the species’ usual breeding place.
The bird was taken to a vet where it is expected to make a full recovery.
Mr Booth, from Glossop, said although wildlife photography was not his full-time job, he was known in the town for his bird-related expertise and received a call on Friday requesting his help.
Short-eared owls are considered a rare species in the UK.
Mr Booth, who has a bird hide in the town, said he was “surprised” the young owl came to be there.
“Short-eared owls live in moorland across the Peak District,” the 45-year-old explained.
According to The Wildlife Trusts charity, short-ears in the UK usually breed in Scotland and the north of England and would typically be seen in winter.
Mr Booth believed the juvenile owl became lost in the night before becoming injured.
He picked up the bird, and with the help of a bird ringer, got it to the vet.
The bird had burst air sacs and a destabilised coracoid – a bone essential for a bird’s flight – but “should make a full recovery”, said Mr Booth.
