Sick owlet found under tree recovering well

Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue said when found by a dog walker Nugget "wasn't in a good way"

A sick tawny owlet discovered at the base of a tree has made a "fantastic turnaround", an animal rescue charity has said.

Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue said when found by a dog walker the helpless bird "wasn't in a good way".

"He was very weak, dehydrated and covered in fly strike [fly eggs] and he needed urgent treatment in order to give him a fighting chance," it explained.

The charity has named the owlet Nugget.

Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue in Blewbury helps and rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife.

When it received the call about Nugget it said it "immediately dispatched our wildlife ambulance team to his aid and he was soon back here at our wildlife casualty centre".

Nugget is now "looking so much better", the charity said

It said: "The team has removed all the fly eggs, administered vital fluids and the owlet was slowly warmed up in our ICU [Intensive Care Unit].

"This evening he's made a fantastic turnaround and he's now looking so much better... he will be introduced to our other dozen tawny owlets we currently have here onsite."

The charity thanked the man who alerted it and "acted quickly to rescue him".

The Barn Owl Trust recommends leaving tawny owlets where they are found unless they are starving or injured.