Face to face encounter with downed guillemot

The ailing sea bird, which appeared to have a damaged wing, was stumbled upon by Emma Drabble, of Ross on Wye, Herefordshire as she walked her labrador retriever Eva along South Beach early in the morning.

Fortunately, patrolling staff from the Scarborough Sea Life Sanctuary were on hand to take the bird into safe hands, and it was expected to be given specialist care back at the centre to help it return to health.

Professional photographer Ms Drabble, in Scarborough to visit her family for Christmas, said: “I found it floundering and was trying to work out how to rescue it when Todd, one of the rescue team from the sea life centre, ran over and asked me to leave it alone.

“He believed it was injured having been battered by wind out at sea. He said quite a few birds are thrown off course like this.”