The peregrine falcon had been nursed back to health at RSPCA Stapeley Grange wildlife centre in Cheshire after being brought in by hawk-eyed Lee Gallagher. The warden was caught in torrential rain as he patrolled his patch in Birkenhead, Merseyside at the end of November. 

Whilst crouched up against a wall for shelter he spotted the bedraggled bird sitting in the middle of the road, looking dazed and battered by the extreme weather. He cautiously approached the falcon, and found the bird in an exhausted state and in dire need of help.

The falcon was kept at the wildlife centre for a month, where it was checked by a vet for broken wings or limbs, then fed up and cared for until it was considered it was strong enough to be released back to the wild. On New Year’s Day (Sunday), Lee joined RSPCA staff to see it returned to near where it was found.