A LOCAL Nature Reserve has come to the aid of a bird of prey that had been 'lost for a few days'.

Carlisle's Watchtree Nature Reserve was made aware of a reported sighting of a bird of prey wearing tassels and bells on Wednesday, June 21, with this mysterious bird again being spotted on Thursday, June 22.

This bird, which was identified as a Lanner Falcon, had been photographed by a visitor at the nature reserve sitting calmly on a fence.

The Lanner Falcon is a non-native bird to this area and is a popular bird of prey with falconers for hunting and display flying.

In response to the falcon's appearance, the services of the Cumberland Bird of Prey Centre were enlisted, with expert Gary coming to the bird's aid with food and a lure.

Despite this bird not being Gary's, he believes that he will be able to identify the owner and pledged to take good care of her until they have been traced.

Gary was also able to give some details about the runaway Lanner Falcon, with it being identified as an adult bird who had probably been 'lost for a few days'.

Thankfully, the falcon was in great condition, although very hungry when he was rescued, with aid coming at just the right time.

Watchtree Nature Reserve in a social media post said: "Another day or so in the wild and her fate would have been very different."

Wild lanner falcons breed in Africa, southeast Europe and the middle-east. They live in open habitat and prey on birds and bats.