OWNER Andy Stokes has been re-united with his falcon Cherrug which flew off during a display.

The powerful bird, which has a 4ft wingspan, veered off course in high winds, but was found by another bird expert in Enfield, north London, two days later.

The falcon's details were then given to the Independent Bird Register (IBR), and two-year-old Cherrug was eventually traced back to Mr Stokes, of Lashford Lane, Dry Sandford, near Abingdon, almost a month later.

In the meantime, the 30-year-old, who lost his bird during a woodland crafts day exhibition in Boars Hill on March 1, had received a number of calls from people in the Abingdon area who thought they had spotted the missing falcon. On Monday morning, Carol Campbell thought she had spotted Cherrug when she saw a bird of prey feasting on a starling as she arrived at work at Investec, in New Abbey Court, Abingdon.

Mr Stokes, not realising his bird had been found in the London area, went along to investigate but, after discovering starling feathers, decided it couldn't be his falcon. He said: "A starling would be too small for him to handle. When I told her my falcon had a wingspan of 4ft, she said it couldn't have been him. I suspect the bird she saw was a sparrowhawk."

Although Cherrug was bred in captivity, Mr Stokes, who also keeps other birds, had no doubt he could fend for himself.

He said: "Cherrug is a hunting bird. He is flown every day and has been trained to hunt rooks."

He admitted he was amazed Cherrug had travelled as far away as Enfield.

Mr Stokes said: "I still didn't really believe it was him until I saw him. I'm delighted to get him back."

He plans to set up his own business teaching people how to handle and train the birds.

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