A stricken puffin has been rescued from a north Northumberland beach by the RSPCA amid concerns it may have been contaminated with oil.
The distinctive older adult bird was found on Sunday close to the tideline near Bamburgh Castle. It is thought he may have been grounded after flying from the nearby Farne Islands four miles off the coast, which are well-known as a breeding colony for puffins.
The bird with its brightly coloured bill and clownish red and black eye markings has now been taken to the RSPCA's East Winch Wildlife Centre in Norfolk to recuperate before being released back into the wild.
