A rare visitor to WAF.

Rescue

This red-listed bird is a rarity, here, at Wildlife Aid, with this being only our third admission of the species, this year.

Usually found in dense cover, in a woodland habitat, woodcocks migrate over to Britain from Russia & Scandinavia for a warmer winter climate. This one was found in central London, after suffering a window strike, something that is, sadly, a common occurrence for the species. Due to them flying at night, and at low altitudes, the birds are lured by the bright lights of the city and often mistake glass windows and shiny office buildings for the open sky.

Thankfully for this particular bird, he was handed to some on-duty police officers, who contacted WAF for advice and transferred the bird to our hospital.

Rehabilitation

On assessment, he was dazed, with blood around his mouth and a swollen left eye. Initially the damaged eye looked to have no light response, but using a fluorescein eye stain test, our vet, Meriem, discovered the woodcock had a large cornea ulcer to the eye.

He's been given an eye drop solution that works to support the natural healing process of corneal ulcerations, and placed into a well enriched pen, where he can forage, naturally, and hide amongst the foliage, whilst he recovers.