A baby kestrel had a lucky escape after getting stuck in the front grille of a car…thanks to a TV star
The bird of prey was wedged in the bumper of the red Mini.
Fortunately, eagle-eyed telly animal expert Nik Mitchell was passing and spotted the stricken kestrel.
He stopped his van near Ramsgate, Kent and flagged down the driver and managed to free the bird.
Nik, 39 – who has been on BBC’s Countryfile, Springwatch and The One Show – then released it back in the wild.
He said: “I was driving out to work and a car pulled up at the roundabout with this bird stuck in its grille.
“It is a juvenile kestrel.
“His head was stuck in the grille of a little Mini.
“It was a bit of a dangerous spot to stop.
“Luckily the bird was okay once I pulled its head free from the bumper.”
Nik – who runs Wildlife Conservation in Thanet – then released the bird near a kestrel nesting site.
“It was a successful release after a check over,” he added.
Local Steve Munday said: “Amazing presence of mind to stop the car and rescue the kestrel.”
Mark Biggs added: “Well done Nik, big respect.”
Loretta Wells said: “Well done. Right place, right time.”
