'Blown off course birds' rescued

The birds are being fed high-protein food

More than 60 sea birds are recovering in Somerset after being rescued off the south Wales coast.

The Manx shearwaters were caught in bad weather after being blown off course, and were found drowning by the RSPCA at Newgale near Haverfordwest.

RSPCA officers, helped by residents, saved 62 birds, which were driven to the West Hatch Centre in Taunton.

Inspector Julie Fadden said the birds, found on Tuesday, had been taken by surprise by the unseasonable weather.

High-protein food

She said: "The birds that we collected were young birds born this year.

"After leaving their nests for the first time the bad weather came along and they were not able to cope with the conditions.

"They were completely bedraggled, with ruffled feathers and no energy to attempt to fly."

Rupert Griffiths, manager of West Hatch Animal Centre, said: "Some of the birds were extremely weak when they came to us. Sadly we have lost five of them.

"However the rest are improving and are continuing to be fed high-protein food in order to build up their strength."