A LOST little seabird no heavier than a tin of beans is being cared for at a Cricklade animal hospital.

The Manx shearwater was brought to the Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue on Wednesday after being found in Gloucester.

It is believed that the young bird was blown off course by the weekend's storms during its mammoth migratory flight to South America.

Staff at the centre have christened the black-and-white seabird “Maxi”.

Earlier this week it was reported that hundreds of Manx shearwaters were left stranded on a Pembrokeshire beach after being blown to the shore.

Serena Stevens, founder of Oak and Furrows and head of animal care, said that it was unusual to see the birds arrive at the centre.

“In all my 31 years doing this, this is only the second time we’ve had one,” she said. “The poor things have all been washed off course by the storms.”

The centre was called by a vets’ practice in Gloucester after the bird was found in the town. Staff at the centre collected “Maxi” on Wednesday afternoon.

The bird is believed to be a juvenile, but as yet rescue centre workers do not know the bird’s sex.

Oak and Furrows staff have been feeding Maxi small fish like whitebait. Serena said: “The best thing for them is a mackerel soup – a slushy mackerel stew made up with some re-hydrate drink.”

She added: “It’s a very pretty bird. The poor thing has very obviously had a horrible time. It’s fledged, then got stuck in these storms.”

Manx shearwater spend their spring and early summer around the western coasts of the UK. They leave their nesting sites in late summer, slowly making their way down to South America for the winter.

The oldest recorded bird in the UK was a Manx shearwater – with a ring around its flipper identifying it as a month shy of 51-years-old.

Pete Brash, nature specialist at Swindon-based National Trust, said: “Usually they can deal with quite a bit of wind. But it’s when you get a sustained period of bad weather – with two or three storms after another – that you get these seabird ‘wrecks’, especially among younger birds.

“Adult birds will be less affected. The younger birds are less experienced and are maybe not quite as good at flying.”

He added that anyone who finds a Manx shearwater should release it near the coast at night, to prevent it being attacked by larger gulls.

Staff at Oak and Furrows said that Maxi would be taken to the RSPCA’s specialist seabird rescue centre at West Hatch, near Taunton.

To donate to Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue, visit: www.oandf.co.uk.