Something colourful spotted in the trees in Cambridgeshire

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FLYAWAY parrots from London Zoo have been found in Cambridge­shire – more than 60 miles from their home in Regent’s Park.

The two escapee blue-throated macaws Lily and Margot were recovered on Sunday after several tip-offs from local residents who reported sightings of the squawking birds overhead. They were found in good health and have now safely returned to London Zoo.

The New Journal published an appeal on our front page last week after the birds flew away on October 21.

They had been taking part in their daily free-flying routine. Bird keepers headed to the home of a family in Buckden, who had searched online for missing bird reports when they spotted the macaws resting in the trees behind their garden.

Lily and Margaret

They were later traced to the next town along, Brampton.

In a statement, London Zoo said: “Before keepers’ arrival to the address, Lily and Margot flew off but, with the help of many local residents and workers who provided transport and expert knowledge of the local area, London Zoo keepers followed the birds’ flight to a field and public footpath in Brampton.

There, they confirmed the reported birds were indeed Lily and Margot. Upon seeing the zookeepers, the two macaws immediately flew down from a tree into their arms and were given plenty of their favourite foods: pumpkin seeds, pecans and walnuts.”

The blue-feathered creatures are now in quarantine – a standard process for all animals brought into the zoo – but are in “good condition” and are their “usual loud, chirpy selves” but they are “a little tired from their long flight from London to Cambridgeshire”.

After quarantine, they will rejoin their parents Popeye and Ollie.