Missing ‘free flight’ storks seen in Sidmouth

Storks from the Wild Zoological Park in Bobbington, Midlands. Picture: Wild Zoological Park (Image: Picture: Wild Zoological Park)

Two long-legged wading birds have gone missing from Wild Zoological Park, in Bobbington, near Wolverhampton.

Eagle-eyed residents in Sidmouth have reported sightings of the bird in the town on Thursday, (September 19).

One was seen on the roof of Lidl, in Woolbrook Road, while another sighting was reported at the Volunteer Inn, in Temple Street.

Some of the local seagulls have not taken well to their visitors and one eye witness reported they are 'dive-bombing' the storks.

One of a pair of storks on the loose from Wild Zoological Park in the Midlands, spotted on the roof of Lidl, Sidmouth. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Picture: Terry Ife)

Another stork was seen in Lyme Regis on Wednesday (September 18), and another sighting has been reported in Exmouth.

Zachary Hollinshead, from the wildlife park, posting on social media, said he is currently on his way from the Midlands to recover the storks.

He said: "They are trained free flight birds but won't survive on their own.

"They're both microchipped and have radio trackers on their tails."

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0695. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0708. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

One of a pair of storks on the loose from Wild Zoological Park in the Midlands, spotted on the roof of Lidl, Sidmouth. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Picture: Terry Ife)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0708. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0708. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0711. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0708. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0708. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0695. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0695. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0695. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0689. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0689. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0695. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0689. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0689. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

A stork on the roof at Lidls in Sidmouth. Ref shs 38 19TI 0689. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)