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BY MARK WORGAN

A barn owl had to be rescued after straying 70 miles (113km) out at sea last month (Aug2026).

The wayward raptor was rescued by the British Army Offshore Racing Team, who were present as she was released back to the wild in Suffolk on Monday (28 Sept), after being successfully rehabilitated by the RSPCA.

Little Reg, as she was affectionately nicknamed by her rescuers, was brought to safety thanks to a huge team effort.

She had been spotted struggling above the North Sea near Newcastle by the racing team who were taking part in the Round Britain and Ireland Race.

The owl was exhausted and trying to find a way to land on the team’s Fujitsu British Soldier boat; she entered the water a couple of times before eventually being rescued. Once on board, the team placed her safely in a box before reaching out for help from the Barn Owl Trust to get her ashore.

Members of the Trust contacted Dan Goldsmith from Marine and WIldlife Rescue who joined the crew from the Caister Independent Lifeboat, and travelled across the water in a lifeboat to retrieve Little Reg - bringing her back to dry land.

Once Little Reg was safely handed over to the rescue teams, she was taken by Dan to RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre for rehabilitation - where she stayed for around five weeks.

Evangelos Achilleos, Centre Manager, said: “It’s truly heartening to reflect on what this little Barn Owl has overcome, and we are grateful to everyone who played a part in her rescue. It was a huge team effort and we are so proud to have been part of her story. It’s a great reminder of what we can achieve together for animal welfare.

“When she first arrived, she was exhausted, dehydrated, and thin. We provided her with fluids via a stomach tube to help her regain her strength, tucked her in with a cosy snuggle safe heat pad, and offered her a meal - which she ate right away.

“Over the next few days, our veterinary team gave her lots of care and thorough check-ups, and she was fed twice a day.

“She put on healthy weight, and was moved to our aviaries and she was also ringed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Since she was still a bit hesitant on her wings at first, our dedicated wildlife care team encouraged her with gentle daily flying practice in our flight aviary. After making good progress, the vet signed her off for release, and we reunited her with Dan last week to be taken to the next part of her journey: a peaceful soft release site.”

Dan added: “Wildlife rescue can be challenging for those of us who dedicate our time to do so.

“But it was incredibly rewarding to be able to have contributed to Reg’s journey back to the wild by coordinating her rescue from the race boat.

“My colleagues are grateful to the Caister Independent Lifeboat, the Barn Owl Trust, the British Army race team and of course the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre who collectively ensured the positive outcome, and the second chance it has given this very special bird.”

Sergeant Mark Petherbridge from Second Battalion Parachute Regiment, who helped rescue Little Reg, continued: “It was day ten of the race and we had looked at the back of the boat, and there was an owl flying along beside us, so we double checked our figures to make sure we were as far offshore as we thought we were!.

“We could see she was very tired and wanted to land. She fell into the water a couple of times, on the third time she thankfully landed on the deck.

“To see an owl flying behind a boat so far off shore was incredible but it was also heart wrenching to see her go into the water.

“Our nickname for our unit is Reg so because she kept fighting we decided to call her Little Reg.

“It’s amazing to see her doing so well now after what she has been through - and great that she’s up to full fighting weight.”

And a crewman of the Caister Independent Lifeboat has said he is “really pleased” at the outcome of the owl’s adventures.

Paul Garrod, Chairman and crewmen of Caister Independent Lifeboat, added: “I was on the boat during the rescue. I was called by Dan at 3am to tell me a barn owl had landed on a yacht and needed rescuing. The nearest point of land was just off Caister - where we went out and picked her up.

“It was a pleasure to help - we are lifeboat crew, this was a particularly different job and we were really happy to assist. I am really pleased to be here to see Reg on her way.”