Colourful mandarin ducks have been appearing across the West Midlands, drawing birdwatchers and photographers to beauty spots such as Sutton Park. Experts say their numbers in Britain have grown strongly in recent years, with breeding numbers rising sharply since the mid-1990s.
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A seven-month-old cat that had gone missing while his family was on holiday was found wandering on a moorland fell in Cumbria by a group of walkers. The walkers flagged down a car whose driver turned out to be the owner's neighbour, and the cat was reunited with his family.
Rio, a rescue dog who was once too frightened to approach, has been trained by a retired police dog trainer and now works with the National Crime Agency-led Operation Machinize. Her confidence has grown greatly since she arrived at Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary near Plymouth.
A newborn calf named Neil broke a leg after being trampled by a herd spooked by fireworks on a farm near Skegness. A vet fitted a plaster cast, and the calf was soon back on its feet and reported to be doing well.
