A common scoter has been released back into the wild following a stint of rehabilitation at RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre.

Described as an “unusual patient” for the Nantwich centre, the sea bird was brought in for care after being attacked by a cat near Painsley Catholic College in Cheadle on March 31.

Thankfully he was found and taken to a vets in Stoke-on-Trent who then contacted the RSPCA. 

Common scoters are diving sea ducks that can plunge several metres underwater to catch molluscs and crustaceans - using their strong bills to crack open shells. Sadly their UK breeding population has declined and it is now a Red List species, and of conservation concern in the UK.

Scoters have special protection  under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and are listed under Schedule 1. One of the main threats to this species are oil spills as wintering populations are particularly vulnerable to these, as well as being caught in commercial nets, and habitat degradation. 

Common scoters are usually found in the sea, but can also be seen inland sometimes too.

Wildlife Centre Deputy Manager Charlotte Williams said: “We were quite surprised when we realised what type of bird this was, and it’s quite an unusual collection for the RSPCA and not one we often treat at Stapeley.

“The scoter came to us via a vets after the bird had been found in Cheadle. The bird had sadly been attacked by a cat, and  luckily he wasn’t badly hurt.

“He responded well to treatment which included providing pain relief and antibiotics and once signed off by the vet he just needed a quick wash and testing for waterproofing before being released!”

The scoter was released on Wednesday 8 April in Holywell and a video shows him swimming off into the sea.

Charlotte added: “We are so pleased that we have been able to rehabilitate him successfully and he has now been released back to the wild.”

Back in February, it was 30 years since the Sea Empress oil tanker disaster and RSPCA staff - including members of the current team at RSPCA Stapeley Grange in Nantwich, Cheshire -  looked back at the role they played in helping to save thousands of seabirds. 

The RSPCA launched a massive rescue operation in response to the disaster in an effort to save the thousands of oiled and dying seabirds that were so badly affected by the slick.

Most of the birds - around 90 per cent - were common scoters but the rescuers also dealt with guillemots, divers, gulls and swans.

Today the RSPCA continues to rescue, rehabilitate and release thousands of birds in need at its four wildlife centres. Though large oil spills like this are thankfully rare, over the past five years (2021 - 2025) the RSPCA has cared for 289 birds that were affected by oil or other contaminants, often caused by smaller oil leaks in canals or where waterways are contaminated with cooking oil.

For more information about what to do if you find a bird in distress please visit our website.