A Scots racing pigeon took a wrong turn and walked into a pub in England some 148 miles from home.
The Dumfries-bound bird turned up at The Black Swan Inn, in York on Friday after it was blown-off course by strong winds.
Staff were left baffled when the bird wandered into the boozer to take shelter.
Maggie Anderton, owner of The Black Swan Inn, said staff noticed their unusual visitor after he showed up twice.
She said: “One of the girls on the bar stuck their head through - they are very unflappable my girls - so she said ‘oh, Mags, there is a pigeon in the oak room.’
“I went out and it just sort of stood on the floor, quite happy. Me and one of the lads escorted him out of the front door with towels and a broom.”
But two hours later the stout-bodied creature made it's way back through their door.
“One of the girls was finishing and was having her lunch in the dining room and she stuck her head in the door and said ‘I thought you got rid of that pigeon’,” said Maggie.
“I went out and he was just sat in the middle of the dining room, again, just like ‘yeah, I’m here’.”
A search for the owner of the racing pigeon got underway with staff tracking it’s location to Dumfries through the power of the internet.
The pigeon’s owner then revealed that if the bird was able to get to Carlisle from York it would fly home with no further detours.
“He was supposed to fly up through Lancashire and he’s just obviously taken a wrong turn over the Pennines,” said Maggie.
“And he thought the best place to ask for help would be us.”
She added: “That’s probably one of the weirdest things that’s ever happened here.”
The pub is now asking punters if they could give the pigeon a lift to Carlisle or ideally all the way up to Dumfries.
“His owner says that he will find his way home if he can hitchhike to Carlisle...is anyone driving that way from York who could give him a lift?,” a Facebook post reads.
“He’s very friendly, a great passenger and will chip in for petrol in exchange for food.”
Maggie added: “That pretty much sums it up: ‘very confident racing pigeon seeks help to get back home to Scotland’.”
The bird is being taken care of by a pigeon rescue until his return home.
Anyone who could help is asked to contact The Black Swan Inn by calling 01904 679131 or via their Facebook page Salem the pub cat York.
