HIGH winds over the weekend have led to the disappearance of a rare falcon, and his owner is offering a reward to get him back.

Seven-year-old male gyrfalcon Shackleton went missing from his owner's home at about 2pm on Saturday at Great Broughton, North Yorkshire.

His owner, Mark Robb, believes the strong winds may have rattled the bolt on Shackleton's cage, causing it to unlock and allowing him to escape.

He is offering £300 to anyone who helps him find the bird, who is named after Sir Ernest Shackleton, the explorer famous for his Antarctic expeditions.

Gyrfalcons are endangered species and can be found in Greenland, Baffin Island, near Canada, Iceland and parts of Russia.

Mr Robb said: "On Saturday, it was quite windy and the falcon was sat in his chamber, which has a bolt on the door. The wind must have been rattling the door and the bolt has flown open and he has flown away.

"He is pure white, like the driven snow. It's like when fresh snow has laid and it is absolutely unmistakable. People are familiar with the peregrine falcons that are blue or brown, but he is not like that at all."

Mr Robb, an avian biologist, said Shackleton has jet black markings on the tip of each wing and it has very small jet black ticks on its shoulders.

He also has two Government rings on one of his legs, with an identification number.

He said the bird was well-fed and could live for between five and seven days off its fat, but would start looking for food after that and may approach people for food.

Mr Robb said Shackleton could be 200 miles away or sitting in a nearby wood, and asked members of the public to look out for him.

People are asked to call Mr Robb on 07951-113591.