AN EXOTIC bird on the loose in Southampton since Wednesday has finally been caught.

The silvery-cheeked hornbill, called Albert, gave his owner Michael Levy the slip when his aviary doors were opened on Wednesday morning.

Mr Levy, who lives in The Drive, West End, frantically tracked down the hornbill across Southampton before managing to catch him in a back garden in Netley Abbey on Thursday evening.

He said: “Albert landed in a back garden in Mortimer Road and I managed to get him with a net.

“He hit a wall on the back of the house and damaged his beak. He is feeling a bit sorry for himself.

“I am relieved to have caught him – I am now going to source him a female.”

As previously reported by the Echo, Albert, who is native to Africa, was spotted at a residential care home in Netley hours before he was caught.

Staff and residents at Netley Court, in Victoria Road, were shocked after the bird landed in a small gated area outside resident Alfred Haase’s window.

Danny Carter, 48, head of maintenance and housekeeping at Netley Court, said: "The bird first flew into the fenced area at around 3.15pm.

"He stayed there for around 20 minutes. We were thinking of getting it but decided against because we didn't to injure it.

"It then flew across the front of the home, hit a window and landed on the floor."

Before staff could react, Albert gathered himself and flew into the yew tree.

Danny added: "It is a lovely looking bird and we hope that it gets returned to its owner."

Alfred Haase is the resident whose room Albert landed outside.

The 97-year-old said: "I saw it hop around - it seemed a bit frightened.

"At first, all I saw was the flash of yellow from his beak and I thought it was a snake.

"Once I realised it was a bird, I thought it was a toucan. I have never seen a bird like it before."

After resting in the yew tree, Albert took flight towards Netley at around 5.10pm.

Mr Levy, who was at the home but powerless to do anything, chased after Albert before he was contacted by the residents of a house in Mortimer Road, who found the bird in their back garden.

When Mr Levy arrived, he found Albert eating bananas in the garden before re-capturing him.