This is the moment a group of friends saved an oystercatcher bird that had its beak stuck - in an oyster.
The metal detectorist pals found the stricken wading bird in Canvey Island, Essex, on Saturday morning.
Dave Isbell, Dan Perkins and Gary Smith - known as the Treasure Island Tector Squad -saw the bird's bill stuck in an oyster.
They have a long beak and specialise in eating shellfish, particularly cockles and mussels.
They were able to help free it with a key fob before the grateful bird flew off.
Gary said: ''When we are unable to detect on farmers' land we go out into the estuary to detect and find shrapnel, bullets and old bottles.
''Just after sun broke I could see an oyster catcher with an oyster - not having ever having seen an oyster catcher eating oysters.
''I watched and soon realised there was something wrong. I approached the bird and it did not make any attempt to fly off, they are usually spooked quite easily.
''I shouted over to Dan to ask if he had a knife to assist with the removal of the oyster as the bird had its beak caught.
''I expect the oyster was open and in attack mode closed up on the bird (hazards of being an oyster catcher I expect.
''Unfortunately Dan only had a few keys so I used his key fob to slowly gently as possible pry open the oyster.
''It was really quite hard to even move it a few millimeters and not wanting to hurt the bird.
''Eventually I managed to get a few millimeter more to free the bird who gathered it's thoughts and said thank you as it flew off.''
The metal detectorist pals found the stricken wading bird in Canvey Island, Essex, on Saturday morning.
Dave Isbell, Dan Perkins and Gary Smith - known as the Treasure Island Tector Squad -saw the bird's bill stuck in an oyster.
They have a long beak and specialise in eating shellfish, particularly cockles and mussels.
They were able to help free it with a key fob before the grateful bird flew off.
Gary said: ''When we are unable to detect on farmers' land we go out into the estuary to detect and find shrapnel, bullets and old bottles.
''Just after sun broke I could see an oyster catcher with an oyster - not having ever having seen an oyster catcher eating oysters.
''I watched and soon realised there was something wrong. I approached the bird and it did not make any attempt to fly off, they are usually spooked quite easily.
''I shouted over to Dan to ask if he had a knife to assist with the removal of the oyster as the bird had its beak caught.
''I expect the oyster was open and in attack mode closed up on the bird (hazards of being an oyster catcher I expect.
''Unfortunately Dan only had a few keys so I used his key fob to slowly gently as possible pry open the oyster.
''It was really quite hard to even move it a few millimeters and not wanting to hurt the bird.
''Eventually I managed to get a few millimeter more to free the bird who gathered it's thoughts and said thank you as it flew off.''
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