An England football flag, a pair of underpants, two white socks and a soft toy are among the unusual objects recovered from the nests of red kites.
The birds of prey are known for their tendency to steal items of clothing from washing lines to make their nests.
Their odd haul also includes a glove, a sponge ball and the greying underwear, the RSPB revealed.
The knick-knacks were found in nests across the north east of England where the birds were reintroduced into Gateshead’s Derwent Valley four years ago.
Two of the older kites, which were the first pair to breed in Gateshead since 1834, also became grandparents at the age of four.
bird of prey with a wingspan of almost two metres – became extinct in the north of England during the early 1800s
