Picked up escaped bird of prey in Swiss canton (7)

I believe the answer is:

lucerne

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'swiss canton' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'picked up escaped bird of prey' is the wordplay.
'picked up' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'escaped' becomes 'cul' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'bird of prey' becomes 'erne' (erne is a kind of bird of prey).
'cul' backwards is 'luc'.
'luc'+'erne'='LUCERNE'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lucerne that I've seen before include "clover?" , "Fodder crop - lake" , "ake" , "Fodder plant - lake" , "Swiss city; cattle feed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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