The Owlman of Mawnan
Two young sisters on holiday in Cornwall said they saw a huge owl-like figure with glowing eyes hovering above a church tower.
What was reported
In April 1976, two young sisters on holiday near Mawnan, in Cornwall, said they saw a large, feathered, man-sized figure with pointed ears and red eyes hovering above the tower of the village church. Their father reported it to a local writer.
A few more sightings were reported near the church woods over the following years. The creature was named the Owlman.
Explanations offered
The writer who publicised the story was known for playful hoaxes, and some suspect he exaggerated it. Others suggest the girls saw a large owl, such as an escaped eagle owl, which can have a wingspan of nearly two metres. No evidence of an unknown creature has been found.
- When
- April 1976
- Where
- Mawnan, Cornwall, England
- Witnesses
- Two young sisters, and a few others
- Status
- Disputed
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.