The Cornish Owlman (sometimes "Owl Man") is one of the lesser known cryptids. Unlike many of the more famous "monsters" in the field of cryptozoology, it appeared only in one specific place for a very short period of time. There is no body of folklore surrounding it and there have been very few recent sightings. It could easily be dismissed out of hand were it not for the curious circumstances surrounding it.

What is the Owlman?
The Owlman was seen during the years 1976 - 1978 in the county of Cornwall. More specifically, it was seen in the vicinity of the Mawnan Village. Some of the sightings were reported to the well-known cryptozoologist Tony "Doc" Shiels who reportedly coined the name "Owlman".
The first sighting took place on April 17, 1976 and was reported by two girls, June and Vicky Melling. They reportedly saw a large, feathered "bird man" hovering over the Mawnan Church on Morgawr's Mile. The sighting left the two girls so frightened that the family cut short its holiday.

Similar sightings were reported over the next two years and a picture of the Owlman emerged: a partially feathered man sized owl with pointed ears and clawed feet. It was a silvery grey colour with slanting red eyes. Some people have seen similarities between the Owlman and the better known Mothman.

There were several sightings of the Owlman between 1976 and 1978, all in the vicinity of Mawnan Church, after which it seems to have disappeared. There have been one or two reports since then but not many.


Strange Days
What makes the Cornish Owlman story so interesting is that it didn't take place in isolation. The sightings happened at a time when many weird things were going on in the area.
During the spring of 1976, the weather in Cornwall went through extreme shifts between heat waves and cold snaps. Animals behaved strangely - there are reports of packs of dogs, cats and birds terrorising people. In addition there was an upsurge in UFO reports. Add to all of this the fact that Mawnan Church is reportedly situated on a ley line and the whole thing becomes worthy of investigation. Something strange was happening in the area at the time.

The strange goings on in Cornwall at the time can be connected to the Owlman story in many possible ways. To a skeptic, it suggests a possible wave of mass hysteria. After the first sighting was reported the prevailing atmosphere of weirdness could have induced others to believe they saw something similar.

Another possibility is that there really was something strange in the region at the time, possibly some form of freak earth energy or other power. This could possibly be connected with the unusual weather and animal behaviour. If this were the case then even if the Mothman sightings were hallucinations they would remain interesting as another symptom of whatever was really going on at the time.

Of course, the irresistable connection is with the local UFO flap. Is it at all possible that the Owlman was actually an alien visitor passing through, or possibly an alien pet that had somehow escaped?

It sounds a bit like the Mothman here in the US. A cousin, perhaps???

Linkie,
Http://www.cfz.org.uk/features/owlman.htm

In Alien Animals (1985), British paranormal researchers Janet and Colin Bord pointed out that Mawnan church is built in the middle of a prehistoric earthwork. They suggest that the church may be built on a ley line (a straight line that passes through and links several ancient sites), and speculate that the appearance of the Owlman may be a manifestation of earth energy in this place.

A more straightforward explanation may be that the Owlman sightings were of an escaped eagle owl (Bubo bubo), a species that can grow more than two feet long, with a wingspan of nearly six feet.

Perhaps the most comprehensive study into the Owlman was undertaken by Jonathan Downes, the founder of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, (the worlds largest cryptozoological organisation) in his book 'The Owlman and Others'(1997).

Hey! i found a video with owlmen!

http://tootsieorly.ytmnd.com/

enjoy...

ROFL This looks like the guy that lives in the tree in my backyard.

Sounds alot like the mothman if you ask me.

Probably is a similar animal.

There have been a lot of " sightings " in the past 10 years in my city about something like that, some people started to say that some Gargoyles were seen in " el cerro "
And some people apparently went missing, womens in general, a man-sized bird that only hunts in night.

Time passed, and the people forgot all that things, but i even remember watching the news in the local newspaper.


good bye

thanks, iv never heard of the owlman before
hope the thread flourishes
ill do some digging

Korvus, are you talking about what we call the "Birdman" of Mexico?

The Owlman and Mothman have very similar incidences...Point Pleasant had a Rash of UFO sightings before mothman, and the infamous "Men in Black"'.

There is a pciture you say...Does anyone have it? I'm going to go digging for it

Who makes up these names...?

There's...

a. Mothman

b. Goatman

c. Batman

d. Superman

e. ... & now, Owlman!

*I intentionally omitted a few from the list because I didn't feel like typing so much.

TeraLink Was Here!

Banannaman is next or Ratman,Soupman,Featherman,Lizardman,Snakeman,Tigerman,Elephantman

They are large, impressive creaures. Large ear tufts look like horns, big bright eyes, huge wings. I can see how they might be confused with some other, unknown animal, if caught in a fleeting glimpse while moving through the trees.

probably another mothman

Mothman...Owlman.... Where the heck is BATman when all this is going on, huh?

You forgot the biggest group.

f. Buttman

Don't forget!
G. He-man!