Owlman
A winged feathered humanoid of Cornish church grounds.
- Region
- Mawnan, Cornwall, England
- Documented sightings
- 3 on map →
Overview
The Owlman is a winged humanoid reported in 1976 around St Mawnan and St Stephen's Church near Mawnan Smith, Cornwall, England. The cryptid was investigated and publicized by writer and stage magician Tony "Doc" Shiels, who collected detailed witness drawings and additional reports through 1978.
Identification
Reported as approximately human-sized but covered in gray-brown feathers, with broad wings, large red glowing eyes, pointed ears, and clawed feet described as "shaped like blacksmiths' pincers." Witnesses describe the creature hovering or perching on branches near the church tower at dusk, ascending silently when approached.
Lore & Origin
The April 1976 sighting by sisters June and Vicky Melling of Preston initiated the case, followed by the July 1976 encounter by Sally Chapman and Barbara Perry. Tony Shiels's investigation — published in his 1990 book "Monstrum!" — collected drawings from multiple independent witnesses that he found similar enough to verify the basic morphology while distinct enough to rule out collusion.