Rare falcon spotted in Chorley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rare falcon spotted in Chorley

11:38am Friday 16th January 2009 in

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A BIRD of prey enthusiast was stunned to see a rare peregrine falcon in Chorley town centre which seems to have taken up residence on the roof of a church.

Ivan Lynas, whose passion for falcons has taken him and his wife Natasia across the country observing them, spotted the bird in Market Street.

Ivan, 48, the licensee of the Imperial pub, Union Street, said: “I was on my way to the bank at about 3pm when I noticed the peregrine flying above the street in pursuit of a crow.

“I knew immediately I wasn’t mistaken and decided to look for it on the higher buildings around the town centre.”

After a 10-minute search Ivan spotted the bird, which he believes is a lone female, among the spires of St George’s Church.

He has since seen it on three days at the same location.

Breeding birds in the UK are normally in the uplands of the north and west and rocky coasts.