Steven Your father is quite correct about the Barn Owls in the old Burnden Park. I was a season ticket holder in the 70`s at Bolton and there sometimes was a Owl perched under the roof above the old Manchester road Paddock which I stood in . It even got on TV once during an evening match when if flew over the pitch as the match was in progress.
I also saw Barn Owls between 1978 -81 from behind Bolton Techical College on Manchester road , a little further down from Burnden park. They hunted between the A666 and the College , where toys r us and Comet were eventually built. I would see them most nights after my evening class had finished perched on the same post watching for prey.
Watching Bolton beat Utd 1-0 2 peregrines came into stadium, one perched on iron girders of the roof looked like it was getting comfortable for the night. The other kept flying in and out. Also a Grey wagtail flying around confused until it eventually flew up onto the roof. Altogether a very enjoyable afternoon.
Edit: also while we are on the subject my dad used to see Barn Owls at the old Burnden park in the 70s. Anybody else remember this.
