31 March 2010
A tawny owl stuck inside a disused water tank on the Coldwell Reservoir near Nelson in Lancashire has been saved thanks to eagle-eyed workmen.
The drama happened in January when contractors working for United Utilities on a GBP four million improvement scheme at the reservoir spotted the owl - about the size of a pigeon - trapped at the bottom of the dark water chamber.
The North West water firm had emptied the reservoir back in September to work on expanding the spillway channel - building a new water-retaining wave wall and improving the down-face of the dam (including reducing its gradient).
The huge water tanks - normally used to wash down the reservoirs spillway - had been out of service for more than five years and were about to be bulldozed by workmen when the alarm was raised.
Chris Verity, from Skipton, working on the contract at the dam, said: "These tanks had been decommissioned for more than five years, -and we were about to bulldoze them when I spotted the owl standing on a little ledge at the bottom.
"I could tell it had walked across the bottom of the empty tank because it was covered in sludge and oil and was very distressed and frightened.
"We had to make sure our rescue plan considered how to get him out unhurt - as well as our own safety in entering an enclosed, dark space.
"After consulting our own safety and environmental procedures and liaising with the RSPB and RSPCA by phone to chat through our plans we lowered a ladder into the chamber and eventually managed to coax him into coming to our hands by calling to him."
Tawny owls are nocturnal so they are often heard calling at night, but much less often seen.
Mr Verity believes the owl was probably chasing a field mouse into the tank, or was in search of water and just couldn't find his way out.
He added: "Once we got the bird out he was taken to a nearby vet and were pleased to hear he then made a full recovery at the Settle Falconry."
The owl was released back into the wild last week by United Utilities near the Coldwell Reservoir.