A RELIEVED falconer finally reunited with his cheeky Barn Owl Dave after he went missing for 11 days.

Paul Gray from Priestwood, explained how Dave went missing when him and his Grandson accidentally left the Avery door unlocked.

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Dave bumped into the door whilst flying around and flew onto the next door neighbours tree.

After trying to call him back, Dave flew off towards Warfield and a "brilliant" community stepped in to post sightings of Dave on Facebook.

The falconry expert of 20 years said: "It took 11 days to get him back. There were lots of sightings and a lot of chasing around for him. "When he got out he was fat as anything and wouldn't be looking for food. But kept birds don't last long in the wild as they have been hand reared so don't know how to hunt for food.

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"I was whistling, showing food on the glove for four and half hours and then two ladies walking by said they him sitting on the fence. "I stood 12 metres away under the tree and he came down and then flew off further along. I got underneath somehow and just grabbed his legs."

Paul has done a number of summer shows for Bracknell Forest Council and also owns his own business GMG Falconry where they do summer shows, school fetes and more.

This year, all 14 shows have been cancelled due to Coronavirus meaning he has "lost out on about 4 to £5,000".

He said: "I have 16 birds in total, six Harris's hawks, falcons, Bengal European Owl, two small mottled owls and I once owned a golden eagle.

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"I use the hawks as part of my job doing pest control so that keeps me afloat. But I have always loved bird ever since I was a child and when I first visited a country show I said 'wow that's something I'd love to do'."

His son Chris summed up the whole ordeal of missing Dave.

He said: "Well the little devil has been found. Thank you to everyone who has helped us over the last week. Including the two ladies for spotting him today. He’s now grounded for a month with no TV or Xbox."