Hey Frankie! Preening peacock pride of local housing estate
RESIDENTS on a Bridgend housing estate have been greeted by an unlikely visitor: a peacock.
Pictures show the peacock looking very comfortable on top of various houses and in gardens around Brackla in Bridgend over the last few days.
However, amused residents don’t seem to mind their “stunning” new neighbour – he has made quite an impression.
Kev Robertson, 66, from Brackla, said the unexpected guest has brought him joy while he shields because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said last week: “I was opening the door to our conservatory at 6.30am and spotted it on the roof of the house backing on to our back garden.
“As a keen amateur photographer and part of Bridgend Camera Club, I happened to have my camera at hand and ended up with the shots you have seen.”
“It was around for approximately an hour and then flew off towards Old Brackla and Bridgend.
“As I am shielding and stuck at my property, I resort to taking photographs of anything flying over, whether it be sparrows, hawks, helicopters, jet liners and RAF transport aircraft.
“To open the door and see this large coloured bird on the roof opposite made my day and has been a highlight of my lockdown.”
Others joked on social media, saying the peacock is “doing the tour of Bridgend” and that they hope he will soon pay them a visit too. It’s not clear where the peacock has come from. Some people believe it has come from Merthyr Mawr, and others believe it has come from Laleston.
However, Louise Mallett, 23, from Laleston, believes it is her peacock, Frankie, who got away during strong winds in March.
“We owned two females and him, but when we had bad weather the high winds blew them off the roof. We think this is why the male has gone as he is most likely looking for them,” she said.
“It was first seen in Tythegston not far from our house.
“We did go to try and catch it but flew off, and we have had people messaging to say where they have seen it.
“It’s proving hard to catch him as he always roosts up high on somebody’s roof.”