Runaway peacock Dave becomes squawk of the village

A peacock which ran away to a new village and evaded capture for several weeks has become an unlikely social media star.

Dave the peacock left his home in Claybrooke Magna, Leicestershire, early in December and an appeal to help find him led to a number of sightings four miles away in Broughton Astley.

While he was on the run, Dave endeared himself to people in Broughton Astley, who set up a dedicated Facebook group, The Dave Diary, and a TikTok account, called Only Dave’s Fans, which chronicled his adventures and various sightings.

Owner Alex Robinson finally recaptured Dave on Tuesday – but said he had “clearly” been kept well-fed while he was at large in the neighbouring village.

Dave is part of a family of four peacocks owned by Robinson – although only one called Glenda was at home when he returned.

The other two, Kenneth and Margaret, also ran away and are currently somewhere in the countryside in the village of Leire, which is nearer their home than Broughton Astley.

Robinson and her partner Kyle Dewis bought the birds from livestock markets in Melton Mowbray and Thrapston about four years ago, when the peacocks and peahens cost about £200 each.

She said all four birds had been “homebodies” and had not roamed further afield until recently.

Robinson said: “We do have an aviary which we do keep them in most of the time, but we like to have them free range.

“Dave and his clan have been quite happy and stayed where they should be, but for the past couple of months they’ve been going off and coming back – and Dave has taken it a little bit too far this time.”

While attempts were regularly made to capture Dave by both Robinson and villagers – normally by shaking a box of seeds to tempt him into a shed or outbuilding – he proved too elusive until this week.

Robinson said: “I was quite worried with the cold weather, but then again he’s a bird so he’s used to living outside and they know how to keep warm.

“But he’s back safe, and looks really well.

“The village are not so happy I have caught him mind!”

Users of the social media accounts which chronicled Dave’s movements not only posted real sightings, but a number of tongue-in-cheek mocked up photographs including Dave in Barbados, Dave pumping iron in the gym and Dave piloting a Spitfire.

The BBC spoke to a number of people in Broughton Astley on Monday – and all of them knew about Dave and his adventures.

David Yanall said: “I haven’t seen him but I think most people know who he is.”

John Kerr said: “The missus showed me a photo of him at the other end of the village. Someone had uploaded it to Facebook.

And Sophie Borum said: “I haven’t seen him but I have been following his adventures on the Facebook group. I’ve been trying to look out for him.”