Jackdaw being mobbed by Carrion Crows over Spinningfields near the court building at 11:00
steven burke said
Sun Oct 6 8:14 PM, 2013
kingfisher seen again flying up stream of the river Irwell opposite the lowry hotel this afternoon. 6 grey wagtails, 1 grey heron & 16 Canada geese from ncp car park bridge.
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 6th of October 2013 08:14:53 PM
steven burke said
Sat Oct 5 4:19 AM, 2013
now a water rail would off made a great 66th species for the city centre, the funny thing is there is actually an ideal place for it to go not too far away I obviously had a look in this area this afternoon, but nothing around. a kingfisher was seeing flying downstream of the river Irwell from Victoria bridge, also 2 grey herons & 4 grey wagtails.
GM Local Record Centre said
Fri Oct 4 7:32 PM, 2013
A Water Rail was standing on a 1st floor window sill of Manchester Town Hall office annexe yesterday afternoon. Thanks to Dave Barlow for reporting the sighting. The bird appeared very lively, so the decision was taken to leave it be. It had gone this morning. A photo of the bird can be viewed here GMLRC Facebook
Mark Whalley said
Mon Jul 1 12:32 PM, 2013
Warbler singing from rooftops Saturday afternoon in the Port Street, Newton Street, Great Ancoats Street area. Sorry I'm not au fait with warbler songs but brief closer glimpse when it descended to car park on Dean Street didn't reveal any bright markings or eye stripes. May be a Garden Warbler.
-- Edited by Mark Whalley on Monday 1st of July 2013 12:32:54 PM
Neil Ferguson said
Thu Jun 27 2:11 PM, 2013
Neil McCall wrote:
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Has anyone else noted the increased presence of Lesser Black-backed Gull in the City Centre?
Yes, they seem to be getting increasingly common all around Manchester, I see them fairly often in Northenden/Wythenshawe areas. Bristol's always had plenty and I've seen a fair number in Birmingham, they seem to becoming more of an inland/city bird.
There was a nice feature on Urban Gulls on the last series of Springwatch.
A pair of Herring Gulls and a pair of Lesser Black Backed nesting on opposite parts of a Bristol building flat roof.
Mark Whalley said
Wed Jun 26 8:59 PM, 2013
Young heron has taken up residence on the stretch of the Ashton Canal that runs from behind The Green on Ducie Street to Gt Ancoats. His fishing tecnique is a bit crude as he waits on the bank and then lunges into the canal. Fairly successful though. Was walking over the bridge at the top of Jutland St when saw a pair of kestrels dive bombing something in the canal basin. It turned out to be the heron. No idea why they would be doing that unless they had young somewhere??
Adam Jones said
Tue Jun 25 4:47 PM, 2013
I too thought I heard a Black Redstart on Friday morning singing from atop the the Town Hall. Again I couldn't be certain due to traffic noise, but worth keeping eye/ear out for.
Steve Suttill said
Tue Jun 25 4:42 PM, 2013
Whilst looking up at the Peregrine flying lessons this morning, I thought I heard a brief snatch of Black Redstart song around the Cathedral/Corn Exchange.
Didn't put this in the Black Redstart thread as I may have been mistaken and/or confused by traffic noise
Neil McCall said
Sat May 25 5:12 AM, 2013
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Has anyone else noted the increased presence of Lesser Black-backed Gull in the City Centre?
Yes, they seem to be getting increasingly common all around Manchester, I see them fairly often in Northenden/Wythenshawe areas. Bristol's always had plenty and I've seen a fair number in Birmingham, they seem to becoming more of an inland/city bird.
Tim Wilcox said
Sat May 25 4:03 AM, 2013
Giselle Kennedy wrote:
Black Redstart singing from the rooftop opposite the Churchill Pub on Canal Street at 16.15 today.
Fantastic news Giselle! Black Redstarts have their own thread BLACK REDSTARTS IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE and there's another long-standing thread for the Peregrines (hence 'Other Manchester City Centre Birds') I will be keeping an ear and eye out when I get back to work in the City Centre next week and hoping to see one from my desk!
Rob Smallwood said
Fri May 24 10:40 PM, 2013
Has anyone else noted the increased presence of Lesser Black-backed Gull in the City Centre?
Giselle Hayers said
Fri May 24 2:37 AM, 2013
Black Redstart singing from the rooftop opposite the Churchill Pub on Canal Street at 16.15 today.
dave broome said
Fri May 17 7:35 PM, 2013
Lesser Whitethroat still along the Irwell today, opposite Water Street car park, Bullfinch calling by Princes Bridge, Canada Geese with 8 small gosling on the Irwell. Chaffinch singing at Potato Wharf and Grey Heron on the Medlock there.
steven burke said
Thu May 16 7:21 PM, 2013
on a walk into city centre along the river Irwell at 10.15am there was a singing lesser whitethroat on the side off the Victoria & albert hotel, in trees next to the lock, showed well also and flew across river then back again on a couple off occasions. a new city centre bird for me I also added a single male bullfinch to that list and to make a hat-trick of it, I had 2 sedge warblers in the same area on my way back past at 3.50pm on thinking I wonder if it was the 2 sedge warblers that were at Pomona earlier in the morning, it turned out they were not as at least 1 was still there when passing later on. also in the same area 4 swallows, plenty of goldfinches & greenfinches. also male goosander flew upstream whilst crossing Victoria bridge
-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 16th of May 2013 07:22:53 PM
Kath Butterworth said
Sun Apr 28 12:00 PM, 2013
I received a request at work on Friday to ID a small brown bird which had been found stunned after hitting a glass window in the courtyard at John Dalton, MMU.
I found a Woodcock! To my embarrassment, the bird flew off as I lifted the lid of the box it had been placed in. Having crash landed once more, it was left to recover . I brought it to Delph and released it Friday evening . The plan being the release site had plenty of open space and shrub to avoid any further window strikes.. What did the bird do , but head for the lights of our neighbors houses! Eventually we directed it , to fly into shrub. Myself, Phil and all the neighbors then had a sleepless night as there was a hail storm after we had released it.
There was no sign of the bird the following day , so hopefully it has flown on its way. The Woodcock appeared to have a film or cataract on its left eye, so that is possibly why it flew into the windows?
Photos of the Woodcock in our kitchen and in the garden will be on the website soon.
-- Edited by Kath Butterworth on Sunday 28th of April 2013 12:01:26 PM
-- Edited by Kath Butterworth on Sunday 28th of April 2013 12:04:12 PM
dave broome said
Sat Apr 20 6:33 PM, 2013
a Jay late morning from Salford over the ring road and Irwell at Water Street. Willow Warbler singing briefly at Prince's Bridge
Rob Creek said
Sat Apr 6 6:11 PM, 2013
I have spoken to Ian but unfortunately I can only give him a rough idea of when the sightings were made, and I happened to be working both times (delivering) when I saw the Red Kite and the Red Tailed Hawk. This was before I knew about Ian's site Tim, but I did get in contact with who I thought were the relevant people at the time. Cheers
Tim Wilcox said
Sat Apr 6 6:15 AM, 2013
Rob
You should ask Ian McKerchar, County Recorder and website moderator, about submitting a rarities report for your previous sighting. Red Kites are common in some places - I can see them from my brother's kitchen window in Oxfordshire - here in GM they are still very big news
Rob Creek said
Sat Apr 6 2:04 AM, 2013
Roughly 12 months ago (before I was on this site) I had a Red Kite fly over me on Princess Parkway near where the big park is at the Sale Moor / Wythenshawe Rd junction as I was on way to a delivery. I couldn't believe how close to the city centre it was but your sighting is even better. I phoned the RSPB NorthWest Office at the time and they were well aware of the presence of Red Kites in the Manchester area.
About 3 years ago I was on the A57 between Irlam and Warrington (Warburton Bridge area) and I was watching a Red-Tailed Hawk after flying right over the van, unmistakeable! Again I phoned and emailed the RSPB, they weren't surprised one bit as they knew it was an escapee a year or so before and was proving to be successful on its own.
Approx 10 years ago from my back garden in Denton, I think it was either August or Septmber, quite high in the sky we could hear this commotion and it was a mass of about 50-60 medium sized B-o-P circling, bear in mind they were quite high up. I couldn't say exact species but I thought they were a mix of Buzzard species and maybe some of the Hawks. I'd not seen it before and never seen it since but I do know they do this.
We are very lucky here in Manchester (and surrounding areas) as we seem to do very well for Birds of Prey, obviously with the Peregrinne's, the odd Osprey sighting, Sparrowhawks going from strength to strength, Harris Hawk escapees doing well (1 at Heaton Park and 1 I've seen in Westhoughton/Leigh area) Buzzards an increasing sight now over the M60, me and my brother watched out for them from the car window when we were young on our way to Wales or The South, never Manchester. Oh and Ma n Pa had a Hobby on the garage roof last Autumn here in Denton, it just goes to show Birds of Prey can and do turn up where you never used to see them. It's all Good!
Steve Suttill said
Sat Apr 6 12:33 AM, 2013
Rob Smallwood wrote:
About 14:00 this afternoon a stunning Red Kite flew north through the City Centre, was intercepted around St Peter's square by the Peregrines and headed back south.
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Friday 5th of April 2013 03:21:36 PM
Damned Peregrines! If it hadn't been for them the Kite might have flown over my workplace!
Tim Wilcox said
Fri Apr 5 11:31 PM, 2013
Lawson Dauer wrote:
Rob Smallwood wrote:
About 14:00 this afternoon a stunning Red Kite flew north through the City Centre, was intercepted around St Peter's square by the Peregrines and headed back south.
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Friday 5th of April 2013 03:21:36 PM
Incidents like this make me jealous I no longer work in the city centre.
I do work in the city centre. My office window even looks out over part of St.Peter's Square. Of course I was in a shop on Cross St. at the time and missed it all
Lawson Dauer said
Fri Apr 5 10:25 PM, 2013
Rob Smallwood wrote:
About 14:00 this afternoon a stunning Red Kite flew north through the City Centre, was intercepted around St Peter's square by the Peregrines and headed back south.
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Friday 5th of April 2013 03:21:36 PM
Incidents like this make me jealous I no longer work in the city centre.
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Apr 5 3:09 PM, 2013
About 14:00 this afternoon a stunning Red Kite flew north through the City Centre, was intercepted around St Peter's square by the Peregrines and headed back south.
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Friday 5th of April 2013 03:21:36 PM
steven burke said
Mon Mar 25 3:13 AM, 2013
on the river Irwell feeding on the vegetation next to the Victoria & albert hotel was 1 chiffchaff 1 robin, 1 wren, 1 moorhen & 3 grey wagtail all within 4ft of each other. also plenty of greenfinches & goldfinches on opposite side. 4 grey wagtails, 1 moorhen on river outside of lowry hotel.
dave broome said
Sat Mar 16 9:06 PM, 2013
Goldcrest singing today by the Irwell, in Buddleia at the Trinity Way end of Princes Bridge off Water Street 2 Mute Swan near Lowry Hotel 3 Tufted Duck (2 drake 1 fem) just downstream of New Bridge Street
dave broome said
Fri Jan 25 5:45 AM, 2013
10 Mute Swans were on the Irwell today by Water St/the Marriot Hotel, also 3 Goosander; a drake Tufted Duck was underneath Wellington Bridge where the river passes beneath Trinity Way nr New Bridge St; Goldcrest in conifers by the Cathedral; Coal Tit and 14 Goldfinch St John's Gardens (still plenty of berries there on a row of Sorbus just off Lower Byrom Street)
steven burke said
Mon Jan 21 7:07 AM, 2013
around dinner time 1 meadow pipit was feeding on the banks off the river Irwell, viewed from new bridge street, also 1 grey wagtail and a goldcrest in nearby tree. luecistic black headed gull was feeding with black headed gulls on the river Irwell, viewed from Victoria bridge street. whilst watching 2 goosanders (1m 1f) on the river irwell viewed from spinningfields bars next to the metal footbridge around 1.40pm, a nice surprise was a chiffchaff just below me feeding on the vegetation on the walls, it then flew over towards the mark addy and fed there for a while before flying back over the other side, then lost sight off it.
dave broome said
Fri Jan 18 4:21 AM, 2013
2 Mute Swan and a Goosander on the Irwell this afternoon by Water Street A Collared Dove was on a street light along the Mancunian Way near Ashton Old Road - I get the impression that these aren't around the city centre much, even around the ring road and river corridors, where there are quite a few conifers and decent sized Poplars - is that the case?
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jan 17 4:49 PM, 2013
Originally posted by Ian Kay earlier today:
I work in a building on Sackville Street. At around 14.30 yesterday went upstairs to the 3rd floor.....there was a Kestrel sat on the window sill outside. Beautiful and to be 3 feet away from it.....even through glass was a fantastic feeling. After 5 seconds though it saw me and flew off. Been hoping it would come back all afternoon and done no work in the hope that I would see it again.
Ollie Wright said
Tue Jan 8 7:03 PM, 2013
Very loud scolding from a jenny Wren this morning in Manchester Peace Garden. The bird then buzzed from cover very close by and flew to a tree, where it continued its tirade.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Dec 2 7:46 PM, 2012
Chris Chandler wrote:
A flock of about 25 Pied Wagtails passed through the trees in St Anne's Square at about 4pm (01/12). Completely unperturbed by the carnage of the Christmas Market going on beneath them.
Rather the wagtails being unperturbed by the Christmas markets Chris, they actively seek them out to roost in the trees above them. The warmth rising up (powerful lighting, cooking, shoppers hot air!) must be very welcome indeed and is no doubt why the St.Annes Square roost alone has exceeded 800 on previous years
Chris Chandler said
Sun Dec 2 7:25 PM, 2012
A flock of about 25 Pied Wagtails passed through the trees in St Anne's Square at about 4pm (01/12). Completely unperturbed by the carnage of the Christmas Market going on beneath them.
Ray Scally said
Sun Dec 2 4:13 AM, 2012
I found a dead Woodcock outside the RBS in the middle of Spinningfields on the 23rd of Nov, the breasts were thorn out and most of the upper body which leads me to believe it may have been caught by one of the peregrines.
dave broome said
Sun Dec 2 3:51 AM, 2012
Little Grebe on the Irwell today directly under the Trinity Way bridge, 3 Mute Swan (2 ad and a first winter bird) opposite the Lowry Hotel Goldcrest calling, but unseen, in Conifers and/or Laurels between the Cathedral and Chetham's female Bullfinch by the River Medlock nr the Castlefield Youth Hostel
dave broome said
Fri Nov 30 9:47 PM, 2012
Chiffchaff with a small tit flock this morning in Castlefield on Duke Place in trees overlooking the open air events arena. 4 Goosander on the Irwell by Princes Bridge
Ollie Wright said
Sat Oct 20 4:14 PM, 2012
Lunch-time on Albert Square yesterday, pigeons flurrying about while a loud, agitated, high-pitched chipping cry emanated from somewhere on the Town Hall clock tower - a bird of prey was also circling high above. From listening back to audio, the call sounded most like Sparrowhawk.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Oct 20 3:54 PM, 2012
5 noisy House Sparrows having a territorial dispute on Tib Street this morning.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Oct 20 7:37 AM, 2012
dave broome wrote:
31 species this morning inside the ring road, including: Lesser Redpoll moving around the V&A Marriott on Water St and the Stanley St car park over the Irwell 5 Meadow Pipit and 1 Siskin flying S/SSE singles of Goldcrest and Coal Tit on Tonman Street at the rear of the MOSI transport building, the Goldcrest moving through the canopy of London Planes almost on to Deansgate Grey Wagtail and 2 Goosander on the Irwell Grey Heron on the River Medlock at Potato Wharf female Sparrowhawk soaring 9 Long-Tailed Tit along the Irwell at Water St
At least two (probably more) Goldcrest in Parsonage Gardens this evening in what appeared to be a mini fall of passerines...
dave broome said
Sat Oct 20 4:02 AM, 2012
31 species this morning inside the ring road, including: Lesser Redpoll moving around the V&A Marriott on Water St and the Stanley St car park over the Irwell 5 Meadow Pipit and 1 Siskin flying S/SSE singles of Goldcrest and Coal Tit on Tonman Street at the rear of the MOSI transport building, the Goldcrest moving through the canopy of London Planes almost on to Deansgate Grey Wagtail and 2 Goosander on the Irwell Grey Heron on the River Medlock at Potato Wharf female Sparrowhawk soaring 9 Long-Tailed Tit along the Irwell at Water St
Ollie Wright said
Sat Oct 6 4:54 PM, 2012
Heard then saw a Jay flying over Albert Square on Thursday.
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Aug 10 10:30 PM, 2012
Could it be a Dutch van Pigeon?
Steve Suttill said
Fri Aug 10 8:45 PM, 2012
Roger Baker 3 wrote:
I thought the Passenger Pigeon went extinct many years ago ?
Roger.
... and now we know why
Steve
Roger Baker 3 said
Fri Aug 10 8:10 PM, 2012
I thought the Passenger Pigeon went extinct many years ago ?
Roger.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Aug 10 4:54 PM, 2012
Have just seen a young Feral Pigeon (still with down on its head) take probably its first flight onto the roof of a parked van in Edge Street. The van then drove off with the pigeon on its roof, seemingly transfixed and looking rather puzzled Parent bird didn't seem in the least bothered
dave broome said
Sun Jul 15 3:53 AM, 2012
Robert Farmer wrote:
The Cormorants are almost a permanent feature on the light standard on the corner of Water St and Castlefield Bridge - highlight of my journey to work most days. (You can see two on there on the Google street view picture, if you look from Castlefield Bridge)
In the winter there can be half a dozen on each lamp standard round there - I assume that part of the appeal is the warmth from the lights, as well as the location?
I do wonder if the people using the car park beneath that lamp realize the risk they are taking! The Pigeons are bad enough but a couple of Cormorants could really take the shine off your paintwork!
Thanks for that Robert. I've had a quick look - the first time I've twitched a bird on Street View, but I dipped , mustn't have quite looked in the right spot yet.
The numbers in winter must be impressive. Two on light columns in Wigan during the winter of 2010/11 were the only previous ones I recall seeing like that.
You're right about the paintwork - doesn't bear thinking about
John Doherty said
Sun Jul 15 1:11 AM, 2012
What looked like a small bird of prey, through Chinatown today - my guess is Kestrel.
Robert Farmer said
Sat Jul 14 11:38 PM, 2012
dave broome wrote:
Cormorant on a light column along Trinity Way this morning, flew off with a second passing bird
The Cormorants are almost a permanent feature on the light standard on the corner of Water St and Castlefield Bridge - highlight of my journey to work most days. (You can see two on there on the Google street view picture, if you look from Castlefield Bridge)
In the winter there can be half a dozen on each lamp standard round there - I assume that part of the appeal is the warmth from the lights, as well as the location?
I do wonder if the people using the car park beneath that lamp realize the risk they are taking! The Pigeons are bad enough but a couple of Cormorants could really take the shine off your paintwork!
dave broome said
Sat Jul 14 9:05 PM, 2012
Cormorant on a light column along Trinity Way this morning, flew off with a second passing bird 2 Swift feeding over Trinity Way/River Irwell along the Irwell: Whitethroat, singing Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, adult and juv Greenfinches, min 2 Bullfinch by Water St car park flock of Long-Tailed Tit by MOSI 44 Canada Geese on the canal at Castlefield inc 1 juv in addition to Peregrine other birds seen inc 1 Kestrel, fledged Magpie, Carrion Crow, Dunnock and Great Tit seen, plus adults of Mallard, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Grey Wagtail and Wren
always fantastic to see any bird sp in the city centre, they should prescribe it on the NHS to some of the folk you see wandering about
dave broome said
Sun Jul 8 1:45 AM, 2012
a Cormorant was fishing the Irwell opp the Lowry Hotel today
6 grey wagtails, 1 grey heron & 16 Canada geese from ncp car park bridge.
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 6th of October 2013 08:14:53 PM
a kingfisher was seeing flying downstream of the river Irwell from Victoria bridge, also 2 grey herons & 4 grey wagtails.
-- Edited by Mark Whalley on Monday 1st of July 2013 12:32:54 PM
There was a nice feature on Urban Gulls on the last series of Springwatch.
A pair of Herring Gulls and a pair of Lesser Black Backed nesting on opposite parts of a Bristol building flat roof.
Didn't put this in the Black Redstart thread as I may have been mistaken and/or confused by traffic noise
Yes, they seem to be getting increasingly common all around Manchester, I see them fairly often in Northenden/Wythenshawe areas. Bristol's always had plenty and I've seen a fair number in Birmingham, they seem to becoming more of an inland/city bird.
Fantastic news Giselle! Black Redstarts have their own thread BLACK REDSTARTS IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE and there's another long-standing thread for the Peregrines (hence 'Other Manchester City Centre Birds') I will be keeping an ear and eye out when I get back to work in the City Centre next week and hoping to see one from my desk!
on thinking
also male goosander flew upstream whilst crossing Victoria bridge
-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 16th of May 2013 07:22:53 PM
I found a Woodcock! To my embarrassment, the bird flew off as I lifted the lid of the box it had been placed in. Having crash landed once more, it was left to recover . I brought it to Delph and released it Friday evening . The plan being the release site had plenty of open space and shrub to avoid any further window strikes.. What did the bird do , but head for the lights of our neighbors houses! Eventually we directed it , to fly into shrub. Myself, Phil and all the neighbors then had a sleepless night as there was a hail storm after we had released it.
There was no sign of the bird the following day , so hopefully it has flown on its way. The Woodcock appeared to have a film or cataract on its left eye, so that is possibly why it flew into the windows?
Photos of the Woodcock in our kitchen and in the garden will be on the website soon.
-- Edited by Kath Butterworth on Sunday 28th of April 2013 12:01:26 PM
-- Edited by Kath Butterworth on Sunday 28th of April 2013 12:04:12 PM
Cheers
You should ask Ian McKerchar, County Recorder and website moderator, about submitting a rarities report for your previous sighting. Red Kites are common in some places - I can see them from my brother's kitchen window in Oxfordshire - here in GM they are still very big news
About 3 years ago I was on the A57 between Irlam and Warrington (Warburton Bridge area) and I was watching a Red-Tailed Hawk after flying right over the van, unmistakeable! Again I phoned and emailed the RSPB, they weren't surprised one bit as they knew it was an escapee a year or so before and was proving to be successful on its own.
Approx 10 years ago from my back garden in Denton, I think it was either August or Septmber, quite high in the sky we could hear this commotion and it was a mass of about 50-60 medium sized B-o-P circling, bear in mind they were quite high up. I couldn't say exact species but I thought they were a mix of Buzzard species and maybe some of the Hawks. I'd not seen it before and never seen it since but I do know they do this.
We are very lucky here in Manchester (and surrounding areas) as we seem to do very well for Birds of Prey, obviously with the Peregrinne's, the odd Osprey sighting, Sparrowhawks going from strength to strength, Harris Hawk escapees doing well (1 at Heaton Park and 1 I've seen in Westhoughton/Leigh area) Buzzards an increasing sight now over the M60, me and my brother watched out for them from the car window when we were young on our way to Wales or The South, never Manchester. Oh and Ma n Pa had a Hobby on the garage roof last Autumn here in Denton, it just goes to show Birds of Prey can and do turn up where you never used to see them. It's all Good!
Damned Peregrines! If it hadn't been for them the Kite might have flown over my workplace!
I do work in the city centre. My office window even looks out over part of St.Peter's Square. Of course I was in a shop on Cross St. at the time and missed it all
Incidents like this make me jealous I no longer work in the city centre.
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Friday 5th of April 2013 03:21:36 PM
also plenty of greenfinches & goldfinches on opposite side.
4 grey wagtails, 1 moorhen on river outside of lowry hotel.
2 Mute Swan near Lowry Hotel
3 Tufted Duck (2 drake 1 fem) just downstream of New Bridge Street
luecistic black headed gull was feeding with black headed gulls on the river Irwell, viewed from Victoria bridge street.
whilst watching 2 goosanders (1m 1f) on the river irwell viewed from spinningfields bars next to the metal footbridge around 1.40pm, a nice surprise was a chiffchaff
A Collared Dove was on a street light along the Mancunian Way near Ashton Old Road - I get the impression that these aren't around the city centre much, even around the ring road and river corridors, where there are quite a few conifers and decent sized Poplars - is that the case?
I work in a building on Sackville Street. At around 14.30 yesterday went upstairs to the 3rd floor.....there was a Kestrel sat on the window sill outside. Beautiful and to be 3 feet away from it.....even through glass was a fantastic feeling. After 5 seconds though it saw me and flew off. Been hoping it would come back all afternoon and done no work in the hope that I would see it again.
Rather the wagtails being unperturbed by the Christmas markets Chris, they actively seek them out to roost in the trees above them. The warmth rising up (powerful lighting, cooking, shoppers hot air!) must be very welcome indeed and is no doubt why the St.Annes Square roost alone has exceeded 800 on previous years
Completely unperturbed by the carnage of the Christmas Market going on beneath them.
Goldcrest calling, but unseen, in Conifers and/or Laurels between the Cathedral and Chetham's
female Bullfinch by the River Medlock nr the Castlefield Youth Hostel
At least two (probably more) Goldcrest in Parsonage Gardens this evening in what appeared to be a mini fall of passerines...
Lesser Redpoll moving around the V&A Marriott on Water St and the Stanley St car park over the Irwell
5 Meadow Pipit and 1 Siskin flying S/SSE
singles of Goldcrest and Coal Tit on Tonman Street at the rear of the MOSI transport building, the Goldcrest moving through the canopy of London Planes almost on to Deansgate
Grey Wagtail and 2 Goosander on the Irwell
Grey Heron on the River Medlock at Potato Wharf
female Sparrowhawk soaring
9 Long-Tailed Tit along the Irwell at Water St
... and now we know why
Steve
Roger.
Parent bird didn't seem in the least bothered
Thanks for that Robert. I've had a quick look - the first time I've twitched a bird on Street View, but I dipped
The numbers in winter must be impressive. Two on light columns in Wigan during the winter of 2010/11 were the only previous ones I recall seeing like that.
You're right about the paintwork - doesn't bear thinking about
The Cormorants are almost a permanent feature on the light standard on the corner of Water St and Castlefield Bridge - highlight of my journey to work most days. (You can see two on there on the Google street view picture, if you look from Castlefield Bridge)
In the winter there can be half a dozen on each lamp standard round there - I assume that part of the appeal is the warmth from the lights, as well as the location?
I do wonder if the people using the car park beneath that lamp realize the risk they are taking! The Pigeons are bad enough but a couple of Cormorants could really take the shine off your paintwork!
2 Swift feeding over Trinity Way/River Irwell
along the Irwell: Whitethroat, singing Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, adult and juv Greenfinches, min 2 Bullfinch by Water St car park
flock of Long-Tailed Tit by MOSI
44 Canada Geese on the canal at Castlefield inc 1 juv
in addition to Peregrine other birds seen inc 1 Kestrel, fledged Magpie, Carrion Crow, Dunnock and Great Tit seen, plus adults of Mallard, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Grey Wagtail and Wren
always fantastic to see any bird sp in the city centre, they should prescribe it on the NHS to some of the folk you see wandering about