Indeed!

Dean.

Sad news..

I'm sure everyone will be very shocked to learn, as I was, that one of this year's juveniles, a male (F4) was shot dead in Northamptonshire, on an estate near the village of Newnham, which is S of Daventry. This happened on 24th October and was reported to the local police WLO but little has happened. Fortunately a local man, to whom the corpse was given, has not been happy with this state of affairs, rang the BTO, the ringer, and also rang me. The RSPB Investigations Unit have been informed and the National Wildlife Crime Unit will also be notified, as will the Manchester Evening News. Young Peregrines have enough problems in their first year of life - only 1/4 survive, without being shot by idiots.

Unless we all missed yesterdays' letter, it could take a long time!

On "r" of Co-operative this morning - do you think they might be trying to send a coded message?

Steve

There was one on top of the Arndale 'E' at 12.15 on 22/11 :)

Dave thats really interesting news - having watched the birds in the city centre it's good to know that at least one of them is alive and well. Keep up with the information flow it's what makes this forum so good that folk take the trouble to share information.

Sid A

Dave Thacker wrote:

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On the Martin mere website this evening its reported that the immature Peregrine seen around the mere 3 weeks ago with the red colour ring marked S3 was ringed in Manchester city centre in May this year.

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The colour marked Peregrine seen at WWT Martin Mere is a Manchester ringed bird. Ringed this year, 2008, as a female with Red F3.

Good to know its still alive

Well, MArtin Mere have got it wrong. This isn't a Manchester bird.

On the Martin mere website this evening its reported that the immature Peregrine seen around the mere 3 weeks ago with the red colour ring marked S3 was ringed in Manchester city centre in May this year.

Tony Coatsworth wrote:

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Immature bird been hanging round our car park the last few days - Dickinson St/ Bloom St / Princess St area.

We also have a Kestrel that's taken up residence on our comms aerials on the roof and is chasing off allcomers - chased a Crow away just now. Is he claiming a territory for next year or just being bolshy ?

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I almost stepped on a kestrel on Corporation St at 8am on Tuesday (by the railway arches). It was eating a pigeon, which I didn't think kestrels did - presumably opportunistic scavenging rather than a kill... It tried to pick the pigeon up but couldn't manage, so flew over the road and eyed me balefully from a window ledge.

Female type on the "E" of Arndale this morning - I'm seeing less of the smaller presumed male bird, but at the distance I'm looking from I couldn't age the birds.

There's been another (or the same as Tony's?) immature bird on the CIS tower most days this week.

Immature bird been hanging round our car park the last few days - Dickinson St/ Bloom St / Princess St area.

We also have a Kestrel that's taken up residence on our comms aerials on the roof and is chasing off allcomers - chased a Crow away just now. Is he claiming a territory for next year or just being bolshy ?

Today's Arndale letter of preference is "E".

A larger presumed female just flew past the office at 17:14with bulky pigeon like prey heading towards the Premier Inn but I lost it behind some yuppy flats.

2 on the Arndale sign this morning as I type.

One present today on Premier Inn, visible from my new city centre desk.

Yesterday a colleague saw two.

Do they vacate the area over winter?

Adrian Dancy wrote:

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Adrian Drummond-Hill wrote:

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Parked the car in the car park across from the Cathedral this afternoon and heard squealing, I thought it was the tyres but when I looked up, I saw one bird carrying prey and another circling above. It's great to be home.

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Welcome back Adrian!

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Thanks Adrian, I only wish I'd had my camera with me today.

Adrian Drummond-Hill wrote:

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Parked the car in the car park across from the Cathedral this afternoon and heard squealing, I thought it was the tyres but when I looked up, I saw one bird carrying prey and another circling above. It's great to be home.

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Welcome back Adrian!

Parked the car in the car park across from the Cathedral this afternoon and heard squealing, I thought it was the tyres but when I looked up, I saw one bird carrying prey and another circling above. It's great to be home.

at least 4 peregrines over the arndale centre this morn practicing ariel displays and calling all the time with an adult just circling over balloon st area

I have now moved to an office facing out the back of Peter House on St Peter's Square and it looks towards the Beethan Tower. Most mornings between 8 and 10 one to five of them are flying around the top of the tower or perched on it. I watched an adult and youngster this morning practicing aeiral combat skills. Fantastic to see, if only the people who live in the twoer knew what was flying past their windows!?

Two flew over the Cathedral, one carrying prey. Then I was sat outside Crown & Anchor enjoying a pint of £2.09 Holt's Bitter whilst watching the male on an E (that's the peregrine on the E of the Arndale by the way ) when a juv flew overhead. Sheer quality

Next stop Alex Park on way home
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:22, 2008-07-09

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:23, 2008-07-09

4.00p.m. above Manchester Cathedral, 4 birds flying round calling loudly, one carrying food which it passed to another in mid-air, brilliant,except of course, for the prey item
Cheers Ian

mid morning for half an hour 1 male perched up high on the white hotel 1 juv on ledge 1
female flew onto ledge then halfway up the white hotel then the juv flew onto the top of harvey nick,s 'magic'.

cheers geoff

Fly past at work this morning in Newton Heath from a juvenile peregrine. A few more of those will really upset the gull roost onBestway!

Spent the afternoon with the Manchester peregrines. Two peregrines fledged today. One of the juveniles landed on the roof of Harvey Nicholls (only the best for our birds) and after about an hour or so took off and flew to a high-rise building about a mile away.

Last year, I promised some better shots for this year. Believe me, I picked up some blisters getting them. I just wished I had my 500 lens with me , but my trusty 100-400 was more than a half decent compromise.

It was nice to see members of the public enjoying these birds...the adults put on a cracking display of speed and agility.

Visited the black redstarts nest site late this evening and only heard the birds.

AD

Judith has it on good authority (from RSPB) that the female is on eggs at the usual site.

Just wondered if anyone knows any news about nesting progress?
Cheers Ian

Iknow what you mean Paul. I'm becoming a bit obsessed with the Bolton birds at the moment. They've always been one of my favourite birds so to watch them so closely is amazing. Any excuse to visit the town centre is welcome at the moment.

Dean.

cracking views of an adult male preening on the mobile phone mast on the side of the premiere lodge - i got spied spying on it by a guy on the second floor of harvey nics who came down and told me of his vantage point. i love these birds!

That's a very good question, Ian!

We should find out soon when the breeding season commences. Any nesting pairs should drive away any of last year's juveniles which are still hanging around. There are at least 3 potential nest sites in the City Centre but, as Ian McK has reminded us all, these should remain confidential.

Steve

Just been reading back over previous posts and wondered how many different birds actually frequent the City. Is there one, or two different pairs ?.

Thanks for the posts on these tremendously entertaining city centre birds, here's looking forward to a successful breeding season once again but just to reiterate, the location of the breeding site (building etc) should not be aired on this forum nor disclosed to anyone you don't know well. They are always under threat no matter how 'safe' the breeding site may appear but thanks to everyone so far for their considerate posts to date.

9.30-10.00 a.m. this morning, 3 perched together on a ledge on the nest building. One bigger than the other two so presumably a female and two males. Also on the river 2 pairs of Grey Wagtails.
Cheers Ian.

male on the R female on the E of the arndale this afternoon.

There were 3 birds in the vicinity of the nest site this morning (Tues).

Steve

Watched the female peregrine take apart a pigeon on the town hall tower ledge midday today. Happened to have my scope with me today for a trip to Norfolk this weekend, so got a great view of it from my office in the 7th Floor of Peter House in St Peter's Square!?

This morning about 9.15 male flew in to Travel Inn (opposite Cathedral) carrying prey almost its own size. Female soon arrived to join in the feast. Am still pretty sure these are the same birds as on the CIS tower but would be interested in other observers' ideas on this...

Steve

been on the lookout for a couple of days previously without ant sightings but finally caught up with them this lunchtime.

a male with prey flanked by a female landed on the far edge of the roof self of last years site and they were joined by another female on the near edge. great to see them again, they really are majestic!

Glad to see they are still knocking about the city!?

Two have been regular on the CIS tower and the nest-site building is still regularly used for devouring pigeons (and probably lots of other species). If they fancied a tasty Pied Wagtail or two, the roost in St Anne's square is getting very impressive (ie too many to count).

One around Bloom St last week (back of the Palace Theatre)

They have been around the Cathedral quite a bit recently.

Having not seen any peregrines for several weeks I thought they had finally vacated for the winter. This afternoon though, I saw 2 (1 adult, 1 1st year), chasing each other around St Peter's square for about 5 minutes, before settling on the Town Hall, just before dusk, approx 4pm. Not sure if they were roosting there, but certainly looked that way this evening at least. So worth keeping your eyes peeled if you come in to finish your Christmas shopping!?