Hi. They used to roost in the 2 Plane trees in front of the Sale town hall until the trees were lopped about 3 yrs ago. I believe they now roost in the trees at the side of Sainsbury's car park on Cross Road but I've not had chance this year to go and look.

-- Edited by Mark Whalley on Thursday 29th of November 2012 12:58:27 PM

70+ Pied Wagtails roosting in St Ann's Square tonight, hard to ascertain exact number as still plenty of leaves on trees!

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 29th of November 2012 12:59:54 PM

I was Christmas shopping in St Anne's Square at about 6pm on 23rd November, and heard, then saw approximately 50 Wagtails in the trees, above the temporary shops. Amazing! I had no spectacles or binoculars on me at the time, so I could not tell if they were Pieds or Greys. I will return soon, with my bins! If anybody asks me what I am doing, I will explain to them!

-- Edited by PaulS on Saturday 24th of November 2012 10:03:13 PM

100+ Wagtails at the roost in Ashton under Lyne this evening. Still in the usual roosting spot opposite charity shop.

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 24th of November 2012 10:18:45 PM

At least 10 birds calling as they prepared to roost in the trees in St Anns Sq at around 5pm. Seemingly not bothered at all by the sights, sounds and smells of the German Christmas Market.

At least 15 at Broadheath Retail Park 5.40pm tonight

18 birds seen but plenty more present (from the calling) at 1800 today on the Debenhams roof at the Trafford Centre

15+ flew SE over Bickershaw Rucks at 6.15 pm , not sure if they were heading for a roost site or just a bit of migration going on, more likely the latter option I think

Tanmay Dixit wrote:

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Hi Joe, I've seen numerous pied wags in the 'square' during evenings (though not recently). It's part of Sale Shopping Centre.

They've been around in the summer as well (possibly same birds that are roosting near sale town hall, as it's only a stone's throw away.

I've only seen groups of 10-15 though...

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That's the roost i've always watched for them, that's why another so close surprised me. Perhaps it was a pre-roost gathering and they'll end up at the squarewill have another look this evening perhaps!

Hi Joe, I've seen numerous pied wags in the 'square' during evenings (though not recently). It's part of Sale Shopping Centre.

They've been around in the summer as well (possibly same birds that are roosting near sale town hall, as it's only a stone's throw away.

I've only seen groups of 10-15 though...

Has anyone else noticed a large(ish) c.30 bird roost at sale town hall? Cycling past this evening and saw them circling around, never noticed them here before so will start watching for them!

It appears there is a sizeable roost on or very near Asda at Eastlands as I saw over 50 birds flying in that direction in 2-3 minutes this evening. Also at least 1 Grey Wagtail appeared to be roosting with these birds.

At least 50+ flew up over Barton bridge at 14.00 today, workmen on the sewage site below disturbed them.

another 200+ this evening in st anns square.

17.30-holland & barrett hope street wigan. at least 150 pied wags

230 ish in st anns square this evening.

none outside kro bar on portland street.

and again a lonely 1 in st peters square.

70+ Pied Wagtails tonight roosting in tree fronting Bed Store at Robin Park Retail Park.

Cheers Jimmy

Out today there were 15-20 wagtails in Sale town centre. Is this a roost site? I know you sometimes get them out near sainsbury's, but never seen them here before.
Cheers,
Joe

150+ Pied Wagtails in the roost in Ashton under Lyne tonight, using 3 trees outside the Vodaphone shop on Warrington Street.

Anyone ever checked Marple High School? I was there at 4pm and there were 16 on the roof of the 'top' building, heading into and out of nearby trees. Had to shoot , but numbers may increase nearer dusk?

Just back from wigan to see the roost. Around 150 birds.

again 150+ pied wagtails in first 2 trees outside kro bar,portland street.
62 in st anns square.
and a lonely 1 in st peters square.

c150 Pied Wagtails roosting in the usual trees outside Top Shop in Ashton under Lyne.

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 12th of January 2012 08:49:13 PM

around 400 in wigan town centre last night.difficult to count as the birds were constantly flying from tree to tree because a wagon was unloading underneath them

Very large numbers of pied wagtails coming
Into the large bushes on leigh bus station
Near the spinning jenny pub
16.40pm

had a look at the roost on portland street next to kro bar on my way home from blackpool tonight. 150+ in the first 3 trees,seem to be getting larger.

Altrincham, George Richards Way on the car park beteween Toys R Us and Home Base quite a roost of Pied Wagtails was building up on Thursday evening. This despite the number of people and vehicles using the area.

again this aft/eve similar amount 80+ pied wagtails in st anns square.
also a nice easy count off 21 in st peters square next to dutch pancake house.
ian, i went to have a look outside the kro bar on portland street and there was 100+ in the first 3 trees,thanks for posting that

I had forgotten (neglected) to post this previously, but for the past two weeks a small roost, maximum of around 80 and a minimum of 30 or so, has been in the small pavement trees outside Kro bar on Portland Street by Piccadilly Gardens.

80+ pied wagtails in st anns square this evening,now the markets have gone seems like they have started to return to the favoured site.

Last nights roost in Wigan Town Centre
c250 in 3 trees all roosting nice and peacefully

Cheers Jimmy

c. 20 Pied Wagtails in a tiny tree on St Peter's Square, Mcr, at about 4:15pm on Fri 25/11. Couldn't have been more than 10ft above head height.

Wigan Town Centre
By the time i got there tonight they had all settled down and with leaves still on the trees and security about a bit hard to count as they are now on 3 Trees but i got to 152 before the light went
also been told that at Mabs Cross School there is a pre roost gathering on the playground of 50+

Cheers Jimmy

Sale town centre - over 50 pied wagtails in pre roost assembly on roof of Sainsburys at about 16:20, then at about 16:35 at least 100 flew over car park to small trees near junction of Cross Street and Asfield Road (traffic lights).

over 50 today at aout 4.40pm.......in fact well over 50 ...at st annes square of course.........felt like we were going to be beseiged..they appeared to e coming from all over

how sad a world it is that it appeared to be just me that noticed them...and was looking up at them....

Wigan Town Centre
Pied Wagtail roost as moved this year for the present at least to Marsden St
approx 50+ this morning.

Cheers Jimmy

I watched the pied wagtail roost last night. It is impossible to say how many but I am sure that there were several hundred, they were quite loud and the sight of them coming in was magical. I visited again at the break of dawn this morning and most of them that I saw headed past the Springfield courts.

good roost numbers at st. annes around 6ish this evening. a magical experience as per

after watching the roost last friday i thought i would spend more time trying to work out how many there is in the roost this evening,its was not easy but without exaggerating to much i would guess that there was around 3-400 in st anns square. from 5.45 til 6.35pm they were dropping in constantly & very noisy up til 6.45pm then all was quiet,have to wait til the leaves have dropped to get accurate counts

watching the pied wagtails between 6-6.45pm in st anns square, hard to get accurate count due to leaves on trees but there must off been at least 200+ and still building up when i left.

3rd May.

c45 roosting in four small ornamental trees in the car park at Asda, Pilsworth around 9.00pm.

Cheers,

Bill.

st anns square, pied wagtails gathering for roost at least 70 but still lots on the roof tops off near buildings and still gathering when i left at 8.00pm.

Biggest count I have had this season was 350 when they occupied two trees outside the old Pancake House. It would seem they have taken a big hit with this cruel winter.

In the bushes on Leigh bus station
Has held a massive pied wagtail roost
All winter.

100-200 roosting in Sainsbury's car park, Sale. Great pre-roost build up and well worth a visit if you are passing at dusk.

There have been between 100-200 in a pre-roost in St Peter's Square for the last couple of months, normally resting up on the building above the old Dutch Pancake House or on Peter House. Plenty of droppings under the trees surrounding the tram stop too, so they are staying for long periods in the Square at times.

However, main reason for the thread was that a lovely male Sparrowhawk bumped through them this evening, then perched up on the building opposite my office window, cracking views of a lovely bird who has a lot of food available!?

About 70 roosting in Peter Square...the birds could not settle down since a sparrowhawk was chasing them.

One bird in St anne's Sq tonight, 205 in St Peter's Sq occupying the tree near the junction with Oxford Rd.

None seen last night.

mike haylett wrote:

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THE ROOSTS SEEM TO BE A LATE AUTUMN TO EARLY SPRING HABIT, MUST BE WHEATHER RELATED, REGARDS MIKE

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and it's not the breeding season!!!