2 male Parakeets on the feeders at the allotment at 4.30pm

The Amazon and 3 parakeets in Fog Lane Park between 11.45 and 13.30 -and still there when I left. Also 70+ Redwings and several Mistle Thrushes.

3 parakeets seen regulary now at Fog Lane park Didsbury, on occasions with the Amazon. Got some nice photos of them today.

The Amazon and 3 parakeets on the allotment feeders 11.20am today.

Good point!

Have they actually ever bred?

I'm with you on that one!

Rob Smallwood wrote:

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or if they do know they are keeping it quiet which may be wise given the persecution in other areas

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Wise words Rob. Should anyone know of or find their roosting location it should NOT be posted on this forum nor preferably on any other public site.

No one is quite sure where they roost - or if they do know they are keeping it quiet which may be wise given the persecution in other areas.

Birchfields certainly used to be a pre-roost site, as did Platt Fields.

More like Platt Fields - or maybe somewhere behind the 'Toast Rack' as they were hanging out in Birchfields Park a few years ago

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Monday 18th of January 2010 07:45:45 PM

do these birds basically roost in moss side?

1 parakeet over Alan Rd, Withington

Very vocal - maybe he'd lost his mates !

Sounds spot on, they left the allotment in Fallowfield at about 3.15pm heading in the direction of Platt Fields.

i saw 3 parakeets and a tail-less bird which i presume was the amazon flying over eva street, hibbert street and headig what i presume in asouth-westerly direction....basically towards moss side at about 4pm today.

at the same time 100's of gulls of all species heading north-east at the same time to roost somewhere?

A new site and more of a Central Manchester Parakeet. A friend, Tony Groom, has been seeing a single adult bird throughout the summer of 2009 near his workplace at Palmerston Street, Ardwick / Beswick. The bird is in woodland between here and the R. Medlock. Looking at the A-Z I'd say SJ858978. He says it dissappeared when the leaves fell off the trees but saw it again recently on Thurs 7th Jan 2010. Philips Park, Clayton is not far from here.

He also saw three fly out from Alex Park on 7th Jan.
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Saturday 16th of January 2010 07:10:41 PM

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Saturday 16th of January 2010 09:31:32 PM

Pleased to see the Amazon Parrot and three Parakeets at the allotment this afternoon.
That Amazon is one tough bird to get through this weather.

1 today in the snow in Platt Fields park at lunchtime - flew to the island

Three Parakeets (2 male 1 ringless) and the Amazon at the allotment 8.30 this morning.
The Amazon was making a LOT of noise. If anyone was having a bit of a sleep in, that would have ruined it.

3 parakeets and 1 parrot in Fog Lane park at 1pm today.

Quite a sight, one Amazon Parrot and three Ringnecked Parakeets on the feeders at the allotment in the snow at 1pm on Christmas Eve. It was worth the two hour walk in the snow to get there and fill up the feeders.
Merry Christmas
Debs

This afternoon
5 parakeets (2 male, 3 ringless) and the Amazon feeding at that allotment.

3pm this afternoon
4 Parakeets and the Amazon were on the feeders at the allotment.
1 male, 3 ringless of which 1 was a definate juvenile.
3 of the Parakeets and the Amazon flew off first leaving the juvenile feeding on its own for a further 10 minutes.

Debs Wallace wrote:

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The Amazon came down to the feeders on the allotment at 1.45pm today. Really pleased to see it again.
Debs

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Great to hear it's still knocking about Debs - and good to hear from you too!

It's on topic so why not!

Typically, my own opinion on such matters is just that, my own, that's if I actually have one of course (then again ask me about the identification of the Lizard Greenish Warbler and it'd be a different matter). The trouble is though that we do, and most agree with, culling of such species as Canada Goose. What's good for the goose is good for the...parakeet?

Following Ian's example of playing devil's advocate, isn't there a slight difference here. Ruddy Duck don't have any adverse effect on native species in this country (and may not in Europe either) but that may not be the case with the parakeets.

With only a small number of birds in our county this doesn't seem to be a problem, but it may be the case elsewhere. I went with Riggers to see the Esher roost in 2001 and, in its' own way. it was spectacular. Imagine a starling roost, but in a suburban setting, with parakeets in every tree and on every house, as well as dozens nearby in the poplars by the local rugby club. What really made us aware of the size of the roost was looking round as we walked away and realising that every bush and tree silhouetted against the winter sunset was full of birds as well. This isn't a reason in itself for a cull, but it may give a wider perspective to what some people think of as the avian version of the grey/red squirrel problem.

Arguments for & against on a postcard to the general discussion thread, unless Ian's happy for any debate to continue here.

I'd like to reiterate what Ian says. I remember helping with the Ruddy Duck research in the early 90s and look what happened to them.

Though I haven't read the article (I've enough to get through as it is!), considering that a cull of this species has been seriously muted several times previously I'd perhaps be cautious with contributing if you're against such species control.

Birdguides members may be familiar with the webzine article
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1824

For the benefit of non BG's members the Biology Department of Imperial College London are conducting a 4 year study into the effects of R-n Parakeets on native bird species in the UK. A large scale roost count willbe carried out on Sunday 3rd Jan 2010 to gain an estimation of population size.

Imperial College are seeking volunteers to assist with two elements of this project

1: compiling a list of all known roost sites

2: assisting with the first roost count on Sunday 3rd Jan 2010.

Counts begin 2hrs before sunset (14.04) and continue for half an hour after sunset (16.34).

Any volunteers to contact

parakeet@imperial.ac.uk

I'll be at work so cannot participate.

The Amazon came down to the feeders on the allotment at 1.45pm today. Really pleased to see it again.
Debs

Yesterday 1pm
1 juvenile on a feeder on the allotment. I got a good enough look to be sure this one was a juvenile this time.

Two spotted in Fog Lane park at 1.20 pm today.

One flew south down Pythe Fold Road at 2:20pm this afternoon, heading directly towards Fog Lane Park.

1 parakeet flew over the allotments from the direction of Platt Fields, heading towards Withington at 3pm and at 4.45pm 2 came down to the allotment to feed. Both were ringless and fairly short tailed (Juveniles?).
I've not seen them at the allotment for a few months, but these two went straight onto the feeder and got stuck in so I don't think it was their first visit. It's great to see them again.

Yesterday Friday morning c.9.30 2 very vocal, flying around and perching on the spire of the church on Platt Lane - a bizarre sight!

At least 7 probably 8 parakeets mobbing a tawny owl over the birchfields park area at about 8.50 am this morning

I am so happy to hear that. I have not seen the Parakeets of the Amazon at the allotment for ages. I'm really glad they are ok and the Amazon is still with them.
You've just brightened up my Monday morning.
Debs

Three RN parakeets plus Debs' Amazon parrot flew N over Platt Fields at 18.30 tonight.

Steve

Six flew over Platt Field Lake squawking loudly at 18.45 yesterday.

Steve

A lady called Mavis rang me to say it comes into her garden backing onto Smiths Field allotments - no ring, so female or juv.

Possibly the same one, as the Cemetery is just across the canal from the fields.

One in Brooklands cemetery this morning,just up from Brooklands road metro station Sale.

keep birding.

Parakeet flew squawking loudly over Smiths fields this morning closely pursued by a magpie. Suspect it was heading for a garden near the allotments where there are a lot of feeders.

At least one Ring-necked Parakeet in the gardens and allotments adjoining Smith's Fields in Timperley this evening.

Plat Fields park would be a good bet Nigel. There were two being very vocal in the trees around the edge of the lake at 5.40pm today.
At 6.45 the Amazon arrived at the allotment with 6 ring necks. Complete feeding chaos ensued.
There were 2 males, 4 ringless of which either 2 or 3 were juveniles. They were flying round and changing feeders so much I couldn't keep track of which was which. They are being voracious eating machines and all I could hear was the sound of cracking sunflower seeds punctuated by one of the juvenile's VERY persistent attention seeking calls. There is on of these birds in particular which just does not shut up.
That's probably the one which I heard in Platt Fields.
So Nigel, go for an evening stroll and listen out for "Junior".
3 of them left the allotment at 7pm the other 3 were still there when I left.

been LOOKING for the parekeets count less times I saw two when decorating at the girls school they where in the grounds in the trees over looking the lake at platt fields since then i have tried three parks and never seen them since any advice as to when and where ?????????????????????????

You're not wrong there Rob! I don't even want to think about, let alone admit to just how much bird food I buy.
At least 3 very vocal parakeets up one of the big trees on the allotment at 7.45pm. I was only there for a short time and they had not come down to feed by the time I left but it seems like they are coming round for "supper" again. It is quite possible that they have done this all summer long but I have not been at the allotment late enough to see them.

Good news - that'll put a strain on your sunflower stocks!

7.30 - 8pm today - 5 parakeets and the Amazon at the allotment.
1 adult male, 1 female, 2 with very short tails which looked very much like juveniles to me and another one which I could not get a good enough look at. Looked like a family group to me

I have not seen the Parakeets or the Amazon since May, but today at 5pm the Amazon and 3 Parakeets came down to the allotment feeders. 1 male, 1 female and the other one had a very short tail and I am pretty sure that it was a juvenile. The were scared off after a while but came back an sat up a tree calling. One of the calls was different to the other types of call which they make and sounded like a young bird's persistent begging type of call.
I'll keep a good look out now, but I think we have a young un out and about.
The Amazon was it's usual acrobatic and cheeky self and seemed quite happy for me to be working quite close to it.
Debs

Pete Hines wrote:

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2 in Alexandra Park still yesterday afternoon

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There were 4 adults there this morning. I also found 2 in Longford Park, Stretford, last week while doing a TTV survey.

2 in Alexandra Park still yesterday afternoon