Glad you saw it - very surprised to get one here, wonder if it's a failed breeder returning from breeding grounds?
I managed to record the song, just a shame couldn't hang around and look for bird.
dave broome said
Fri Jun 30 7:07 PM, 2017
Reed Warbler still present in Castlefield early afternoon, singing and showing occasionally at New Elm Road, in Buddleia and Hazel alongside the River Medlock, on right hand side as you approach Potato Wharf
Zoe Barrett said
Fri Jun 30 8:56 AM, 2017
Reed warbler heard singing in bushes along canal in New elm street, Castlefield - shame i could not see it as I was going to work.
steven burke said
Sat Jun 17 3:47 PM, 2017
Pair of kestrels flying low down Marshall street near the cis tower this afternoon.
Adrian Drummond-Hill said
Sun Jun 11 4:41 PM, 2017
Yesterday, 10th June, 3 grey wagtails, male and female mallards and cormorant seen on the Irwell, in front of the Cathedral.
-- Edited by Adrian Drummond-Hill on Sunday 11th of June 2017 04:42:34 PM
Party of fledgling blue tits in trees around the Town Hall this morning.
Also pied wagtail, grey wagtail (perhaps two) and a cormorant around the Irwell.
steven burke said
Fri Jun 2 6:16 PM, 2017
male kestrel flew past me this morning at head height on high street then onto Thomas street heading towards shudehill. a juvenile crow on the footpath outside angel meadows, I nudged it into angel meadows as to keep from the road, adult watching nearby also a grey wagtail here.
Nick Hilton said
Thu Jun 1 3:26 PM, 2017
A pair of Grey Wagtail seen from Blackfriars Street bridge circa 1430, the male singing from the adjacent apartment balconies
James Richardson said
Thu Jun 1 9:18 AM, 2017
About 20 swifts feeing over the St John's Gardens area, high up, yesterday afternoon in the sun.
steven burke said
Wed May 31 6:26 PM, 2017
went to watch the sand martins this afternoon on the river Irwell near the lowry hotel, when I arrived 2 sand martins flying around & then went into a hole on the opposite side of the river to where the original hole was, they looked to be excavating a hole as there was dirt coming out as they were in there, so I thought it must be another pair, I was wrong as they flew around over the river & then entered the original hole I checked my book & i see they have 2 broods so maybe they are getting ready for the second brood in another hole.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed May 31 6:26 PM, 2017
Two pairs of Canada Geese have fledged Young at Piccadilly Basin.
steven burke said
Sat May 27 10:26 PM, 2017
2 sand Martins were constantly going inside a hole on the river irwell near the lowry, possibly feeding young. 1 Jay in angel meadows. 1 kestrel near piccadilly train station. 4 grey wagtails singing in various locations around the city centre.
James Richardson said
Fri May 26 11:05 AM, 2017
Blue tit nesting in air vent on Bootle Street.
steven burke said
Mon May 22 11:56 AM, 2017
A male chaffinch was singing on the ariel on top of the mitre pub, exchange square yesterday afternoon.
Ollie Wright said
Fri May 19 11:10 PM, 2017
About 5pm today
Walking down Cross St, I was alerted to something overhead by raucous alarm calls from the gulls - a Red Kite floating over, being harassed all the while as it drifted towards the Arndale.
I'm sure the Peregrines would've been thrilled to see it down that end of town....
James Richardson said
Fri May 19 10:29 AM, 2017
Carrion crows nesting at top of birch tree at Rozel Square.
Several house sparrows foraging in the new native hedgerow and meadow planting at Rozel Square, gathering lots of insects for the nests at St John's Street.
Two mistle thrush foraging on the lawn outside the Great Northern this morning.
Three adult dunnock moving around together, not unusual as these are not necessarily monogamous during the breeding season.
Collared dove doggedly chasing off magpie from probable nest tree for about 10 minutes.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri May 19 10:01 AM, 2017
A pied wagtail gathering insects on the Cathedral lawns and a cormorant on the Irwell were the pick from a couple of hours this morning.
Also a carrion crow that looked very much like it was caching food items inside scaffolding poles.
steven burke said
Tue May 16 10:40 PM, 2017
2 sand martin flew past the cis tower this evening. 1 swallow over ducie street, only other birds around the jolly angler area were dunnock, blackbird, blue tit, crow & magpie.
Adam Jones said
Tue May 16 3:59 PM, 2017
Tuesday 16th May 12pm
A very close encounter with a male Kestrel, as it flew within a few feet of me and just a few feet above the ground coming out of Reyner Street, before heading low across Portland Street.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Sat May 13 5:53 PM, 2017
Black Redstart- 1 seen singing on building behind the Jolly Angler, Ducie Street. Same area as last year.
Ollie Wright said
Mon May 8 10:46 AM, 2017
A Kestrel dashed low over the Cenotaph at about 10:30am, headed towards the Midland Hotel.
James Richardson said
Sat May 6 12:50 PM, 2017
2 sand martin feeding over the irwell adjacent to the new ordsall chord bridge.
1 grey wagtail.
1 cormorant flying south west along river.
James Richardson said
Fri May 5 4:04 PM, 2017
Buzzard very high over the city centre at lunch today from King Street roof top
James Richardson said
Tue May 2 1:51 PM, 2017
Missed that one as was back in from the roof by then.
The link below shows the bird singing outside my office window at almost exactly the same time last year in almost the exact same location, which is why I got a bit excited! I will keep my ears peeled, as although I saw the grey wag, I didn't actually see the possible black redstart this morning.
https://youtu.be/Cwuid0zHsCA
Adam Jones said
Tue May 2 1:27 PM, 2017
There was a very vocal Pied Wagtail calling from the rooftops of South King Street and Tib Lane at 1pm.
James Richardson said
Tue May 2 9:28 AM, 2017
POSSIBLE Black redstart heard singing from same place as last year (rooftops between Tib Street at Town Hall) from my office on King Street just now.
Popped up to the roof to have a look but it had stopped. Will go back at lunch to see if he comes back.
Update - spanner in the works because I've just seen a grey wagtail calling from the same area and their calls are similar when listening through glass and brick! Will keep updated.
-- Edited by James Richardson on Tuesday 2nd of May 2017 10:45:40 AM
Mark Whalley said
Tue Apr 25 1:26 PM, 2017
Brief visit by a Heron to Ashton canal basin behind The Green off Jutland St, accompanied by much honking from the resident geese.
James Richardson said
Mon Apr 24 1:56 PM, 2017
Pair of collared dove still at Rozel Square nesting in a cypress tree.
Alex Lees said
Thu Apr 20 11:56 AM, 2017
Willow Warbler fall in the centre this morning - 1 Ardwick Green Park, 1 Sackville Gardens and 3 Vimto Park
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36112544
-- Edited by Alex Lees on Thursday 20th of April 2017 03:03:48 PM
James Richardson said
Tue Apr 18 9:09 AM, 2017
Rozel Sq. St John's Gardens. From flat window sipping pre-work tea:
Blackcap male
Robin
Goldfinch x 2
Blue tit x 2
Dunnock x 2
Blackbird male
Chaffinch male, strange growths on feet.
Wren
James Richardson said
Thu Mar 30 8:35 AM, 2017
Chiffchaff singing from a plane tree at Rozel Square this morning, flying to and from the large poplar trees in St John's Gardens. Frequent about this time each year but I doubt it will stay long.
The mistle thrush pair are in fact still at the Great Northern sunken lawn area, but they appear to have abandoned their nest due to disturbance.
James Richardson said
Tue Mar 28 8:30 AM, 2017
No sign of the mistle thrush pair for a couple of days now, the nesting attempt appears to have been abandoned.
Not surprising really as they were in such a busy location outside the Great Northern Warehouse right next to a building that is being renovated and people were constantly near the nest.
James Richardson said
Mon Mar 27 12:53 PM, 2017
Collared dove pair now nest building in the Leyland cypress outside my window at Rozel Square, with a woodpigeon pair doing the same in the opposite tree - will be good to track their progress.
James Richardson said
Tue Mar 21 10:17 AM, 2017
A pair of Collared Dove prospecting a Leyland cypress outside my flat this morning in Rozel Square, with one of the pair 'singing'.
These are unusual visitors to the area and comprise only the 2nd and 3rd collared doves I've ever seen in St John's Gardens.
steven burke said
Sat Mar 18 8:09 PM, 2017
st johns gardens
30+ goldfinch singing & chattering away around the gardens 1 chaffinch looking lonely sat on the window ledge of nearby building blackbirds blue tits great tit 2 long tailed tits dunnock robin woodpigeons magpies
Graham Smith said
Fri Mar 17 6:30 PM, 2017
Late post from wed 6 50am top of high street sat on pavement was male Kestrel with a mouse, flew up to a near by building
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 17th of March 2017 07:23:44 PM
Steve Suttill said
Thu Mar 16 1:25 PM, 2017
Liz Headon wrote:
Sadly, I spotted this alongside me just now as my train pulled out of Piccadilly. I managed a quick photo - is it a sparrowhawk?
Does look rather like an ex-Sparrowhawk to me Liz
James Richardson said
Thu Mar 16 9:17 AM, 2017
Male Blackcap still present at Rozel Square, St John's Gardens, "practice singing" this morning.
Mistle Thrush still sat on nest on walk to work, despite the very busy location.
Liz Headon said
Sat Mar 11 11:00 AM, 2017
Sadly, I spotted this alongside me just now as my train pulled out of Piccadilly. I managed a quick photo - is it a sparrowhawk?
One Dipper over the Medlock at Pin Mill Brow at 08:40 - flew downstream.
-- Edited by Nigel Troup on Thursday 9th of March 2017 08:53:10 PM
Alex Lees said
Thu Mar 9 10:13 AM, 2017
juvenile Iceland Gull NW over Vimto Park at 0825 this am (with Rob Martin): http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35057770 presumably the Gorton bird as it came from that direction with a kettle of Herring Gulls.
That's 40 sp there since late September including Yellow-browed Warbler, Waxwing, Woodcock, Fieldfare, Chiffchaff and Pink-footed Geese!
http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L4934653
cheers
Alex
James Richardson said
Thu Mar 9 9:03 AM, 2017
Male Blackcap still at Rozel Square St John's Gardens.
Mistle thrush also still sat tight on nest, easy to see on walk to work through city centre, its mate nearby collecting a beakfull of worms.
James Richardson said
Mon Mar 6 8:38 AM, 2017
I'll obviously not disclose the location but have just walked past a Mistle Thrush, presumably sat on eggs, getting fed by its mate. I know they nest early but this seems unusually early.
Will be interesting to track their progress. Lots of magpies around and the pair near my flat last year failed due to magpie predation.
Mark Whalley said
Sat Mar 4 3:57 PM, 2017
Dipper seen at Pin Mill Brow 04.03.17 around 1300 Picture too!
One mistle thrush, 2 blue tits and a singing dunnock in the lime trees outside the Great Northern this morning
James Richardson said
Tue Feb 28 11:24 AM, 2017
Male Blackcap still using various peoples' feeders at Rozel Square, St John's Gardens this morning.
Adam Jones said
Mon Feb 27 9:59 AM, 2017
Monday 27th February 8.30am
Male Kestrel perched on the Novotel hotel and then patrolling the lower end of Portland Street, towards Oxford Road this morning.
James Richardson said
Mon Feb 27 9:29 AM, 2017
One male Blackcap returned to my feeders this morning 27-02-17, Rozel Square, St John's Gardens.
Several House Sparrows calling from back of properties along St John's Street
James Richardson said
Sat Feb 25 10:46 AM, 2017
Male blackcap on bird feeder this morning, St Johns Gardens city centre, amongst usuals.
James Richardson said
Mon Feb 20 10:16 AM, 2017
Sunday 19/02/17
Rozel Square, St John's Gardens, general observations from flat on Sunday
2 Chaffinch
Several Goldfinch
Several Magpie
1 Mistle thrush
1 Song thrush
At least 3 singing Dunnock
2 singing Blackbird
Several Blue tit
2 Great tit
1 regularly roosting Woodpigeon outside window
2 House sparrow (small relict colony using rear side of terraced properties between St John Street and Camp Street, probably declining)
1 Robin
1 Wren
Several Long-tailed tit
No greenfinches for months - used to be numerous and regular on feeders.
I managed to record the song, just a shame couldn't hang around and look for bird.
Reed Warbler still present in Castlefield early afternoon, singing and showing occasionally at New Elm Road, in Buddleia and Hazel alongside the River Medlock, on right hand side as you approach Potato Wharf
Yesterday, 10th June, 3 grey wagtails, male and female mallards and cormorant seen on the Irwell, in front of the Cathedral.
-- Edited by Adrian Drummond-Hill on Sunday 11th of June 2017 04:42:34 PM
Also pied wagtail, grey wagtail (perhaps two) and a cormorant around the Irwell.
a juvenile crow on the footpath outside angel meadows, I nudged it into angel meadows as to keep from the road, adult watching nearby also a grey wagtail here.
Two pairs of Canada Geese have fledged Young at Piccadilly Basin.
1 Jay in angel meadows.
1 kestrel near piccadilly train station.
4 grey wagtails singing in various locations around the city centre.
Blue tit nesting in air vent on Bootle Street.
About 5pm today
Walking down Cross St, I was alerted to something overhead by raucous alarm calls from the gulls - a Red Kite floating over, being harassed all the while as it drifted towards the Arndale.
I'm sure the Peregrines would've been thrilled to see it down that end of town....
Several house sparrows foraging in the new native hedgerow and meadow planting at Rozel Square, gathering lots of insects for the nests at St John's Street.
Two mistle thrush foraging on the lawn outside the Great Northern this morning.
Three adult dunnock moving around together, not unusual as these are not necessarily monogamous during the breeding season.
Collared dove doggedly chasing off magpie from probable nest tree for about 10 minutes.
Also a carrion crow that looked very much like it was caching food items inside scaffolding poles.
1 swallow over ducie street, only other birds around the jolly angler area were dunnock, blackbird, blue tit, crow & magpie.
A very close encounter with a male Kestrel, as it flew within a few feet of me and just a few feet above the ground coming out of Reyner Street, before heading low across Portland Street.
A Kestrel dashed low over the Cenotaph at about 10:30am, headed towards the Midland Hotel.
The link below shows the bird singing outside my office window at almost exactly the same time last year in almost the exact same location, which is why I got a bit excited!
I will keep my ears peeled, as although I saw the grey wag, I didn't actually see the possible black redstart this morning.
https://youtu.be/Cwuid0zHsCA
Popped up to the roof to have a look but it had stopped. Will go back at lunch to see if he comes back. Update - spanner in the works because I've just seen a grey wagtail calling from the same area and their calls are similar when listening through glass and brick! Will keep updated.
-- Edited by James Richardson on Tuesday 2nd of May 2017 10:45:40 AM
Brief visit by a Heron to Ashton canal basin behind The Green off Jutland St, accompanied by much honking from the resident geese.
Willow Warbler fall in the centre this morning - 1 Ardwick Green Park, 1 Sackville Gardens and 3 Vimto Park
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36112544
-- Edited by Alex Lees on Thursday 20th of April 2017 03:03:48 PM
Blackcap male
Robin
Goldfinch x 2
Blue tit x 2
Dunnock x 2
Blackbird male
Chaffinch male, strange growths on feet.
Wren
The mistle thrush pair are in fact still at the Great Northern sunken lawn area, but they appear to have abandoned their nest due to disturbance.
Not surprising really as they were in such a busy location outside the Great Northern Warehouse right next to a building that is being renovated and people were constantly near the nest.
These are unusual visitors to the area and comprise only the 2nd and 3rd collared doves I've ever seen in St John's Gardens.
30+ goldfinch singing & chattering away around the gardens
1 chaffinch looking lonely sat on the window ledge of nearby building
blackbirds
blue tits
great tit
2 long tailed tits
dunnock
robin
woodpigeons
magpies
Late post from wed 6 50am top of high street sat on pavement was male Kestrel with a mouse, flew up to a near by building
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 17th of March 2017 07:23:44 PM
Does look rather like an ex-Sparrowhawk to me Liz
Mistle Thrush still sat on nest on walk to work, despite the very busy location.
-- Edited by Nigel Troup on Thursday 9th of March 2017 08:53:10 PM
juvenile Iceland Gull NW over Vimto Park at 0825 this am (with Rob Martin): http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35057770 presumably the Gorton bird as it came from that direction with a kettle of Herring Gulls.
That's 40 sp there since late September including Yellow-browed Warbler, Waxwing, Woodcock, Fieldfare, Chiffchaff and Pink-footed Geese!
http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L4934653
cheers
Alex
Mistle thrush also still sat tight on nest, easy to see on walk to work through city centre, its mate nearby collecting a beakfull of worms.
Will be interesting to track their progress. Lots of magpies around and the pair near my flat last year failed due to magpie predation.
Dipper seen at Pin Mill Brow 04.03.17 around 1300 Picture too!
Male Kestrel perched on the Novotel hotel and then patrolling the lower end of Portland Street, towards Oxford Road this morning.
Several House Sparrows calling from back of properties along St John's Street
Rozel Square, St John's Gardens, general observations from flat on Sunday
2 Chaffinch
Several Goldfinch
Several Magpie
1 Mistle thrush
1 Song thrush
At least 3 singing Dunnock
2 singing Blackbird
Several Blue tit
2 Great tit
1 regularly roosting Woodpigeon outside window
2 House sparrow (small relict colony using rear side of terraced properties between St John Street and Camp Street, probably declining)
1 Robin
1 Wren
Several Long-tailed tit
No greenfinches for months - used to be numerous and regular on feeders.