its me!!get ya rush cds on ,then you'll not be bored
Dean Macdonald said
Sat Apr 5 10:08 PM, 2008
Congratulations The first person to read this is the 1500th viewer of this thread Not bad for a thread about 1 bird Well 2 really. OK 4 if you include the Ravens
I'm bored, can you tell?
Cheers Dean.
Steven Astley said
Fri Apr 4 4:52 PM, 2008
Just read the Bolton new not only are they reporting it as a kestrel! But they show a picture of an American Kestrel!!! (thought April 1st was Tuesday)
Steven Astley said
Fri Apr 4 4:32 PM, 2008
Dean Macdonald wrote:
The roof(level 3) of the Market Place car park gives great views. Just been up there. Lot's of activity with great close up views of the birds in flight. The male Peregrine attacked a Raven right above my head
By the way, the Bolton News reports today that we have Kestrels nesting on the town hall
Cheers Dean.
Probably saw the same attack from Newport Street about an hour ago. The raven turned on it's side and showed it's tallons as the peregrines attacked this continued again until the raven alighted on the clock tower! Amazing and surreal seeing them in my town centre. Before hand both peres cruising around the square. All this happening and people just walking by not noticing! What's wrong with people!
Dean Macdonald said
Fri Apr 4 3:37 PM, 2008
The roof(level 3) of the Market Place car park gives great views. Just been up there. Lot's of activity with great close up views of the birds in flight. The male Peregrine attacked a Raven right above my head
By the way, the Bolton News reports today that we have Kestrels nesting on the town hall
Cheers Dean.
Jim Ormerod said
Fri Apr 4 1:53 PM, 2008
Peregrine seen several times over Victoria Square at lunchtime. Raven seen on nest, shifting position. Another took off from N side of the clock a little later.
Judith Smith said
Thu Apr 3 9:32 PM, 2008
When you've been up there, you can see how many nooks and crannies there are, not visible from below, so I just assumed you meant the bird had landed somewhere...sorry!
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Apr 3 9:09 PM, 2008
Didn't see either Peregrine today
One Raven landed at the nest at 8am and appeared to be feeding chicks, though i couldn't actually see any. Both were active around the rooftops at lunchtime but didn't visit the nest.
Dean.
Mark Rigby said
Thu Apr 3 4:48 PM, 2008
If you read the post- "male Peregrine flew into the clocktower". It must have hurt.!!! I am on a course this week. Tommorow is my last day. The 2 Ravens were the same as the clocktower birds,our classroom is in the large building just north of the town hall. Unfortunatley at the opposite end-so no viewpoint
Paul Cliff said
Thu Apr 3 4:04 PM, 2008
i feel it's a tongue in cheek reaction to the lunatic fringe theory, judith.
Judith Smith said
Thu Apr 3 2:30 PM, 2008
Mark - do you work in Bolton? Are the 2 Ravens you are seeing from the office window the same as the 2 from the clock tower? Why did you think the male Peregrine was unharmed? Am I missing something here?
Mark Rigby said
Thu Apr 3 12:32 PM, 2008
Male Peregrine flew in to clocktower at 0815hrs (unharmed)and started calling to the female.She appeared at 0820hrs and promptly flew off in a NE direction. The male was showing well say below the clock tower till 0900hrsat least until work interupted.
One was stillshowing well at 1225 sat on the stone rail below the clock tower.
2 Ravens flying around the area most of the morning flying past the office window distracting my work!!
Kane Brides said
Wed Apr 2 10:23 PM, 2008
Can you see the town hall from any of the car park roofs? Obviously not be looking down on the town hall but may aid better viewing with a scope??
K
-- Edited by Kane Brides at 22:24, 2008-04-02
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Apr 2 9:52 PM, 2008
I checked out the unused top floor of my works building today, which would have been good but unfortunately the parish church is in the way. I've got a couple of other places to check out on fri. It does seem difficult to find somewhere that looks down on the town hall clock. The outskirts of town, with a scope, look like the best options.
Dean.
Judith Smith said
Wed Apr 2 9:25 PM, 2008
The Manchester birds are now on eggs so hopefully these should be getting the idea this week with the better weather. The town hall staff are looking to see if there is a vantage point on any adjoining building where we can see what's going on.
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Apr 2 7:14 PM, 2008
1 bird again today on the parish church at 8am. No sign at lunchtime. However, i have found a spot close enough to work where i can see the side of the clock where the tray is.
Both Ravens were in the area at lunchtime but didn't visit the nest while i was there.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Apr 1 11:11 PM, 2008
Welcome John, the more eyes the better.
Hope the female is on eggs.
Dean.
Judith Smith said
Tue Apr 1 10:02 PM, 2008
Welcome John - another Bolton town centre watcher!
The fact that only one Peregrine appears to be being seen these last 2 days is good news, as perhaps the female is down on eggs.
John Anderton said
Tue Apr 1 9:17 PM, 2008
Monday 31st March 2008 11.00am watching Bolton Town Hall Clock
I saw a raven land on the nest and then a peregrine appeared, circled the clock two or three times and flew off in the Queens Park direction.
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Apr 1 7:55 PM, 2008
1 bird circled the clock and landed at 1pm. All the activity now seems to be around the clock tower. Which is a bit further away from my viewpoint. Think i'm gonna have to start taking my scope to work. Raven on the parish church at 10am
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Mon Mar 31 7:14 PM, 2008
Just saw one bird today perched on the clock tower at 8am.
Dean.
Kane Brides said
Mon Mar 31 5:50 PM, 2008
For anyone who is interested in Peregrines, there is an excellent article in April's edition of BBC Wildlife all about how city centre Peregrines hunt at night. It defiantly is a good read.
K
Paul Cliff said
Mon Mar 31 1:04 AM, 2008
had a quick look myself this afternoon from judith's suggested vantage points, many thanks judith.
nothing at first on neither nest or tray. had a look at the parish church and bingo... a pere feasting handsomely on something with lots of white feathers, a lapwing maybe?
then both ravens returned to their nest followed shortly by the other pere landing on the tray before flying off a hunting.
fantastic.
Ian Campbell said
Sun Mar 30 12:01 PM, 2008
This a.m. my first visit, 9.45 watched male bring food to female which was sat on the very top of the clock tower, superb and all against a brilliant blue sky Cheers Ian
tonywilkinson said
Sun Mar 30 7:23 AM, 2008
Rare Finials on Bolton town hall? Are you sure they don't contain the ashes of hopefuls who have died in the hides of Penn. Flash?
Judith Smith said
Sat Mar 29 11:29 AM, 2008
I went into Bolton early today to have a look at the Peregrines, which were both on the nest tray on the N side of the Town Hall clock tower (unfazed by the chimes) - at one point they appeared to be making a scrape. The best viewing point is the LH side of Upper Bark St Car Park, with a scope. Neither bird appeared to have a Darvic ring, which was a bit surprising, given local Peregrine chicks have had such rings fitted now for a few years.
Imagine my surprise, though, when a Raven landed on the uppermost corner of the clock tower, just below the dome - on a nest! How we've missed that, I don't know. If you look at the base of the dome from the NE corner of Victoria Square (eg near HSBC bank/WH Smiths), there are two finials at each corner of the dome base (at least I think that's what they are called! - decorative urn-like structures). The nest is wedged between these but can be seen with bins from below.
Both Peregrines immediately tried to attack the Raven but couldn't get to it as it was safe between the finials. It's quite possible the Ravens already have chicks, as I know of one nest where there are already at least three young. It's impossible to see into the nest, so I suppose we'll have to wait until they are big enough to be seen. Perhaps it has been used in previous years.
Perhaps it's as well we have the alternative trays on Bolton Parish Church. Whilst Peregrines are normally dominant over Ravens, it is not always the case, as I have observed personally when I actually saw a Raven take Peregrine eggs a few years ago now!
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Mar 27 9:36 PM, 2008
Great news. For selfish reasons i would have prefered the church tower as the nest sight as once a certain big tree gets it's leaves i won't be able to see the town hall from work.
Dean.
Judith Smith said
Thu Mar 27 9:21 PM, 2008
The pair have now gone to the town hall and are exploring their new nest tray there, displaying, bring prey etc etc - all day today and yesterday apparently, even the general public are noticing.
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Mar 27 9:14 PM, 2008
Thurs 27 march.
1 bird over the town hall at 3pm didn't see it land. I was stopped at traffic lights. It's very hard to keep my eyes on the road driving through the town centre lately
Catch up with the birds when i'm back at work on monday.
Dean.
Judith Smith said
Fri Mar 21 11:18 AM, 2008
The GMBRG is not badly off, thanks to ecological consultants who pay for data, also Ken had some wood over from a previous sheet of marine ply we paid for, and his employer kindly donated the rest required. I will reclaim the cost of the gravel! Whilst on this subject, I'd just like to reiterate that observers whose records are used for ecological consultants do get paid. For 2007, £434 was shared out to 11 observers and I keep a running total year to year, so that tiny amounts get carried forward to the next year until a decent minimum is reached. It's obviously luck whether or not one's records are used, but people observing in the city centre come out well as that's where a lot of development is.
Paul Cliff said
Fri Mar 21 9:46 AM, 2008
who's paying for them judith? i for one would be happy to chip something in, i'm sure others might too...
Judith Smith said
Thu Mar 20 10:17 PM, 2008
Both still perched on the ornamental stonework, one E face, one S face, at 1330hrs. I am pleased to say we put a couple of nest trays on the (secure) tower today. The pair was also displaying around the town hall yesterday. I do wish they'd make their minds up. It's costing a bomb in gravel and nest trays (thanks again to Ken Haydock who made both, this last one at very short notice)
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Mar 20 5:22 PM, 2008
Both on church at 10am and 1pm. Male circled tower a couple of times before landing.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Mar 19 6:46 PM, 2008
Birds displaying again at 8am and 1pm. One landed on church tower with prey.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Mar 18 5:25 PM, 2008
Tues 18 march.
Single bird circling at 8am. Both birds displaying high above the church at 1pm. Single bird on the church tower at 5pm.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Mar 13 5:11 PM, 2008
Both Birds on the church tower today 1pm.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Mar 12 6:06 PM, 2008
Just the one today 1pm. Tucked away in the corner of the tower sheltering from the wind.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Mon Mar 10 5:12 PM, 2008
Both birds sat on Parish Church tower 1pm today.
Dean.
Judith Smith said
Thu Mar 6 9:06 PM, 2008
After I had posted my earlier message today, the Parish Church people rang me up this afternoon as they too had noticed the birds. (We'd already visited them but there were problems about putting a tray on the top of the church tower due to them wanting access for photographers occasionally) If the birds do decide to nest there without any help from us, obviously the Sch 1 conditions will apply and the tower visits would have to be shut down for the breeding season. I'm sure they would co-operate with that. Anyway, it's a month from egg-laying time yet so let's hope the birds will choose the right option!
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Mar 6 5:19 PM, 2008
Pair displaying today 1pm. Male flew from Parish Church to Gasometer, where the female was feeding on a pigeon. Male took off again and displayed for about 15mins before heading back over town centre. Female then took off with it's meal and headed back towards the church tower. Flew about 10 feet above my head(i could nearly smell the pigeon) and landed back on the church. Best views i've ever had of Peregrines and right in my own back yard Had to go back to work though, i was already late. This is fantastic news.
Cheers Dean.
Judith Smith said
Thu Mar 6 12:17 PM, 2008
Excellent news from yesterday - our observer in the Town Hall had a pair of Peregrines displaying round the Town Hall clock tower and also (earlier) round the Parish Church. Fingers crossed!
Dean Macdonald said
Mon Mar 3 9:51 PM, 2008
Possible Raven again today. Difficult to be sure as very distant.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Sat Mar 1 6:49 PM, 2008
Peregrine this afternoon over multi-story car park on Bow St behind Argos mobbed by pigeons.
-- Edited by Dean Macdonald at 22:08, 2008-03-01
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Feb 27 10:45 PM, 2008
Still no Peregrine. Large crow (possibly Raven) circled the clock today 1pm.
Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Feb 12 9:03 PM, 2008
Checked every day not seen it since 1st feb.
Dean Macdonald said
Fri Feb 1 1:09 PM, 2008
Fri 1st Feb.
Peregrine again on Parish church, same place. It was there at 10am and still there at 1pm.
Cheers Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Jan 30 5:18 PM, 2008
Wed 30th Jan 1pm
Adult Peregrine on Parish church tower. West side overlooking St Peter's Way.
Cheers Dean.
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Jan 23 5:30 PM, 2008
Had a Peregrine chasing the Lapwings in the area between Matalan and Central Tyres in Bolton at 1pm today. Put the flock up off central tyres roof and chased them for about 5 mins without catching anything. Looked like a juv, certainly behaved like one.
Cheers Dean.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 06:31:02 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 06:34:33 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 08:51:39 PM
Congratulations The first person to read this is the 1500th viewer of this thread
Not bad for a thread about 1 bird Well 2 really. OK 4 if you include the Ravens
I'm bored, can you tell?
Cheers Dean.
Probably saw the same attack from Newport Street about an hour ago. The raven turned on it's side and showed it's tallons as the peregrines attacked this continued again until the raven alighted on the clock tower! Amazing and surreal seeing them in my town centre.
Before hand both peres cruising around the square.
All this happening and people just walking by not noticing! What's wrong with people!
The roof(level 3) of the Market Place car park gives great views. Just been up there.
Lot's of activity with great close up views of the birds in flight. The male Peregrine attacked a Raven right above my head
By the way, the Bolton News reports today that we have Kestrels nesting on the town hall
Cheers Dean.
Didn't see either Peregrine today
One Raven landed at the nest at 8am and appeared to be feeding chicks, though i couldn't actually see any. Both were active around the rooftops at lunchtime but didn't visit the nest.
Dean.
Why did you think the male Peregrine was unharmed? Am I missing something here?
One was stillshowing well at 1225 sat on the stone rail below the clock tower.
2 Ravens flying around the area most of the morning flying past the office window distracting my work!!
K
-- Edited by Kane Brides at 22:24, 2008-04-02
I checked out the unused top floor of my works building today, which would have been good but unfortunately the parish church is in the way. I've got a couple of other places to check out on fri.
It does seem difficult to find somewhere that looks down on the town hall clock. The outskirts of town, with a scope, look like the best options.
Dean.
1 bird again today on the parish church at 8am. No sign at lunchtime. However, i have found a spot close enough to work where i can see the side of the clock where the tray is.
Both Ravens were in the area at lunchtime but didn't visit the nest while i was there.
Dean.
Welcome John, the more eyes the better.
Hope the female is on eggs.
Dean.
The fact that only one Peregrine appears to be being seen these last 2 days is good news, as perhaps the female is down on eggs.
I saw a raven land on the nest and then a peregrine appeared, circled the clock two or three times and flew off in the Queens Park direction.
1 bird circled the clock and landed at 1pm. All the activity now seems to be around the clock tower. Which is a bit further away from my viewpoint. Think i'm gonna have to start taking my scope to work.
Raven on the parish church at 10am
Dean.
Just saw one bird today perched on the clock tower at 8am.
Dean.
For anyone who is interested in Peregrines, there is an excellent article in April's edition of BBC Wildlife all about how city centre Peregrines hunt at night. It defiantly is a good read.
K
nothing at first on neither nest or tray. had a look at the parish church and bingo... a pere feasting handsomely on something with lots of white feathers, a lapwing maybe?
then both ravens returned to their nest followed shortly by the other pere landing on the tray before flying off a hunting.
fantastic.
Cheers Ian
Imagine my surprise, though, when a Raven landed on the uppermost corner of the clock tower, just below the dome - on a nest! How we've missed that, I don't know. If you look at the base of the dome from the NE corner of Victoria Square (eg near HSBC bank/WH Smiths), there are two finials at each corner of the dome base (at least I think that's what they are called! - decorative urn-like structures). The nest is wedged between these but can be seen with bins from below.
Both Peregrines immediately tried to attack the Raven but couldn't get to it as it was safe between the finials. It's quite possible the Ravens already have chicks, as I know of one nest where there are already at least three young. It's impossible to see into the nest, so I suppose we'll have to wait until they are big enough to be seen. Perhaps it has been used in previous years.
Perhaps it's as well we have the alternative trays on Bolton Parish Church. Whilst Peregrines are normally dominant over Ravens, it is not always the case, as I have observed personally when I actually saw a Raven take Peregrine eggs a few years ago now!
Great news. For selfish reasons i would have prefered the church tower as the nest sight as once a certain big tree gets it's leaves i won't be able to see the town hall from work.
Dean.
Thurs 27 march.
1 bird over the town hall at 3pm didn't see it land. I was stopped at traffic lights. It's very hard to keep my eyes on the road driving through the town centre lately
Catch up with the birds when i'm back at work on monday.
Dean.
Whilst on this subject, I'd just like to reiterate that observers whose records are used for ecological consultants do get paid. For 2007, £434 was shared out to 11 observers and I keep a running total year to year, so that tiny amounts get carried forward to the next year until a decent minimum is reached.
It's obviously luck whether or not one's records are used, but people observing in the city centre come out well as that's where a lot of development is.
Both on church at 10am and 1pm. Male circled tower a couple of times before landing.
Dean.
Birds displaying again at 8am and 1pm. One landed on church tower with prey.
Dean.
Tues 18 march.
Single bird circling at 8am.
Both birds displaying high above the church at 1pm.
Single bird on the church tower at 5pm.
Dean.
Both Birds on the church tower today 1pm.
Dean.
Just the one today 1pm. Tucked away in the corner of the tower sheltering from the wind.
Dean.
Both birds sat on Parish Church tower 1pm today.
Dean.
Pair displaying today 1pm. Male flew from Parish Church to Gasometer, where the female was feeding on a pigeon. Male took off again and displayed for about 15mins before heading back over town centre. Female then took off with it's meal and headed back towards the church tower. Flew about 10 feet above my head(i could nearly smell the pigeon) and landed back on the church. Best views i've ever had of Peregrines and right in my own back yard Had to go back to work though, i was already late.
This is fantastic news.
Cheers Dean.
Possible Raven again today. Difficult to be sure as very distant.
Dean.
-- Edited by Dean Macdonald at 22:08, 2008-03-01
Still no Peregrine. Large crow (possibly Raven) circled the clock today 1pm.
Dean.
Checked every day not seen it since 1st feb.
Fri 1st Feb.
Peregrine again on Parish church, same place. It was there at 10am and still there at 1pm.
Cheers Dean.
Wed 30th Jan 1pm
Adult Peregrine on Parish church tower. West side overlooking St Peter's Way.
Cheers Dean.
Cheers Dean.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 06:31:02 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 06:34:33 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 08:51:39 PM