Ancoats Steve . I hope you're not referring to the Northern Quarter as Ancoats! New Cross perhaps but Ancoats...
Steve Suttill said
Tue May 31 5:38 PM, 2011
King Street? Are the Ancoats birds going up in the world?
Knew something had to turn up soon. Well done Adrian!
Steve
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 31 9:51 AM, 2011
Black Redstart confirmed as singing from the Lloyds Bank building this morning (first heard briefly last week) at the junction of King Street and Cross Street. The bird was then seen to fly towards Deansgate along King Street at 9:30ish.
Info thanks to Adrian Dancy
Mark Rigby said
Tue Jul 27 4:59 PM, 2010
I feel a song coming on! What ate the Peregrine?
Steve Suttill said
Tue Jul 27 4:10 PM, 2010
That wouldn't be the Kestrel that was killed by a Peregrine was it?
Steve
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 27 2:45 PM, 2010
There remains the (real) possibility that the Northern Quarter male (which probably toured the city centre on occasion) was taken by a Kestrel and fed to it's young!
tom willis said
Tue Jul 27 1:37 PM, 2010
I was wondering about the black redstart(s) - no sightings for several weeks?
Steve Suttill said
Fri Jun 25 1:40 PM, 2010
Nothing seen or heard in Spear St area all week
Steve
Tim Wilcox said
Fri Jun 25 1:26 PM, 2010
Singing at 1.05pm from buildings on George St heard from the China Town car park but once again by teh time I'd gone back to the office for my bins he was gone. Busy boy I hope he strikes lucky soon.
Judith Smith said
Mon Jun 21 11:23 PM, 2010
Historically they have bred in the Portland St area as it's near the canal.
Pea said
Mon Jun 21 6:43 PM, 2010
Hello
I'm new to this forum but have been reading it to help me find black redstarts so I thought I'd return the favour!
I heard and saw one singing on Thursday 16th evening, around 930pm on Faraday street, on the large building near to Lever street. He was previously on Spear street.
I also think I heard one in the distance when stood outside the Premier Inn on Portland street the following morning, has anyone heard them in this area before?
Rob Smallwood said
Mon Jun 21 8:58 AM, 2010
I feel we should have a police incedent room type whiteboard with his movements tracked on it!
Melanie Beckford said
Mon Jun 21 8:33 AM, 2010
l heard and saw the male (presumably) at 9pm, last night.
l was on Clarence Street and he was on the top of a building on Tib Lane at the top of Cross Street. Very vocal and flitting around.
Mark Whalley said
Sun Jun 20 10:41 AM, 2010
Rob Smallwood wrote:
What time Mark?
Sorry it was 8-30 again. He seems to like that time for his evening chorus.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Jun 19 12:35 PM, 2010
What time Mark?
Mark Whalley said
Sat Jun 19 11:05 AM, 2010
Male giving his usual Friday evening performance. This time on building where Spear Street meets Back Piccadily. Sang for few mins and then flew off towards Stevenson Square.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jun 18 10:19 PM, 2010
Well, it would be nigh on impossible to seperate two second calender year birds on plumage so the chance of two (or more) birds is far from unlikely. That said, having combined working and birding in the city centre for the past 17 years including regularly being privvy to many priviledged views from high vantage points it is very easy to underestimate just how big the city centre of Manchester is. It is actually tiny, particularly as the Black Redstart flies!
Having pondered seriously over the current situation in an attempt to decide how many individuals may be involved I too have come to the conclusion that it is perhaps most likely all sightings relate to just one bird. Of course this may, hopefully, be proved wrong in due course
The majority of sighting come from the 'northern quarter' of the city but the sighting from China Town is not that far down from Lever Street (where the bird has been tracked to). China Town is of course very close to the town hall. The town hall is very close to Bridge Street which is in turn just down the road from St.Annes Square and is on the way back towards the northern quarter. Even the Boddingtons sighting is but a short flit from the northern quarter too. Could this male be on a circuit of the city centre, expanding it's chances of attracting a mate?
It seems feasible although I wouldn't be surprised if there was two or even three
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 18th of June 2010 10:20:15 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Jun 18 9:23 PM, 2010
In one of the fastest u-turns in history I have changed my mind.
The Bridge Street bird so closely resembles the bird I saw in the Hilton Street area that I am comfortable that there is every chance that they were one and the same.
The Bridge Street bird showed well late afternoon.
Adrian Dancy said
Fri Jun 18 7:45 PM, 2010
I saw the BX singing from the Law Society building on Bridge Street between 2.00pm. and 2.30pm... a first year male. The last time I saw two males singing there was an almighty clash and one bird was seen off (that was last year) . I do not think than one male will tollerate another in such close proximity as suggested. I have tracked and double tracked our bird to a point of obsession and given the period of time that I have done this I have formed the firm conclusion that there is only one bird in the City Centre that has attempted to set up any territory and attract a mate. Of course I cannot dismiss the possiblity (indeed liklihood) that other males have passed through.
I might add that I too have been on top of the car park on Tibb Street and on occasions a lone bird singing can give an impression of there being two birds owing to the fact that high pitched sounds rebound off walls with little loss in volume.
AD
dave mcintyre said
Fri Jun 18 5:17 PM, 2010
Likewise Rob, last heard calling 5pm
Cheers Dave McIntyre
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Jun 18 3:29 PM, 2010
15:29 and still audible on Bridge Street - nice to meet with you Dave!
dave mcintyre said
Fri Jun 18 2:44 PM, 2010
its now 2.40pm and the Black Redstart is still flying and calling around the top of Bridge street.
Dave McIntryre
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Jun 18 2:05 PM, 2010
8.30am
Saw BX flit up onto building on Spear Street, sing briefly and then flip down over rooftop.
No sign after, in spite of thorough grilling of area.
dave mcintyre said
Fri Jun 18 1:13 PM, 2010
Black Redstart singing its head off on Bridge street on top of the old childrens mission opposite my work place , keeps flying around then coming back to the same place for over 30 mins now .
Dave McIntyre
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jun 18 12:35 PM, 2010
I would be surprised for two males to be singing so close from within the same territory
A further report from Kevin Singleton of a male in the car park at the site of the old Boddington's brewery off Trinity Way opposite the M.E.N. arena on Sunday the 13th June. Along the brick wall furthest away from the car park entrance.
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Jun 18 12:22 PM, 2010
My fiver is on more than one bird, but then again my track record with punditry is not good!
Steve Suttill said
Fri Jun 18 10:06 AM, 2010
Have been discussing this issue with Agents Dancy and Foulkes of the Black Redstart Investigation Team (BRIT)!
Luke says he heard 2 singing simultaneously. I was almost fooled into thinking the same thing the other morning until I realised one of the birds was simply an echo of what was in fact just the one bird
I'm not saying that Luke was wrong (I would love to think that he was right) but it's easy to be mistaken - I was!
Steve
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Jun 18 8:58 AM, 2010
Adrian Dancy wrote:
Thursday 6.45pm heard bird sing briefly from Stevenson Square then from Faraday Street when it dropped down a wall to feed. I did not get any BXs anywhere else.
For what it is worth, it is my view that there is only one bird that has tried to set up a territory in the centre of Manchester. It is no more mobile than what birds have been in previous years. Can't help feeling sorry for the poor thing though.
Except that Luke had two singing earlier so at least at some stage there has been more than one bird.
Adrian Dancy said
Fri Jun 18 12:15 AM, 2010
Thursday 6.45pm heard bird sing briefly from Stevenson Square then from Faraday Street when it dropped down a wall to feed. I did not get any BXs anywhere else.
For what it is worth, it is my view that there is only one bird that has tried to set up a territory in the centre of Manchester. It is no more mobile than what birds have been in previous years. Can't help feeling sorry for the poor thing though.
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Jun 16 1:49 PM, 2010
12.55 - 1.10 at least male singing with gusto from the top of Griffin House on Lever St. Took some time to find though perched slightly out of sight on an aerial. No sight nor sound in China Town. A brief visit from the Lever St. bird Tuesday?
In strong sunlight this bird perhpas looked even more washed out but it seemed to be the same probable first summer male described by Rob
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 01:50:30 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 02:29:00 PM
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Jun 16 12:00 PM, 2010
Hi Ian and all just to confirm Chinese Car Park = China town car park. It's just what we call it in the Gallery. Having another wander this lunchtime
Iain Johnson said
Wed Jun 16 10:41 AM, 2010
I don't think so although I sure some birders are 100% certain of the warbler's identification. Maybe it should be re-submitted?
Vaughan Evans said
Wed Jun 16 10:09 AM, 2010
Was there ever a positive identification of the warbler?
Steve Suttill said
Wed Jun 16 9:54 AM, 2010
Singing loudly from corner of Lever St/Faraday St this morning.
Steve
Adrian Dancy said
Wed Jun 16 8:32 AM, 2010
I had a good long look (last night) for BX around China Town and other usual places but only heard BX singing on roof of Next and along Shudehill.
-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 08:35:21 AM
Frank Whitney said
Tue Jun 15 6:57 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Rob's tracked bird proves just how much this seemingly unpaired 'Northern Quarter' male can roam though although there's no real surprise that they do. Any visual descriptions of these males may be essential to assist in eliminate this apparent first summer bird from other sightings and proving just how many birds may be involved. That or a mass Sunday morning planned search by several birders
That sounds like a plan
Frank
Steve Suttill said
Tue Jun 15 5:40 PM, 2010
I wouldn't go looking in the Chinatown car park, Ian. You never know what warblers you might find there
Steve
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 15 3:20 PM, 2010
Is this the car park in China Town Tim?
Tim Wilcox said
Tue Jun 15 1:58 PM, 2010
Singing from Chinese Car Park at 12.40. Went back for bins and couldn't relocate. None found in Northern Quarter in next half hour or so.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 15 12:26 PM, 2010
Rob's tracked bird proves just how much this seemingly unpaired 'Northern Quarter' male can roam though although there's no real surprise that they do. Any visual descriptions of these males may be essential to assist in eliminate this apparent first summer bird from other sightings and proving just how many birds may be involved. That or a mass Sunday morning planned search by several birders
Steve Suttill said
Tue Jun 15 9:52 AM, 2010
Putting on a good show in Faraday St this morning - seemingly in vocal competition with a Grey Wagtail which seems to be unpaired as well.
I still reckon there's more than one, Adrian
Steve
Simon Johnson said
Mon Jun 14 9:14 PM, 2010
Black Redstart heard singing from St Annes Sq at 9.50am
Rob Smallwood said
Sun Jun 13 9:22 PM, 2010
One tracked from Little Lever Street and across Hilton Street then finally tracked down from roof of Hilton Street Multistorey singing from the roof of Sacha's on Tib Street this evening.
Very dull bird, had it not sung I'd have been thinking female on the brief views we got on the various rooftops.
Both adult Peregrine showing on CIS, and 3 + 2 Goldfinch over.
Mark Whalley said
Sun Jun 13 4:19 PM, 2010
Described to a birdwatching friend who was here from Stoke where I'd seen the BX on Friday evening. She went for walk in the area this afternoon at 1-30. Saw a male BX on a window ledge on the building with scaffold on it next to building that burnt down on the corner of Dale Street and Little Lever Street
Male heard singing whilst walking through Stephenson Square at 8-30 pm Friday. We tracked him down to the top corner of the JD Willams Group building on the junction of Little Lever Street and Faraday Street. Observed him for 5 mins on the building singing before he flew off towards Stephenson Square. A first sighting for the other half.
Steve Suttill said
Wed Jun 9 3:48 PM, 2010
Well, Luke Brown heard two simultaneously (see below). My money's on 3 minimum!
Steve
Ian Campbell said
Wed Jun 9 1:22 PM, 2010
Has anyone got an opinion as to how many different males are singing in the City, if it's just one it's very mobile. Cheers Ian
Simon Johnson said
Wed Jun 9 12:25 PM, 2010
Black Redstart singing from the top of the Triangle building at 9.35am today
Jeff Clarke said
Wed Jun 9 6:13 AM, 2010
Black Redstart singing on roof above Newmarket (back of Arndale Centre) yesterday lunch time (heard but not seen)
Simon Johnson said
Tue Jun 8 10:00 AM, 2010
Black Redstart singing from the top of the Cathedral @ 9.30 this morning then moved towards the triangle.
Knew something had to turn up soon. Well done Adrian!
Steve
Info thanks to Adrian Dancy
Steve
Steve
I'm new to this forum but have been reading it to help me find black redstarts so I thought I'd return the favour!
I heard and saw one singing on Thursday 16th evening, around 930pm on Faraday street, on the large building near to Lever street. He was previously on Spear street.
I also think I heard one in the distance when stood outside the Premier Inn on Portland street the following morning, has anyone heard them in this area before?
l was on Clarence Street and he was on the top of a building on Tib Lane at the top of Cross Street.
Very vocal and flitting around.
Sorry it was 8-30 again. He seems to like that time for his evening chorus.
Having pondered seriously over the current situation in an attempt to decide how many individuals may be involved I too have come to the conclusion that it is perhaps most likely all sightings relate to just one bird. Of course this may, hopefully, be proved wrong in due course
The majority of sighting come from the 'northern quarter' of the city but the sighting from China Town is not that far down from Lever Street (where the bird has been tracked to). China Town is of course very close to the town hall. The town hall is very close to Bridge Street which is in turn just down the road from St.Annes Square and is on the way back towards the northern quarter. Even the Boddingtons sighting is but a short flit from the northern quarter too. Could this male be on a circuit of the city centre, expanding it's chances of attracting a mate?
It seems feasible although I wouldn't be surprised if there was two or even three
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 18th of June 2010 10:20:15 PM
The Bridge Street bird so closely resembles the bird I saw in the Hilton Street area that I am comfortable that there is every chance that they were one and the same.
The Bridge Street bird showed well late afternoon.
I might add that I too have been on top of the car park on Tibb Street and on occasions a lone bird singing can give an impression of there being two birds owing to the fact that high pitched sounds rebound off walls with little loss in volume.
AD
Cheers Dave McIntyre
Dave McIntryre
Saw BX flit up onto building on Spear Street, sing briefly and then flip down over rooftop.
No sign after, in spite of thorough grilling of area.
Dave McIntyre
A further report from Kevin Singleton of a male in the car park at the site of the old Boddington's brewery off Trinity Way opposite the M.E.N. arena on Sunday the 13th June. Along the brick wall furthest away from the car park entrance.
Luke says he heard 2 singing simultaneously. I was almost fooled into thinking the same thing the other morning until I realised one of the birds was simply an echo of what was in fact just the one bird
I'm not saying that Luke was wrong (I would love to think that he was right) but it's easy to be mistaken - I was!
Steve
Except that Luke had two singing earlier so at least at some stage there has been more than one bird.
For what it is worth, it is my view that there is only one bird that has tried to set up a territory in the centre of Manchester. It is no more mobile than what birds have been in previous years. Can't help feeling sorry for the poor thing though.
In strong sunlight this bird perhpas looked even more washed out but it seemed to be the same probable first summer male described by Rob
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 01:50:30 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 02:29:00 PM
Steve
-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 08:35:21 AM
That sounds like a plan
Frank
Steve
I still reckon there's more than one, Adrian
Steve
Very dull bird, had it not sung I'd have been thinking female on the brief views we got on the various rooftops.
Both adult Peregrine showing on CIS, and 3 + 2 Goldfinch over.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hl=en&tab=wl
Steve
Cheers Ian