Correction to where the Great Spotted Woodpecker was found yesterday - it was on Chapel Walks off Cross Street. Not Chapel Street as I stated in later posts. I had picked up my brother, who had captured the distressed bird from Cross Street. This is why in my first post I stated it was near Cross Street. The fact it was found in the heart of the City I think was significant. It also underlined the reason I asked my brother when he phoned me, to try and capture the bird on a busy road with no trees and with the bird crashing into buildings then falling to floor, being pursued by a crowd of people who were taking photographs on mobile phones!! My brother was attracted to what the crowd were doing first and foremost. So it was in the heart of the City and not Chapel Street, Salford. At least there was a happy outcome.

-- Edited by Gerry Flanagan on Friday 26th of June 2015 09:07:51 PM

The juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker found in a distressed state on Chapel Street, was successfully released in Longford Park at 5.15 this morning. The bird flew confidently to a nearby tree, showing no ill effects from yesterdays ordeal in Manchester, before flying a longer distance. Thanks to Ian for advice and my brother Anthony, who originally found and captured the bird, among a crowd who had gathered, many who were trying to get photographs of the woodpecker with their phones. The bird had become disorientated and exhausted.


-- Edited by Gerry Flanagan on Friday 26th of June 2015 06:27:45 AM

The woodpecker was actually along Chapel Street, looking very exhausted and alien amongst all that concrete and the decision was taken (rightly in my view) to take it into care. Further care is currently being organised.

Must have only just missed the woodpecker
Spent around 2-3 hours (16:50-19-20) looking for the black redstart with no luck, focused my search on cross street, St Ann's square and Albert square.
However I did see a peregrine circling then flying of towards the arndale which I got a few distant photos of.
I also saw about 13 goldfinches and a family of blue tits feeding in Albert square.

Gerry, contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 for collection of the bird (Cross Street isn't a natural location for woodpeckers!). If you are in any doubt about the bird's health then take it to an nearby vet.

Any problems please contact me directly if necessary (contact numbers on the 'who's who' page on the website).

Juv Great Spotted Woodpecker - near Cross street - flying into buildings - now in box - any advice please on where to take it? (It was attracting a crowd and
panicking)

3 House Martin giving amazingly close views yesterday feeding over the Medlock just west of Medlock street, at times could hear them going past! Also now at least 3 Juv Grey wagtail on river here.

Victoria bridge - Grey Heron x 1. Black headed gull x 2 . . Mallard x 4 .. Goldfinch x 4 . . also several others around old bus depot and a least 4 at Manchester cathedral . Magpie x 4 near the CIS building . Surprised not to see more about. Also 2 x Grey wagtail near the canal at sackville park.

Blackcap singing this morning in trees between the medlock and the eurocar park at south end of Deansgate, also 1 Canada Goose Gosling left from the original 5 on the river here and Grey Wagtails fledged at least 1 young in the area.

A bird I never thought I'd see in the City centre. Thursday 11th 7:30 in morning. A male bullfinch on a buddleia on Congou St behind Piccadilly Station where the trams turn round.

Thursday 11th June 12.35

A Chaffinch was singing outside the Cathedral at lunchtime.
2 Grey Wagtails on the Irwell, singing.

Kestrel flying very low on Tarrif St and Brewer Street on Sunday evening.

3 Canada Geese flew above Oxford St and veered off towards Piccadilly this morning.

Also RSPB stall at Albert Square - they hadn't seen anything exciting all morning apart from the Kestrels.

A Grey Heron flew over Portland Street this morning heading in the direction of Deansgate.

A pair of Dunnocks singing on Chepstow Street at lunchtime.

1 Kestrel flew low along Princess Street at lunchtime.

1 Kestrel perched on chimney pot on Town Hall rooftop this morning.

Grey wagtail on the Medlock on Oxford Road next to the Palace Hotel early this evening.

Also 3 lesser black-backed gulls circling around, giving nice views.

This morning a Lesser Black-backed Gull landed in Piccadilly Gardens.

I often see them perched on buildings around Piccadilly Gardens, but this is the first time I recollect actually seeing one on the ground there.

Albert Sq. 4.15pm on Moulting Kestrel making forays around the town hall and over the square. Swallow over. Also present at lunchtime Dunnock and a few Goldfinch. Now quiet.

NB There is a separate thread for Black Redstart sightings should there be any

The black redstart was singing & feeding on the town hall yesterday at 3.40pm
Also 2 kestrel.

Single Swallow over the River Irwell near the Marriot Hotel

Black Redstart singing once again this morning on the Town Hall. This time I managed to see as well as hear the bird.
First time in a few years I've been able to spot it.

Black Redstart singing from on top of the Town Hall, Albert Square side at 07.40 this morning.

River Irwell near to Blackfriars Street at 1pm

Pair of Grey Wagtails
Pair of Goosander sat on the bank.

Black redstart heard singing, just the once at 11.30am on princess st, could not locate.

Two Mistle Thrushes were feeding on the 'green roof' of the Town Hall Extension this afternoon

Pair of Long Tailed Tits what appeared to be nest building in bushes near Piccadilly Station.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 16th of March 2015 02:38:35 PM

An unusual sight this morning, with a Mute Swan battling the winds as it flew past the town hall before veering off in the Deansgate direction.

On the River Irwell by Blackfriars Street this lunchtime:
1 female Goosander
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Mallards
2 Canada Geese
c50 Black-headed Gulls

Male and female Goosander on the River Irwell by the Lowry at 12.45pm.
Peregrine overhead too, heading towards the cathedral.

Black redstart flew across Albert Square at 5.15 pm this evening, and was singing on top of the memorial in front of the town hall.

2 Grey Wagtails today on the canal side where the canal runs behind the Crown Courts on Minshull St

Grey Wagtail joined today by 3 Canada Geese, 1 Wren and 5 Mallards on and close to the River Irwell by the Lowry Hotel.

A couple of white winged gulls with a mixed flock of smaller gulls (mostly black-headed) flying over Piccadilly gardens quite early this morning. Binoculars were in my bag, so couldn't tell which they were.

A Grey Wagtail has been present for the last couple of days on the River Irwell close to the Lowry hotel.

3 male and 1 female Goosander in a similar position to yesterday on the Irwell outside the Lowry hotel.
Also 2 Pied and 1 Grey Wagtail.

A nice male Goosander on the River Irwell just outside the Lowry hotel at 1pm

Single Pied Wagtail on tram tracks outside Debenhams 6 50am

Deansgate/Castlefield from the Met this morning about 0820

Small black robin briefly glimpsed on the railings close to the line as the tram pulled out of the station heading for St.Peter's Square.
Couldn't be too sure, but looked like a Black Redstart. Keep you eyes peeled around the area.
Confirmation would be great.
Couldn't ask the driver to stop.!

Cheers
Nev

Apologies to Shannon, welcome on board, but I can't help with your pigeon. Lots of variations about!

First post, so hello!

On a bus around Piccadilly Gardens when I glimpsed what looked very like a stock dove, sat on some street funiture, when I looked out of the window. Only a very quick glimpse before I realised I was looking at something a bit out of the ordinary, and then the bus was off, so could have been a racing pigeon with stock dove like qualities, I suppose (didn't get a good look at its head, which would have said for sure), but was wondering if anyone else had seen a similar bird in town? Would love to know if it really was a lost stock dove.

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Tuesday 16th of December 2014 10:49:48 PM

large flock of finches gathering in the trees on the north side of the cathedral after 3pm this afternoon, at least 220 mostly greenfinch with a few goldfinch, they all took flight when 1 of the peregrine falcons flew over but then landed back down before going to roost.
1 male goosander on the river Irwell at Blackfriars bridge.

-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 14th of December 2014 06:00:57 PM

3.35pm today

Mistle Thrush trying to drive off around 25 Starlings and a few Fieldfares from a berry tree between Whispering Smith and the Phones 4U Arena (start of Bury New Rd)

Harris Hawk on friend's balcony in the Green Quarter in Manchester. Funnily enough, close to where the news article reported one dropping the rat on a Range Rover the other week! He snapped a good picture of it yesterday!

Kingfisher on medlock on Charles street next to factory night club at 4:00pm ish

A pair of Mute Swans on the River Irwell by the Lowry at 12.30pm today.

There are at least one or two Harris Hawks at large in the county at any one time and there has been a bird around the Hulme area for some time now.

possibly the remains of attachment for jesses visible above the bird's feet.
...........................................................................................................................
It's wearing "anklets" Gordon.

Loved this line in the write-up .......

He added: We had to go down and move the rat off the top of the car, and it was quite heavy.

HaHaHa ! Bet it was all of four ounces.

Roger.

Looks like the one who used to reside on Carrington Moss

Certainly is a Harris Hawk. Difficult to see in the photo but possibly the remains of attachment for jesses visible above the bird's feet.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/pictured-moment-huge-bird-prey-7971437

Am I right in thinking this is a Harris Hawk?