Currently, there are plans in place to demolish Crompton Place shopping centre in Bolton which could well have a detrimental effect on the nearby breeding Peregrines.
The Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group has, as always, an interest in planning applications which could have a detrimental effect on all breeding species and particularly such important species, but we need your records in order to be as effective as possible in this.
As such, I am asking for any sightings and signs of breeding activity of Peregrines in Bolton Town Centre, particularly around the existing breeding site, to be sent to me privately asap please.
Two birds flying over the area around McDonalds in the centre today. No bins as I was shopping but could well have been a female and a male based purely on size differences.
Adrian Drummond-Hill said
Tue Mar 12 5:08 PM, 2019
Peregrines spotted fornicating on the top of the Town Hall yesterday, around 1:30pm.
simon ghilks said
Tue Jul 24 5:52 PM, 2018
24/7/18 Mid-afternoon
One was heard and then seen calling loudly, flying around and landing on the tall chimney that towers over Moss Bank Park. A little later 2 birds could be seen perched on top of the chimney but without optics couldn't be certain whether one or both were Peregrines.
Keith Mills said
Wed Jul 4 4:46 PM, 2018
I returned to Victoria square at 2.45~ the Peregrine was still up on the high ledge with the gargoyles. I was watching the Town Hall from near Sports Direct
At 2.50 it flew off returning at 3.15 to the same ledge near the conductor strip. It was showing quite well but soon walked round the ledge to face Barclays Bank. And eventually settled.
Keith Mills said
Wed Jul 4 1:52 PM, 2018
An adult Peregrine seen near the top of Bolton Town Hall clock tower,
at 1pm today.
A fellow watcher who kindly lent me his bins, told me he had seen two
Peregrine chicks up there very recently.
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Wednesday 4th of July 2018 01:57:31 PM
Keith Mills said
Thu Apr 20 1:08 PM, 2017
Large Peregrine perched atop the Town Hall clock tower at 1pm today.
Karl Liptrot said
Wed Feb 8 9:48 AM, 2017
09:10 - Peregrine circling over St Peter's way Bolton before landing on Parish Church tower.
Adrian Drummond-Hill said
Thu Jan 26 5:23 PM, 2017
Two peregrines on the Town Hall clock tower today at 4:30pm, just as the clock was striking.
Adrian Dancy said
Sat Mar 19 8:34 AM, 2016
The Peregrines mated yesterday.
Adrian Drummond-Hill said
Thu Mar 17 6:25 PM, 2016
I heard and saw a single bird around the Parish Church tower at 16:20 this afternoon. There may have been a second bird but when I heard the call and turned, I was a fair distance away and just caught a fleeting glimpse of another bird but couldn't swear as to it's identity.
Steve Almond said
Mon Feb 22 4:55 PM, 2016
A pair putting on a great display in the airspace between Queens Park and the Town Hall, 2.30pm today
Ian Campbell said
Thu Oct 30 4:05 PM, 2014
Peregrine in sky above parish church at 2.30 p.m. today. Cheers Ian
Steve Almond said
Thu Oct 2 12:26 PM, 2014
This morning 10.30ish:
2 peregrine on top of town hall tower, calling and having an argument with a Raven
Robert Farmer said
Sun Jun 29 10:14 PM, 2014
Very good views of the two youngsters and adult female on the church tower this afternoon. The juveniles were on the top of the tower (one on the north and one on the west sides) and the adult was lower down on the north side between the topmost windows.
Brood patch very apparent on the adult female.
Simon Warford said
Thu Jun 26 7:48 PM, 2014
This afternoon, both adult Peregrines and the two recently fledged juveniles flying between the Parish Church and the Town Hall.
Keith Mills said
Wed Jun 18 10:04 PM, 2014
Assembling at 6.15 this evening for the Mayor's annual bike ride 60 cyclists were entertained by a very noisy Peregrine making short fluttering flights round the Town Hall Clock Tower, with another Peregrine looking on from near the top. No bins, but probably I think a fledgling.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 18th of June 2014 10:09:36 PM
steve ashworth said
Sat Apr 12 3:08 PM, 2014
Birds mating on town hall at 1.30 today
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Apr 1 10:25 PM, 2014
A nice display from both birds this dinner time followed by a mating on the parish church tower.
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Feb 18 10:56 PM, 2014
2 birds on the Parish church this morning 8am.
Ian Campbell said
Mon Dec 30 1:49 PM, 2013
Single bird on parish church this a.m. Cheers Ian
mr b said
Fri Apr 5 9:18 PM, 2013
wen 3 april 1900 Bolton Parish Church watched until dark
-- Edited by mr b on Friday 5th of April 2013 09:19:32 PM
Holly Page said
Fri Mar 15 9:12 PM, 2013
Peregrine currently perched (rather appropriately) on Falcon Mill, Handel Street in Halliwell
Keith Mills said
Tue Mar 12 11:03 PM, 2013
A large looking Peregrine perched very high on the Town Hall Clock Tower at 3.40pm today. The Peregrine was on a ledge just a few feet down from the top Lightening Spike. It was showing really well against a blue sky.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Sat Nov 17 6:33 AM, 2012
Raven pair seen heading North over Chorley New Road area Thursday afternoon.
Keith Mills said
Fri Nov 16 4:24 AM, 2012
Peregrine on usual ledge on the ''Big Chimney'' (Moss Bank Park ), facing NE , at 9am today
Keith Mills said
Wed Nov 14 11:04 AM, 2012
Two visits this morning at 9 and 10.15 am either side of my( nearby) dental appointment. Peregrine seen circling the tower at 10.15 before cruising off south. Also... Mistle Thrush...7 (6 in the tree nearest Samuel Crompton's grave) Redwing....1 In same tree. Greenfinch...6 Chaffinch...2 Blue Tits... 3 Carrion Crow....3 Robin Magpies..5 Blackbirds...6 In view of this being a ''Peregrine Thread'' I shall start a Parish church thread for these other sightings as it appears very worthwhile!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 06:58:33 PM
David Lumb said
Mon Nov 12 10:02 PM, 2012
10.35am to 11.05am at Bolton Parish Church. An expected quick visit soon turned into a proper look around.
2 Peregrines on the front of the church. 2 Feral Pigeons 1 Wren 2 Dunnocks 2 Robins 12 Blackbirds 2 Song Thrushes 2 Mistle Thrushes A flock of Long-tailed Tits 3 Blue Tits 2 Magpies 10 Chaffinches 50+ Goldfinches 4 Greenfinches
David Lumb said
Tue Nov 6 8:41 PM, 2012
10.15am to 10.35am at Bolton Parish Church. As usual I was waiting for my pastie from 'Ye Old Pastie Shop' to cool down.
No sign of Peregrines but a Raven was seen from here low over the town.
During my mooch in the mist and rain most of the birds flew into one tree by the car park. As there were hardly any leaves on this tree, and it stopped raining for five minutes, I managed to see :- 5 Redwings 1 Fieldfare 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Blackbird (at least three others were nearby) 23 Goldfinches (another 7 nearby with Chaffinches & Greenfinches)
Other birds present :- Robin Dunnock Long-tailed Tits Blue Tits Magpies
The Fieldfare takes this year's list here to 34 species. Don't worry Ian I have them all recorded for the annual reports !
David Lumb said
Tue Oct 23 1:46 AM, 2012
10.15am Parish Church.
2 Peregrines on the front of the church.
Also present in the church grounds :- 2 Dunnocks, 3 Robins, 1 Blackbird, 4 Blue Tits, 1 Great Tit, 5 Magpies, 1 Chaffinch.
2 Pied Wagtails on Marks & Spencer.
Keith Mills said
Tue Oct 16 1:44 AM, 2012
Thought I'd give the Parish church 10 minutes before an appointment with my (nearby) dentist. Peregrine Falcon flew in at 1.35 pm to perch on the North side of the tower.
David Lumb said
Wed Sep 19 2:22 AM, 2012
Peregrine on the back of the Parish Church at lunchtime
Someone else watching it said another was on the Town Hall
David Lumb said
Wed Sep 12 2:49 AM, 2012
9.45am to 10am. Bolton Parish Church.
No sign of a Peregrine at first, until one called loudly from the back of the church while I was checking the other birds. There were in fact two on the back end overlooking St Peter's Way. They were shelterd there from the wind and rain. I was on the way to booking a train ticket to Aviemore for an upcoming wildlife tour to Cairngorm and Outer Hebrides, so it was a little reminder that I will soon be looking for shelter also, and not to forget waterproofs and a sturdy hat.
David Lumb said
Thu Sep 6 12:55 AM, 2012
Peregrine on Parish Church, this time enjoying the sunny car park side at 9.15am.
Basking in the sun in Bolton only happens every Preston Guild as they say. We are now in the middle of one, and only another 20 years to the next one.
David Lumb said
Wed Aug 29 2:50 AM, 2012
Peregrine today at lunchtime, perched in usual place, high above the main door of Parish Church
David Lumb said
Thu Aug 23 9:56 PM, 2012
Checked the Parish Church late morning. No sign of Peregrines, but a church employee said they are still visiting. My last sighting was a couple of weeks ago. As usual I took the time to check the grounds for other birds, seeing :-
2 Feral Pigeons 1 Woodpigeon 2 Collared Doves 2 Dunnocks 2 Robins 1 Blackbird Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, and Great Tits, 5 Magpies 1 Chaffinch 2 Goldfinches
John Carter said
Sat Jun 23 1:43 AM, 2012
Not quite on topic but I spotted a Common Tern flying west over the town centre this morning carrying a fish. Perhaps it was confused by all the rain around.
mavis smith said
Tue Jun 12 9:34 PM, 2012
Female over town centre; also single Oystercatcher NE - SW 12.30 ish.
David Mason said
Tue Jun 12 2:38 AM, 2012
Adult Raven feeding three noisy young on top of former Barclays Bank building between Town Hall and multi storey car park ay c 12.30.
Paul Heaton said
Tue May 22 1:17 AM, 2012
Two Ravens over the town centre this morning at 7.30, as I was rescuing a Roe deer from a fence outside the travel lodge hotel
Dean Macdonald said
Mon May 21 11:00 PM, 2012
Fantastic news
Ivan Ellison said
Mon May 21 10:22 PM, 2012
The chicks were ringed today, hence the commotion from the parent. There are 3 young at Bolton, 2 males, 1 female
Keith Mills said
Mon May 21 9:49 PM, 2012
Around 2pm. this afternoon. Peregrine flying, in wide circles round the Town Hall Clock. Continually calling, and attracting attention from many people in the Square. In my view for 20 minutes as I walked to the bus station etc. A large bird.
Keith Mills said
Mon May 21 4:31 PM, 2012
Yes indeed great news. I quessed from the the persistence of the calling that this was the reason but I did not want to presume. It certainly got many members of the public, including me, on their toes!
-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 21st of May 2012 04:34:04 PM
Dean Macdonald said
Sun May 20 6:46 AM, 2012
To be fair, he was a decent chap and explained it was politically correct rules that he had to abide to. Then spent 10 mins looking through my scope at the Peregrines and Ravens
Adrian Dancy said
Sun May 20 1:40 AM, 2012
If you were on private property and asked to leave then that's fair enough but regretable. It is good to know that car park attendants have the front to confront a potential terrorist and the stupidity not to call the police...assuming the belief that you might be a terrorist was real.
Adrian Dancy said
Sat May 19 9:59 PM, 2012
Dean Macdonald wrote:
Female sitting much higher up in the tray this afternoon, head and shoulders clearly visible above the tray. Still not seen any chicks yet. Male flew in but not with food. The Raven chicks were very active and look ready to fledge soon. Would've stayed longer but i was told politely to leave as i might be a terrorist
Told by whom?
Dean Macdonald said
Sat May 19 4:26 PM, 2012
Car park attendant. I was on the market place car park roof.
-- Edited by Dean Macdonald on Saturday 19th of May 2012 05:01:54 PM
Dean Macdonald said
Sat May 19 12:25 AM, 2012
Female sitting much higher up in the tray this afternoon, head and shoulders clearly visible above the tray. Still not seen any chicks yet. Male flew in but not with food. The Raven chicks were very active and look ready to fledge soon. Would've stayed longer but i was told politely to leave as i might be a terrorist
Dean Macdonald said
Fri May 11 11:26 PM, 2012
Unable to confirm if the Peregrines have young. Female sat constantly on the tray. Male flew in a couple of times but not with food. However, i can confirm the Ravens have 4 large chicks. They came in to feed landing on the opposite side of the tower and walked around the ledge to the nest. As if sneaking in while the Peregrines weren't looking
Currently, there are plans in place to demolish Crompton Place shopping centre in Bolton which could well have a detrimental effect on the nearby breeding Peregrines.
The Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group has, as always, an interest in planning applications which could have a detrimental effect on all breeding species and particularly such important species, but we need your records in order to be as effective as possible in this.
As such, I am asking for any sightings and signs of breeding activity of Peregrines in Bolton Town Centre, particularly around the existing breeding site, to be sent to me privately asap please.
Cheers, Ian
https://www.planningpa.bolton.gov.uk/online-applications-17/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=DCAPR_99628
Peregrines spotted fornicating on the top of the Town Hall yesterday, around 1:30pm.
One was heard and then seen calling loudly, flying around and landing on the tall chimney that towers over Moss Bank Park. A little later 2 birds could be seen perched on top of the chimney but without optics couldn't be certain whether one or both were Peregrines.
I returned to Victoria square at 2.45~ the Peregrine was still up on the high ledge with the gargoyles. I was watching the Town Hall from near Sports Direct
At 2.50 it flew off returning at 3.15 to the same ledge near the conductor strip. It was showing quite well but soon walked round the ledge to face Barclays Bank. And eventually settled.
An adult Peregrine seen near the top of Bolton Town Hall clock tower,
at 1pm today.
A fellow watcher who kindly lent me his bins, told me he had seen two
Peregrine chicks up there very recently.
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Wednesday 4th of July 2018 01:57:31 PM
09:10 - Peregrine circling over St Peter's way Bolton before landing on Parish Church tower.
Two peregrines on the Town Hall clock tower today at 4:30pm, just as the clock was striking.
I heard and saw a single bird around the Parish Church tower at 16:20 this afternoon. There may have been a second bird but when I heard the call and turned, I was a fair distance away and just caught a fleeting glimpse of another bird but couldn't swear as to it's identity.
Cheers Ian
2 peregrine on top of town hall tower, calling and having an argument with a Raven
Brood patch very apparent on the adult female.
noisy Peregrine making short fluttering flights round the Town Hall Clock Tower, with another Peregrine
looking on from near the top.
No bins, but probably I think a fledgling.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 18th of June 2014 10:09:36 PM
A nice display from both birds this dinner time followed by a mating on the parish church tower.
2 birds on the Parish church this morning 8am.
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by mr b on Friday 5th of April 2013 09:19:32 PM
The Peregrine was on a ledge just a few feet down from the top Lightening Spike.
It was showing really well against a blue sky.
Raven pair seen heading North over Chorley New Road area Thursday afternoon.
Two visits this morning at 9 and 10.15 am either side of my( nearby) dental appointment.
Peregrine seen circling the tower at 10.15 before cruising off south.
Also...
Mistle Thrush...7 (6 in the tree nearest Samuel Crompton's grave)
Redwing....1 In same tree.
Greenfinch...6
Chaffinch...2
Blue Tits... 3
Carrion Crow....3
Robin
Magpies..5
Blackbirds...6
In view of this being a ''Peregrine Thread'' I shall start a Parish church thread for these other sightings as it appears very worthwhile!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 06:58:33 PM
2 Peregrines on the front of the church.
2 Feral Pigeons
1 Wren
2 Dunnocks
2 Robins
12 Blackbirds
2 Song Thrushes
2 Mistle Thrushes
A flock of Long-tailed Tits
3 Blue Tits
2 Magpies
10 Chaffinches
50+ Goldfinches
4 Greenfinches
No sign of Peregrines but a Raven was seen from here low over the town.
During my mooch in the mist and rain most of the birds flew into one tree by the car park. As there were hardly any leaves on this tree, and it stopped raining for five minutes, I managed to see :-
5 Redwings
1 Fieldfare
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Blackbird (at least three others were nearby)
23 Goldfinches (another 7 nearby with Chaffinches & Greenfinches)
Other birds present :-
Robin
Dunnock
Long-tailed Tits
Blue Tits
Magpies
The Fieldfare takes this year's list here to 34 species. Don't worry Ian I have them all recorded for the annual reports !
2 Peregrines on the front of the church.
Also present in the church grounds :-
2 Dunnocks, 3 Robins, 1 Blackbird, 4 Blue Tits, 1 Great Tit, 5 Magpies, 1 Chaffinch.
2 Pied Wagtails on Marks & Spencer.
Peregrine Falcon flew in at 1.35 pm to perch on the North side of the tower.
Someone else watching it said another was on the Town Hall
No sign of a Peregrine at first, until one called loudly from the back of the church while I was checking the other birds. There were in fact two on the back end overlooking St Peter's Way. They were shelterd there from the wind and rain. I was on the way to booking a train ticket to Aviemore for an upcoming wildlife tour to Cairngorm and Outer Hebrides, so it
was a little reminder that I will soon be looking for shelter also, and not to forget waterproofs and a sturdy hat.
Basking in the sun in Bolton only happens every Preston Guild as they say. We are now in the middle of one, and only another 20 years to the next one.
As usual I took the time to check the grounds for other birds, seeing :-
2 Feral Pigeons
1 Woodpigeon
2 Collared Doves
2 Dunnocks
2 Robins
1 Blackbird
Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, and Great Tits,
5 Magpies
1 Chaffinch
2 Goldfinches
Peregrine flying, in wide circles round the Town Hall Clock.
Continually calling, and attracting attention from many people in the Square.
In my view for 20 minutes as I walked to the bus station etc.
A large bird.
It certainly got many members of the public, including me, on their toes!
-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 21st of May 2012 04:34:04 PM
Told by whom?
-- Edited by Dean Macdonald on Saturday 19th of May 2012 05:01:54 PM
Would've stayed longer but i was told politely to leave as i might be a terrorist
However, i can confirm the Ravens have 4 large chicks. They came in to feed landing on the opposite side of the tower and walked around the ledge to the nest. As if sneaking in while the Peregrines weren't looking