A ringed, "approachable" White Stork has turned up in County Durham, also on a roof top...

Saint necessarily so Henry there are more factors to consider here but each White Stork record is judged on it's own merits and a full review will be undertaken when the bird is circulated around the rarities committee.

Good detective work Judith!
So I presume if the wild bird is at this Harewood House and hooked up with the plastic relatives then it's countable?
Henry.

I've now been able to get in touch with the bird keeper at Harewood House (though only by answerphone messages!). Apparently they have free-flying White Storks. Two of these have yellow Darvic rings with the numbers 309, 310 or 311 (he gave me 3 numbers but said only 2 birds...) They also have another unringed bird which has joined their collection, as I understood it, from the wild...he didn't say whether any were missing yesterday.

I had another walk along the Mersey bank footpath this morning but no sign of the bird today.

Nick Scarle

He was walking his dog and saw it from Simons Bridge which is where Ford Lane crosses the Mersey, I understand.

Just incase anybody is wondering where the cricket pitch is (like i was as there is only 1 in didsbury) it is opposite didsbury golf club on the Northenden side of the mersey. Was the finder going to play golf ? Cant see why you would drive that far up unless he was walking the mersey footpath ?

cheers
jason

Ian - Nick said he did look for rings but could not see any. Haven't been able to contact the relevant person at Harewood House (the usual source of these birds) but will keep trying!

No sign since this morning's original sighting

Info thanks to Brian Fielding

A White Stork was seen on the roof of the cricket pavillion on Ford Lane in Didsbury this morning at SJ839900. The bird was not checked for rings and it's origins are currently unknown but checks are underway. Info thanks to Nick Scarle