There are usually multiple 'escaped' Harris Hawks at any one time in the county Joe (see the respective species account in the 2010 county bird report) and there's currently another in the Gin Pit area of Astley too. Some may not be actually escapes as such and their 'handlers' may be in the vicinity at the time of the sightings, others are short term 'escapes' and are quickly recovered but some seem to be lasting a while on their own and doing quite well!
JoeCrow said
Sat Oct 6 2:14 AM, 2012
Another sighting of Harris Hawk today, again in Cheadle Hulme but a different part, so presume it's the same Hawk still loose. First spotted it when my attention was drawn to lots of noise from magpies and crows in a garden, I also heard a noise which sounded parrot-like sqwauking, then I saw the hawk being chased out of a tree by its harrasers. Saw it again about half an hour later in more or less the same spot but high in the sky having an ariel battle with a crow. They both disappeared off into the sky, still battling. Didn't see it after that. Tried ringing IBR who John mentioned below but just got answer machine from office. Didn't see point in ringing the mobile number as that is for emergencies and since the hawk wasn't at low level or even keeping still, nobody could have got there in time to catch it. I have, however, logged it as a sighting on their website. I've heard what may or may not be a rumour that there is a Harris Hawk at Carrington Moss. Is this true and if so, would it be the same hawk or do we currently have multiple escapees?
JoeCrow said
Tue Oct 2 12:35 AM, 2012
Great, thanks Adam. Please let us know if there are any updates as it's really worrying to see such a gorgeous bird on the loose and out of it's comfort zone. I'm a bird owner myself and would be completely beside myself if he escaped. Hopefully the Harris belongs to someone who realises he's missing and hopefully he's not been released into the wild on purpose.
Adam Jones said
Tue Oct 2 12:15 AM, 2012
Gillbent Road was where I saw it yesterday. I have informed the relevant escaped Hawk people who actually came out yesterday to have a look for it, but it was raining heavily and it was not seen. I will call them again to let them know that it is still in the area.
JoeCrow said
Tue Oct 2 12:04 AM, 2012
I was in Cheadle Hulme this morning and spotted a Harris Hawk. It took me by surprise as it's not something you expect to see in a residential street on a Monday morning at about 10.30am!! It was in a tree on the pavement of Gillbent Road (near the junction with Newlands Ave), seemed to cause quite a stir amongst the magpies and crows and then flew off in the direction of The Circuit. Spoke to a nearby resident later who said they had seen it earlier this morning with something in it's beak, possibly a squirrel, so at least it's managing to find food. Do we know if this is an escaped pet?? I wondered if it may have escaped from the falconry centre at Knutsford (Gauntlet)? I hope it's ok and the owner comes forward or makes a 'missing' appeal.
Adam Jones said
Sun Sep 30 11:41 PM, 2012
Thanks John.
I have been in touch with these guys, who have sent somebody over to have a look for the bird. It hasn't been seen for a while but that may be due to the rain. They have logged where it has been seen today.
Hopefully it can be relocated and reunited with it's owner soon.
John Rayner said
Sun Sep 30 11:36 PM, 2012
Adam Jones wrote:
I have had an escaped Harris Hawk on my neighbours roof in the last half an hour, and is still in the area of Cheadle Hulme.
If anyone is aware of one being missing please let me know and I can try my best to point you in the right direction.
Adam
Hi Adam,
If you can read any ring numbers the following website might help.
First spotted it when my attention was drawn to lots of noise from magpies and crows in a garden, I also heard a noise which sounded parrot-like sqwauking, then I saw the hawk being chased out of a tree by its harrasers. Saw it again about half an hour later in more or less the same spot but high in the sky having an ariel battle with a crow. They both disappeared off into the sky, still battling. Didn't see it after that.
Tried ringing IBR who John mentioned below but just got answer machine from office. Didn't see point in ringing the mobile number as that is for emergencies and since the hawk wasn't at low level or even keeping still, nobody could have got there in time to catch it. I have, however, logged it as a sighting on their website.
I've heard what may or may not be a rumour that there is a Harris Hawk at Carrington Moss. Is this true and if so, would it be the same hawk or do we currently have multiple escapees?
It was in a tree on the pavement of Gillbent Road (near the junction with Newlands Ave), seemed to cause quite a stir amongst the magpies and crows and then flew off in the direction of The Circuit.
Spoke to a nearby resident later who said they had seen it earlier this morning with something in it's beak, possibly a squirrel, so at least it's managing to find food.
Do we know if this is an escaped pet?? I wondered if it may have escaped from the falconry centre at Knutsford (Gauntlet)?
I hope it's ok and the owner comes forward or makes a 'missing' appeal.
I have been in touch with these guys, who have sent somebody over to have a look for the bird. It hasn't been seen for a while but that may be due to the rain.
They have logged where it has been seen today.
Hopefully it can be relocated and reunited with it's owner soon.
Hi Adam,
If you can read any ring numbers the following website might help.
Cheers, John
http://www.independentbirdregister.co.uk/website/Lost%20&%20Found.html
If anyone is aware of one being missing please let me know and I can try my best to point you in the right direction.
Adam