City Centre Peregrines

steven burke · Status: Offline

RE: City Centre Peregrines

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

steven burke wrote:

(IMHuO) "in my honest opinion". it took me a while but I eventually got it, with some help from the rspb though

HuMBLE opinion??

Emphasises the point with thes bloody things biggrin , anyway, I'm getting off topic here, sorry...

steven burke · Status: Offline

i spent over 4 hours this morning/afternoon watching the peregrines, only 3 seen the whole time spent there, juvenile female, adult female, 2yr old male (RA). the juvenile had a couple of short fly arounds, male & female doing some hunting but never brought anything back. the adult female did spend some time on the crane next to Victoria train station even whilst it was moving, she kept changing her position as it tilted. I have attached a photo of her whilst she was on the crane showing her metal ring on right leg. as Adrian says one can only speculate what has happened to the other 2 juveniles. Adrian, to me also it does look like the male & female are only caring for this juvenile.
I spent some time chatting to the rspb whilst watching the peregrines & they were happy to show lots of the public good views of the juvenile at one point.

(IMHuO) "in my humble opinion". it took me a while but I eventually got it, with some help from the rspb though hmm

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 1st of July 2017 06:38:25 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Mike Crawley wrote:
The male (IMHuO)

I actually thought that was an odd ring number it had for a while there... doh

Mike Crawley · Status: Offline

The male (IMHuO) spent a couple of hours perched on a crane behind the football museum this morning.
Having disappeared at 12-ish he flew across Cathedral Gardens at approximately 13:00 followed by an immature female.
That bird pushed another off a perch on the Premier Inn behind the cathedral. Too far away with binoculars to determine adult or immature.

A very good day for the RSPB project team who were able to show the public a nearby peregrine.

Ollie Wright · Status: Offline

Two Peregrines currently on the Town Hall clock tower - one plucking a prey item. Should be visible from Albert Square.

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

I have not seen more than one fledged juvenile and the behaviour of the adult peregrines seems to indicate that they are caring for one juvenile only. One can only speculate what has happened to the two juveniles which have not been seen.

steven burke · Status: Offline

Despite the drizzling rain it was nice to actually see one of the juveniles flying around this afternoon, looks confident & even landed onto one of the larders. Also adult female nearby.
Still not seen 3 but could easily be anywhere else.

steven burke · Status: Offline

cracking views of one of the female juvenile peregrines this aft/eve. adult female came close also & dropped some food of for the juvenile.

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 24th of June 2017 11:57:03 PM

-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 25th of June 2017 12:06:56 AM

Graham Smith · Status: Offline

Happy ending to this story baby bird was taken to a higher floor and flew back home thanks to all who help in this matter

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

Graham Smith wrote:
The juvenile which is OK sat peaceful looking around a pigeon is not far from the bird, unfortunately some one has tried to feed the bird with some cooked meat. The bird has been ringed today. Plenty of wing stretching as I watched at lunch time, I also managed to get some good shots on my phone. Thankful the location is surcure

Just bumping this post so my request does not get missed.

Mike Crawley · Status: Offline

Adrian Dancy wrote:

Mike, I could be wrong but from my observations I tend to think the development of the birds is pretty much even with the Rochdale birds with the slight edge on Manchester birds.

Adrian,

i didn't visit the park myself, I was just repeating what another RSPB Peregrine Project voluntee told me last Friday

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

Hi Graham,

What do you mean the bird has been ringed today? The Manchester Peregrines were ringed on 24th May.

Will you please let me know the location of the bird by Private Message.

Thank you

Adrian

Graham Smith · Status: Offline

The juvenile which is OK sat peaceful looking around a pigeon is not far from the bird, unfortunately some one has tried to feed the bird with some cooked meat. The bird has been ringed today. Plenty of wing stretching as I watched at lunch time, I also managed to get some good shots on my phone. Thankful the location is surcure

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

It would seem all three birds have fledged. One juvenile bird was discovered on another building by a building manager who expressed concern for the bird. However, an investigation did not give any cause for concern and it was thought that the bird should be left where found. The parent bird was aware of its location.

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

Hi Laura and welcome to the Manchester Birding Forum.

I think that the birds you have seen were Common Kestrels which have bred at a secret location in the Piccadilly basin area. The location is kept secret because the birds are vulnerable for several reasons. The Kestrels had four chicks this year and they all fledged successfully about a week ago. They are still a delight to see in the city and the adults are often seen very early in the morning flying very low looking for rodents and even Kentucky Fried Chicken which as been dropped on the footpaths next to rubbish bins etc!

Manchester Peregrines:-

I observed one fledged juvenile on the main structure below the nest cavity. A second juvenile was in the nest box as yesterday (but looking good to go). I could not locate a third juvenile.

Below is an image of the juvenile in the nest cavity...the image was made from a very long distance and is a huge crop.

Laura Mingins · Status: Offline

Hi all, new to this forum but thought I'd chirp up with our recent peregrine sightings in case folks were interested. We live at Piccadilly Village by the Ashton Canal between Great Ancoats Street and Ducie Street and have enjoyed watching the juvenile peregrines from the flat yesterday and today. Good views this evening of three juveniles landing on the old Mill buildings opposite the bridge and crane in Piccadilly Village. No pics I'm afraid - they're a bit too far away to get a shot that looks like more than a blob. Anyone else seen them about?

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

Yesterday, I watched a low flying Common Buzzard being attacked by an adult Peregrine.
I could only detect one chick in the nest tray which looked good to fledge.
I did not see or hear any fledged birds and nor did I see any food being brought in despite extensive viewing. Of course it is possible that I have simply missed feeding activity owing to viewing angle restrictions and of course the birds if they have fledged could be on another building.

Mike, I could be wrong but from my observations I tend to think the development of the birds is pretty much even with the Rochdale birds with the slight edge on Manchester birds.

Image attached of Common Buzzard whilst being attacked ....sadly the Peregrine is out of view.

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Monday 19th of June 2017 09:13:03 AM

Mike Crawley · Status: Offline

As you probably know it is possible to see the nest from a park
I have not been there myself but a fellow volunteer on the RSPB project observed the nest on Friday lunch time.
All three chicks have dark feathers emerging but they are a week or so behind the Rochdale chicks wrt their development

steven burke · Status: Offline

The female was calling & circling above the cis tower around 2.40pm she was in pursuit of an over flying buzzard.
Only 1 juvenile visible at the box, quite possible that 2 have fledged but I could be wrong, thought I did hear a juvenile calling on the new lower cis building but could not see anything visible.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Female perched up on the NW face of the CIS Tower's lettering, looking menacing and magnificent, for about 20 minutes this morning whilst I watched; male appeared briefly, some calling, but I didn't see any food passed. He then disappeared to try his luck again, presumably.

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Sunday 11th of June 2017 05:54:19 PM

Nick Hilton · Status: Offline

Male Peregrine flew through Exchange Square at circa 1330

steven burke · Status: Offline

the male flew onto the premier inn with a kill around 4.45pm he then flew over towards the cis tower without it, I didn't see if he or the female came back for it as I had to go.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Both CIS birds actively (not to mention noisily) chased a Buzzard through north-east at 6:20pm today.

steven burke · Status: Offline

That's great news Craig, looking forward to seeing them whizzing around soon smile

Craig Bell · Status: Offline

For anyone interested, we went to ring and colour ring the Peregrine chicks in the nest box high up on the CIS tower this evening. Pleased to report 3 fit and healthy chicks in there which looked to be all Females.. Many thanks to the management of the building for allowing access once again.

steven burke · Status: Offline

yesterday evening the young male was showing well perched on the town hall.

this evening the young male was seen twice with food within an hour & a half, I witnessed a food pass to the female on the second occasion but failed to get the actual pass on my camera, I got close but my continuous shoot stopped at the vital moment

she then went to feed her chicks.

a short sequence of shots attached.

Simon Owen · Status: Offline

Tuesday 12:30am(ish). Peregrine flew from quite low over Miller St to the top of the building next to the CIS with prey. I didn't have binoculars unfortunately.

steven burke · Status: Offline

activity at the cis tower this evening when a male peregrine had a food item & the female then took to the nest area where she then looked to be feeding inside. so definitely chick or chicks in there smile

the view of the male bird was not great due to the angle & light but looked to be bearing a red darvic ring on right leg.

Mike Crawley · Status: Offline

I was there today for 4 hours (volunteering with the RSPB) no sign of either bird until about 12:30 when the male sat on the S of CIS until I left at 14:15-ish

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

It would seem highly likely that a chick has hatched (CIS tower) since a small food item was brought into the nest cavity today and removed 8 minutes later. I watched the site yesterday for over 6 hours and did not witness any food being brought in.

Richardwrightt · Status: Offline

Been informed that the peregrines have decided to nest up high at the CIS this year so there will be no camera coverage :(

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Two birds seen at 7.15am leaving the top of the Arndale and dive bombing their way towards the CIS tower.

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Peregrine calling very loudly from top of CIS tower this morning

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

Mating today. I could not make a positive ID on the male.

steven burke · Status: Offline

a couple of afternoons yesterday & today watching both the peregrine falcons. the adult female & her 2 year old male spent almost all the time high up on the cis tower, several fly arounds & a couple of ariel contacts between them. they did go out on a hunt but came back with nothing, so a trip to one of their larders was in order.

-- Edited by steven burke on Friday 24th of March 2017 11:40:26 PM

Charles Farrell · Status: Offline

steven burke wrote:

nice to see both peregrines at the usual site rather than high out of the way on the cis tower this morning.
also the young male was perched in one of the adult males favourite spots.

Last year's young tiercel at the well-known London site in Hammersmith is also hanging around with his parents. Will be interesting to see what happens now the pair have the first egg.

steven burke · Status: Offline

nice to see both peregrines at the usual site rather than high out of the way on the cis tower this morning.
also the young male was perched in one of the adult males favourite spots. smile

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

A Peregrine was circling around the top of the CIS building around 0815 this morning.

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Ollie Wright wrote:

This wasn't a wild Peregrine and I'm not wholly sure it was a Peregrine - happy to be advised. In any case, we had this escaped juvenile falcon visit Town Hall Extension today. It had caught and was eating a prey item and then sat very calmly to have its picture taken (until some idiot started throwing bits of chocolate biscuit to it).

Looks like someone's lost their North African Lanner

Ollie Wright · Status: Offline

This wasn't a wild Peregrine and I'm not wholly sure it was a Peregrine - happy to be advised. In any case, we had this escaped juvenile falcon visit Town Hall Extension today. It had caught and was eating a prey item and then sat very calmly to have its picture taken (until some idiot started throwing bits of chocolate biscuit to it).

ryanosborne · Status: Offline

Exciting stuff Steve! Does anyone know if there will be a webcam going up this year?

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Increased Peregrine activity around the CIS Tower over the past few days, with birds visiting the nest tray area quite regularly.

James Richardson · Status: Offline

17:05 Peregrine then stooped from top of hilton very fast straight down to the south, and out of view.

James Richardson · Status: Offline

View from flat in Rozel square of Peregrine falcon currently sat on very top of Hilton overlooking castlefield. 17:00 3/3/17

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Friday 24th February 7.25am

Peregrine flew over the cathedral this morning and carried on towards the CIS building.

Stuart Bartlett · Status: Offline

Tuesday 14th Feb - 14:00

Two peregrine falcons over exchange square, both seen simultaneously. One flew over the Arndale, the other perched on the letter "D"

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Monday 13th February

One was drifting around the Manchester Cathedral and Deansgate area at around 5.15pm yesterday.

steven burke · Status: Offline

the adult female was perched on the appartments next to the lowry this afternoon. had a good look around for the young male but no signs.

Mark B-Seifert · Status: Offline

Not sure if this is classed as city centre but I was walking along Oldham Road and I'm sure a peregrine flew between the Royal Mail and Wing Yip. I thought it was a pigeon at first as i wasn't paying much attention until it made a chik-chik-chik-chik calling noise. I'm not aware pigeons make this noise.
It appeared dark grey on its underside and had pointed wings. Apologies for poor description but it was over me and gone quite quickly.