Greater Manchester Ring-necked Parakeets

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

RE: South Manchester Ring-necked Parakeets

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Allotment at 3pm Saw the juv parakeet (which I am assuming is one of this year's young) for the first time in several weeks. Very glad to see it as last time I saw it, it was on the evening when a group of parakeets were being chased by a sparrow hawk.
The Amazon also seems to have coped with last night's freeze and was eating sunflower seeds in its usual upside down fashion.
Saw the juv & 1 male, then 2 males & 2 female / ringless, then the Amazon with 1 male & 1 female / ringless. All were gone by 3.45pm

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Rob
I'm up for joining in the roost hunt. I can give you a shout when they leave the allotment. Do you think they might be heading for Whitworth park area? Need to be very careful because some really bad stuff has happened there over the last few years.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

Big event at Platt Fields Sat evening for Diwali light festival so I shall tell kids to keep eyes open when they're down there.
Rae

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Thanks again for letting me back Debs.

Managed some better photos this time, but the real highlight is the spectacle itself, coupled with the reactions from some of your fellow allotment holders.

I suspect that these birds move to Platt Fields after they leave Debs feeding station, so anyone hoping to catch with them might want to try Platt Fields Park around 5:45 onwards.

I'd like to try and track where they go from there as I'm convinced that they roost nearer to the City Centre, and the roost site might be the easiest place to get a complete count, so if anyone fancies a concerted effort to track them one evening let me know.

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Just in case you hadn't noticed...........................I'd like to introduce you to the Amazon which has joined the group of parakeets.
Last evening's (Wednesday 7th October) count was 3 males, 2 females / ringless and of course...the Amazon

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Debs - I doubt Tony would have noticed the Amazon but I'll ask. I'll also keep a look out for it in the park. I did myself see a large green parrot quite different in build from the parakeets some 6 or 7 years ago before I started birding again. Wonder if it's been around for a while.

late sightings from yesterday: 2 over Horton Road at 8.30am then one heard at corner of Lloyd St/Denmark St in Moss Side. Then I crashed my bike into a pedestrain who stepped out in front of me and I forgot all about it!

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Debs very kindly arranged for me to visit her private allotment this evening, and I was treated to a fantastic display.

First to visit were the Amazon ssp - I've not yet had a chance to check it out, but it's a brute of a bird compared to the Ring-necks with a lone Ring-necked.

Later, when work stopped on a neighbouring allotment we were treated to the full works, the Amazon, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets without rings, non of which looked like juveniles, having narrow pale borders to the primaries, and a staggering 5 males.

Debs is convinced (and given her knowledge of these birds I'd certainly not argue) that there is at least one other bird in the party, an obvious immature bird, suggesting a minimum population of 11 in the area, plus the rogue Amazon.

The birds are very confiding and gave fantastic views - unfortunately in my excitement I had my camera ISO settings all wrong so I have some very close but decidedly grainy pics of many of the birds.

I can't thank Debs enough - it was a great 2 hours suburban birding. The cake was pretty good too!

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Tim,
It would be interesting to ask Tony if one of the 9 parakeets which he saw flying over looked a bit different. I've seen 8 parakeets and the Amazon flying together. The Amazon has a short tail, broader wings in flight and bigger in the body.
cheers Debs
I nipped to my allotment to fill the feeders on Sunday 5th Oct 9am (not my usual time) and saw the Amazon, 3 males and two females / ringless birds. I usually see them late afternoon / evenings after work.

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Late sightings courtesy Tony Darby:

16 Sept 8.00am 3 flying E over Platt Fields lake

22 Sept 7.50am 9 flying ESE over church on Platt Lane towards Brighton Grove allotments/Birchfields Park

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Platt Fields Park today 9.15am 3 birds - 2 hotly pursued by a probable Sparrowhawk - only got a glimpse as they called even more frantically than usual - 3rd bird a male calmly carrying on eating an apple in the orchard area. I was just 10 feet away from it but without bins.

4.15pm another visit by bike. At least 7 brids present - 3 in the orchard which flew E towards the allotments perhaps, at least one unseen bird calling on the island and then 3 birds in cherry trees in the former pet's corner - one of which was a female just above my head.

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

I've had a quick search. This site has recordings of a type of Amazon parrot - not amazonica amazonica but probably one of its relatives, so it might be close enough.
It sounds similar to the flight call (not exactly the same but it should give you the general idea). Turn the volume up for the realistic effect!
The sitting up a tree squarking is a little different - its comprises two different notes and is different to the ring neck's squark.
The site also has ring neck's calls on it but they don't seem that representative of the calls which I hear - see what you think.
http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-archive/listentonature/soundstax/birdparrots.html

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Pete
Vocal is an understatement, you should hear this bird! Some times it just sits in a tree and sqarks but its flight call is like a parrot / goose cross! I will go on the net at tea break time and see if I can find any audio on any web sites.

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Debs, I've mentioned the Amazon to Alan. Pure speculation, but for about two months in early spring this year (starting when the leaves were begining to come on the trees) I was being disturbed by an unkown call of an exotic parrot at M21 9JF, the junction of Wilbraham Rd & Edge Lane, Chorlton. Despite many brief searches and enquiries to neighbours if anybody had purchased a Parrot sp recently nearby, I failed to connect with the source of the squark !. I haven't heard it for ages and now I wonder if it was the Amazon ?. Is it vocal ? I'd be interested to hear the call.

Not being familiar with South American parrots or cage & aviary birds I did an internet search and had an 'armchair tick' - Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica from Sw India split from Hill Myna Gracula religiosa

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 22:43, 2008-09-24

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

6.30pm Eight parakeets (the most I've ever seen at once) and the Amazon flying a couple of circles over the allotment before settling in a tree.
Then four males (the most I've ever seen) and two females on the feeders with the Amazon. There was quite a bit of flying backwards and forwards and swoping about but there was never more than six parakeets on the feeders at any one time, so I do not know the age and gender of the other two birds. The younger juvenile which I saw last week was not one of the six that I saw and therefore may of may not be one of the other two.
If the three younger males have only recently got their adult plumage, they could have been three out of the six ringless birds which I have seen with the older male earlier in the year.

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Pete
Would you be kind enough to ask him if he sees the Orange Winged Amazon Parrot with them in Alex park. I think that the ringnecks visit my allotment regularly on at least two occasions during the day. Day time allotmenters tell me that they see them and "the big parrot" in the mornings and I usually see them and the Amazon before they roost. There are often 5 or 6 ringnecks with the Amazon. It may be a helpful way to track groups if it is seen with one group but not another. The largest number of ringnecks that I have seen at one time was 7 but a friend has seen 8 and the Amazon.

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

'Our man in Alex Park' Alan Lee reports 7 there on Sat 20th

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

3 males and 2 females today, plus the Amazon, on Debs' feeders. Excellent views - many thanks to Debs for her hospitality and the excellent cake!

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

6.10pm - THREE male parakeets on my feeders, one female and one juvenile. Got a really clear look at the juvenile as it landed on the gutter of my greenhouse (I was in it). It has got the shorter tail that Judith told me about, its beak is not as bright red, its plumage is a slightly more yellow shade of green and the different areas of feathers do not have the same distinction as the adult. It also has that less than sleek look that young birds seem to have. The Amazon was there too.
I have never seen three males together before. One of them has a thicker ring than the other two.

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

Excellent observations, Debs, all noted for future use in the bird report. I would think it would be a female Sparrowhawk as a male would be a bit small to take a parakeet? I suppose the bright colour makes them stand out - probably the fate of most small escaped cagebirds like budgies is to be Sparrowhawk fodder!

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Thanks for the info Judith. The poor Parakeets have not had a good evening.
5.15pm - 2 males and 2 others without rings (one of whom had a slightl shorter tail - juv) and the Amazon came to the allotment. The parakeets were being hassled by 3 magpies. This is something which I never observed before. They even did a bit of black bird style locking feet in flight. When one parakeet was being picked on the others came over to defend it and the magpies gave up after a short time.
6.15 - 6 parakeets up a tree and all took flight at once screeching with a sparrow hawk in pursuit. They flew in circles with the sparrow hawk following. I do not think that the hawk caught one but the left shortly after.
6.45 - 2 papakeets up a tree and the sparrow hawk came back for a second try (definately did not get one).
7pm the two birds flew off in the direction of Platt Fields

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

Hi Debs - Thanks for posting about these Ring-necked Parakeets. As they are re-colonising at present, it's quite important to get as much information as possible as to numbers, locations, numbers of each sex and juveniles.
I have a couple of cagebird books to help me identify the numerous escapees we get every year. In the section on R-n Parakeets, it syas the juveniles can take up to 3 years to attain adult plumage. Otherwise the juveniles are similar to females, but have shorter tails, dark-pink beak, brown iris.

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

5.30pm - 6 ring necks, 2 of whom have definate rings an their necks. First time I have seen 2 males, but a fellow allotmenter told me that she has seen 2 males a couple of months ago.

I would like to pick the brains of those of you who know more about ring necks than I do

(1) At what age to the male juveniles get thier ring necks?
(2) One of the male ring neck seemed to be a bit thicker and more distinct than the other one. Does this happen as the birds get older? Could I heve seen one younger and one older male?
(3) At least one of the "non ringed" group seemed a little lighter in colour (slightly less blue/ green) than the male. Its whole feather colour seemed less defined into the various shades of the adult birds, I am assuming that this would be one of this year's juveniles. Is that right?

Can of you help with my questions?

And the Oranged winged Amazon is still with them, it seems to be well integrated. It makes even more noise than the ring necks! Its flight call is like a whole flock of geese - so if you hear weird noises from the ring necks - look again.

And a juvenile great spotted woodpecker has learnt about the sunflower seeds too.

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

One was heard calling from Chorlton Park yesterday afternoon (Dave Harrison). I popped in briefly today in heavy rain, no birds but lots of fruiting trees -they'll be back!

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Alan Lee is still reporting up to 4 birds in Alexandra Park, mornings and late afternoon

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

A Ring-necked Parakeet flew over Edge Lane (A5145) Chorlton / Stretford border calling and flying towards Longford Park at 08.49

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

a Birguides report from 10th Aug:

07:24 11/08/08 Ring-necked Parakeet Manc'r Rusholme 20:00 10/08/08
3.3 m NE six at Platt Fields Park last night around the car park and island

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Tony confirmed to me that the party of 10 was seen at 8.30pm on Wed 30 July. He couldn't quite pin down the day he had seen the group the week before. I've asked him to keep a note if he's out in his yard.

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

Tim - can you persuade your friend to kee p anote of the dates and numbers? Cheers.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

That's the largest count in the area and suggests a minimum 3 new birds.

Still only 1 adult male bing reported _ i wonder if this is what is stopping them from spreading faster?

By chance I spent an hour or so in the area this lunch time with no joy - but I've discovered loads of allotments!

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

My fellow birder, Tony Darby has seen a party of 10 Parakeets flying over his back yard just north of Platt Fields at around 8.30pm on a number of occasions recently moving WNW - presumably to Alex Park. He assumes that some of this party must be juveniles.

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

4pm Tuesday 5th August.
Three ringnecks (none of whom were adult males) on the sunflower seed feeders. Feeding along side them was one Orange winged Amazon parrot which hangs upside down from the feeder pole to eat its seeds. Great tits and green finches were mixing it with the bigger birds, a squirrel was eating from another feeder and a great spotted wood pecker flew in to have a look as well. Who needs an allotment to grow vegies, I could just watch the birds.
An hour after the first three ring necks departed, three more arrived one of whom was an adult male.
I am still making attempts to locate the owner of the Oranged winged Amazon and have some useful contacts, but if you do hear anything which may help, please let me know.

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

I have quite a long list of lost birds from all over manchester. longsight and levenshulme has an impressive number of lost parrots.

They are extremley difficult to catch, but I have this year returned 2 african greys 1 lovebird and a couple of Budgies, it helps when they have a ring on or the owners telephone number on the wing.

As for the raptors kept as pets when they get out they cause a stir among the pigeons.

But it all adds to fun when birding.

keep birding.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

It is short-tailed enough to be the bird that I saw.

Surprised no one else has caught up with it yet.

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

On Friday 18th July I got a really good look at the parrot which has been visiting my allotment and looked it up on the internet. It is an Oranged Winged Amazon Parrot - have a look on Google Images. Is that the bird which was spooted near Platt Fields? If anyone hears of a lost one or knows of any way of putting the word about I would be very greatful as I am now convinced that this is someone's lost pet. Unfortunately it flies away when approached. I have emailed John Hayward (British Parrot Society) as he co-ordinates lost / found / stolen birds.

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Rob
I am sure that the bird I saw had a dark beak, grey I think. I have looked up Alexandrines on the net and they look very similar to Ring necks. I wish I had managed to get a better look, but the general build of the bird which I saw did not seem quite as slim and elegant as a Ring neck, although that may have been due in part to the short tail. I will keep a look out for it and try to get a better look. I will also look for red patches on the upper wings. Thanks for your help. I'll keep you posted.
I am also getting increasingly large numbers of green finches, golfinches, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, dunnocks and sparrows which are eating their way through ever increasining quantities of sunflower seeds. Great company on my allotment.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 5th of July 2010 11:21:47 PM

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Debs - this sounds similar to the bird I saw at Platt Fields the other day which I think may have been an Alexandrine.

The short tail may be down to wear and tear (whilst escaping?) rather than structural.

If it is, it should show smallish red patches on the upper wings which are visible in flight - but normally the bill colour would be red.

Is your allotment between Platt Fields & Birchfields parks?

In Holland both species breed side by side and hybridise....

-- Edited by Rob Smallwood at 08:26, 2008-07-12

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Has anyone seen another "Parrot" hanging out with the Ringnecked Parakeets?
There were two birds at my allotment in Fallowfield at 4.30pm today. One was a Ringnecked Parakeet but I am pretty sure that the other one was not. I got a brief look. It had a dark coloured beak which looked thicker than a Parakeets, It was green and like the Parakeets it did have yellow under its tail, but its tail was short. My general impression was that the bird was a heavier build than a Parakeet but not that much bigger. Any ideas?

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

One flew out from the island in Platt Fields Park this afternoon

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

A male and female perched side by side right above my head on by the pond in Alexandra Park, Whalley Range at 15.15

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

At least 2 present at Platt Fields Park this morning along with the juvenile Black-ncked Grebe.

Also a tail-less Parakeet with "red" on the wings that in the very brief view I had suggested Alexandrine but far too brief to be sure.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Try nearby Birchfields Park - not been recently but it can be a good site to try.

-- Edited by Rob Smallwood at 18:06, 2008-06-22

Mark Whalley · Status: Offline

Not sure I'm up to getting there at 4AM but I mught definitely try a look at dusk on a fe nights. thanks all for the posts.

Mark

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

My colleague, Alan Lee who lives in the parkhouse next to the pond, told me as recently as last week that 4 Parakeets are still present and that the best time to visit would be 4am, as that's the time he and his family are getting woken up by their (the parakeets) squarking.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

There are no restrictions on you placing your own personal information on this forum Mark as long as you understand the potential implications. That said, those that have done similar have never experienced problems but receiving good, detailed information on the best locations to look ,coupled with sufficient visits and enthusiasm in order to see them should suffice.

Oh, no nest site locations of course

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 18:34, 2008-06-20

declan savage · Status: Offline

Hi Mark,
they are still around the park but a lot quieter in recent weeks and harder to see with denser canopy- possibly only 2 birds present now. I've seen them at all times of day but i think evening might be your best bet - they seem to do a circuit of the lake just before dusk.

Mark Whalley · Status: Offline

I'm seriously thinking of putting my mobile no on here so if anyone is in Alex park and can see the ringnecks then they can txt me coz I've been a few times now of an evening and not had a sniff of them. Whats the best time to try??

declan savage · Status: Offline

4 RN Parakeets this morning in Longford Park, Stretford.

2 in Alexandra Park this afternoon.

dave broome · Status: Offline

5 (possibly 6) very vocal RN Parakeets on the island in Platt Fields Park lake yesterday evening

declan savage · Status: Offline

4 parakeets this evening in Alex Park -noisy as ever.