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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> City Centre Peregrines
Post Info TOPIC: City Centre Peregrines
Rob Creek


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RE: City Centre Peregrines
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I always browse the gallery Mike. A lot of the shots are good 'out in the field' shots rather than mega clear close-ups, and a lot of the time that's how many observers will see the bird. You might just see a shot that matches or resembles an image of your own and that could well be the moment you realise that's the species you saw, or in what stage or plumage the bird was.
As Ian McKerchar once told me...sometimes you just won't get a true feel for the bird or the image you need from a book alone. I've learnt a lot from many of the gallery images, which in my view and no doubt many others view too...is a valuable tool for help with bird ID.
Cheers
Rob

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Mike Savage


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thanks all - not looking at gallery is definitely a rookie error!

Mike

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steven burke


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Rob Creek wrote:

Mike Savage wrote:

Forgive rookie question, but what should I be looking for to identify juveniles in flight?




It can be quite tricky Mike unless you know the birds well and have followed their progress from chick like Steven, Adrian, Ian M, etc....
But one thing I've looked for in the past as a general rule with juv Peregrines as opposed to adults (if your view permits such a close up rather than silhouette, but it quite often doesn't) is that adults have horizontal barring on the breast usually of an even look, whereas the juveniles usually have vertical streaking of somewhat darker colour and not as uniform. That said though Mike, it would probably depend upon the age of the juv and at what stage of plumage it was in, so my comments are purely of a 'general' observation. Hope this is of help.
Cheers
Rob

ALSO...check the photo's in the Gallery on the main homepage, some good shots of both juv's and adults

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 16th of July 2014 08:09:51 PM



rob you took the words right out of my mouth wink
mike, like rob says check the gallery & look at the recent shots of one of the juveniles & adult male, they should help.

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saburke
Rob Creek


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Mike Savage wrote:

Forgive rookie question, but what should I be looking for to identify juveniles in flight?




It can be quite tricky Mike unless you know the birds well and have followed their progress from chick like Steven, Adrian, Ian M, etc....
But one thing I've looked for in the past as a general rule with juv Peregrines as opposed to adults (if your view permits such a close up rather than silhouette, but it quite often doesn't) is that adults have horizontal barring on the breast usually of an even look, whereas the juveniles usually have vertical streaking of somewhat darker colour and not as uniform. That said though Mike, it would probably depend upon the age of the juv and at what stage of plumage it was in, so my comments are purely of a 'general' observation. Hope this is of help.
Cheers
Rob

ALSO...check the photo's in the Gallery on the main homepage, some good shots of both juv's and adults

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 16th of July 2014 08:09:51 PM

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Mike Savage


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Forgive rookie question, but what should I be looking for to identify juveniles in flight?

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steven burke


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Both juveniles have certainly been spreading there wings over the last couple of weeks, they have had me watching them its lots of different locations, any how today just the 1 juvenile on the CIS tower at 6pm, earlier the adult male was on the town hall, no signs of the 2nd juvenile or the female. The juveniles are now landing on the letters of the arndale which is good to see

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saburke
MJKeating


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Mike Savage wrote:

last night about 6pm I was waiting on the open area next to John Rylands Library with my daughter, where we got a great view of 2 birds wheeling over Deansgate and reflected in the plate glass of the new buildings - they were only just about roof height




That's pretty much the same spot I saw one yesterday afternoon! Maybe it's a new place to view them instead of walking all around Manchester!

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Mike Savage


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last night about 6pm I was waiting on the open area next to John Rylands Library with my daughter, where we got a great view of 2 birds wheeling over Deansgate and reflected in the plate glass of the new buildings - they were only just about roof height

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MJKeating


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One of the peregrines (not sure if adult or one of the juveniles) screeching around the RBS building at Spinningfields. Didn't see it with a catch but a few feathers were floating down!

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Adrian Dancy


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Both juveniles present this morning...I'm happy to say.

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steven burke


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one of the juveniles perched on the town hall this evening at 8.25pm, no sign of the second juvenile. both were having a feed earlier on around 7pm.

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saburke
steven burke


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had a quick visit this morning between 10.30-11am, just as I arrived in the area a flock of pigeons were flying around & yes the peregrines obviously spotted them, the first peregrine to make the chase was actually one of the juveniles biggrin dad also joined in whilst mum was sat on a nearby ledge, no signs of the second juvenile though hmm both peregrines however shortly returned with nothing. shortly after that a kestrel was going over, the juvenile peregrine attempted to have a go at it but just gave up, both parents did not even bother with it either !!

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saburke
steven burke


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Paul Risley wrote:

just looked at Steven Burkes excellent new photo's in the gallery, the adults beak though is desperately in need of trimming. If you look at Stevens last shot of the juvenile then that will show you what approximate length the beak should be




thanks paul smile
ian actually mentioned this about the upper mandible being a little longer than normal he himself has not seen this before in raptors, its actually been like this for a few years now, yep it could do with a trim, but he seems to be doing just fine with it. it does help also to identify him if he is sat on his own.

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saburke
Paul Risley


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just looked at Steven Burkes excellent new photo's in the gallery, the adults beak though is desperately in need of trimming. If you look at Stevens last shot of the juvenile then that will show you what approximate length the beak should be


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steven burke


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Both juveniles doing well, in the two & a half hours watching them this morning both doing plenty of flying around & having a few tussles & with mum, also very confident landings from them on Sunday the female peregrine attacked a female kestrel, the kestrel managed to land on a nearby ledge but eventually dissapeared out of view.

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saburke
steven burke


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9 hours watching & photographing the peregrines today & in that time the first fledged juvenile had a feed whilst the second one had not no
I witnessed 3 ariel attacks from the adults one on a lesser black backed gull, one on a grey heron & the best one was from the male on a mink, absolutely amazing, the male then gave me the best views I have ever had of him over the years whilst he landed nearby squaking like mad biggrin

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saburke
steven burke


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I was with Adrian when the second juvenile fledged, whilst watching it for almost 4 hours (obviously not as long as Adrian watched them for) i managed to get some good photos, well it was close at one point biggrin i do hope it got fed before dark !

thanks again for you're help Adrian.

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 21st of June 2014 09:13:58 AM

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saburke
Adrian Dancy


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I'm not sure of the time of the first fledge but the second bird fledged at 5.30pm today. The first fledged bird has had at least two meals...unfortunately the second fledgling as far as I can tell has not eaten all day.

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MJKeating


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Looks like they may have taken flight!

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Rob Creek


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Jeff Clarke wrote:

Looking at the webcam there appear to be a large number of flies around the box - I presume that Peregrines are not tidy eaters!





Jeff that will probably just be bits of a prey carcas that is decomposing at the side of the nest site and attracting flies. I read an interesting article on the Derby Cathedral Peregrine site regarding pellets. Peregrine prey is usually too big to swallow whole so is broken up first, and often skulls, legs etc are not ingested, making the pellets less useful to those studying them than for example Owl pellets that contain whole skeletons.
Cheers
Rob

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Jeff Clarke


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Looking at the webcam there appear to be a large number of flies around the box - I presume that Peregrines are not tidy eaters!

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MJKeating


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steven burke wrote:

MJKeating wrote:

Empty box.....have they fledged?!




matt, they have not fledged yet, keep a close eye on the bottom of the screen. sure it wont be long now before they do fledge, maybe this weekend !



Thanks Steve! Unfortunately, the server in the office is very slow when streaming so can't stay on it that long. Just had a check and they are back in the spotlight! Will keep a close eye on them this weekend from my much faster laptop at home!

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steven burke


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MJKeating wrote:

Empty box.....have they fledged?!




matt, they have not fledged yet, keep a close eye on the bottom of the screen. sure it wont be long now before they do fledge, maybe this weekend !

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saburke
MJKeating


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Empty box.....have they fledged?!

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steven burke


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Mike, both juveniles were having a feed on a small bird that the parents left them at around 12.45pm they were both taking it of each other which was quite funnysmile
at least, i think, another week before they fledge.

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saburke
Mike Savage


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I missed the cam this morning but I only see one chick there now, with a very fine moustache! Does anyone know if the other chick has fledged?

Mike S

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MJKeating


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Amazing to watch these young chicks develop. When can we expect them to fledge?

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Ivan Ellison


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looked like a song thrush brought in at 0620 this morning.

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MJKeating


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Thanks Steven. I wondered if that was the case...at least she has 2 healthy looking chicks up there! I keep going on the webcam to see her bring a kill back but I'm always too late!

Cheers
Matt

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steven burke


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MJKeating wrote:

Looking at the webcam (again!), does anyone know what the round ball type things are that are in the nest box? Also, has anyone seen what types of kill she is bringing into the nest at all?




matt, the round ball type things are unfortunately 2 of the unhatched eggs. most of the kills are feral pigeons, but there are several other smaller birds they bring in, blackbirds, starlings etc..

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saburke
MJKeating


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Looking at the webcam (again!), does anyone know what the round ball type things are that are in the nest box? Also, has anyone seen what types of kill she is bringing into the nest at all?

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MJKeating


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Amazing news to hear 2 chicks have been born! Should be some good views of the adults now with them hunting for food for the new little mouths!

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Rob Smallwood


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Wow - from my office it looked bigger than a pigeon, especially if it was the female, but I am nearly a mile away from Town Hall. Thanks for clearing it up though.

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Rob
steven burke


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Rob Smallwood wrote:

One bird, pobably the male, brought a huge prey item in last night, took it to Town Hall. Prey item looked nearly as big as the bird.




rob I was in albert square when the peregrine flew in with a kill at 5.55pm yesterday evening, it flew onto the town hall & plucked/eaten its kill, just before it landed though I managed to get several shots & on closer inspection of my pics it clearly showed the bird to have a metal ring on its right leg confirming that it is the adult female, the unfortunate bird in its talons was a feral pigeon. 30 mins later the male sub-adult peregrine circled above.

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saburke
Rob Smallwood


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One bird, pobably the male, brought a huge prey item in last night, took it to Town Hall. Prey item looked nearly as big as the bird.

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Rob
Rob Smallwood


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Great pic. At my range I am happy to tell male from female by size!

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Rob
Ian McKerchar


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Rob Smallwood wrote:

My views are often distant and without the aid of optics - any tips on separating the adult and sub-adult males?




Take a look at Adrian Dancy's image of the second calendar year bird I've just published to the website galleries; should give you all the tips you need Robwink

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MJKeating


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Finally!!! I've seen the Peregrines!!!! Just been for a walk and was watching a male Goosander when one of the Peregrines screetched up to the nest box, landed briefly and took off and perched on another building. The other (female I think) then left the nest box and perched on the Cathedral! Amazing views and ace to see! They mustn't be hungry as there were plenty of pigeons there for the taking!

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Chris Harper


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Single bird zooming around the cathedral at 10.15 this morning.

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Dave Colton


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Cracking views of 1 bird feeding on webcam now 5:30pm

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Rob Smallwood


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Agreed!

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Rob
Ian McKerchar


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It is also a stipulation by the owners of the building which allow the nest box to be located on it, that their premises is not identified.

Worst kept secret or not though, asking for the location of, or indeed publicising the location of, any nest site (schedule one or otherwise) on a public forum isn't a good idea and the guidelines for such on this forum are quite clear I think

wink

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Rob Smallwood


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I understand the reluctance to publicise the building, although, rather like breeding Monties in Norfolk, it is one of the worst kept secrets in birding, and given that I can rarely walk past the site without bumping into someone with bins or camera, and the (presumed) security of the site itself it I sometimes wonder if it is necessary.

Before everyone shouts at me, I realise that were it to be publicised and were something to happen then none of us would forgive ourselves.

Ironically, today for the first time in ages that I have noticed there were workmen on the roof of the building in in hi vis jackets - presumably just a coincedence.

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Rob
MJKeating


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Ivan Ellison wrote:

Due to the sch 1 status of these birds , the exact location is not divulged. it is enough that they are on webcam. If you read some of the previous posts you will find which area they tend to favour. The RSPB also set up telescopes from next month which are based in exchange square, you will get good views of the birds from there.




Hi Ivan,

I thought that would be the case but was worth asking! I can see Manchester Cathedral in the background so will try and work it from there! I only get a short period of time to have a look on lunch etc and have never been lucky enough to catch sight of one (as Rob Smallwood knows!!). Thanks for the heads up on the telescopes being set up next month...I'll keep my eye out!

Cheers

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Ivan Ellison


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Due to the sch 1 status of these birds , the exact location is not divulged. it is enough that they are on webcam. If you read some of the previous posts you will find which area they tend to favour. The RSPB also set up telescopes from next month which are based in exchange square, you will get good views of the birds from there.

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MJKeating


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Which building is the nest box on where the below webcam is? I'm still trying to catch sight of these birds!!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/livenest

Thanks

Matt

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Graham Smith


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Live cam up and running fem sat on nest

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Ian McKerchar


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The second calendar year bird currently hanging around is indeed one of last year's city centre brood; confirmed from its ring number.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 24th of March 2014 02:24:20 PM

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Rob Smallwood


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My views are often distant and without the aid of optics - any tips on separating the adult and sub-adult males?

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Rob
steven burke


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two lots of mating took place this aft/eve, sub-adult male was on a pigeon chase but don't know if it was successful or not, lost view and the adult male was on a mission to see off an over flying buzzard smile

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saburke
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