MB

 

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> WIGAN TOWN CENTRE (and environs)
Post Info TOPIC: WIGAN TOWN CENTRE (and environs)
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
RE: WIGAN TOWN CENTRE (and environs)
Permalink  

River Douglas nr Tesco
2 Grey Wagtails
6 Mallards (family)
Pr Moorhen with young

Cheers Jimmy

__________________
fred fouracre


Status: Offline
Posts: 211
Date:
Permalink  

5 ravens on top of the dw stadium today.i presume these are the town hall birds.they were preening and doing some wierd hopping up and down.then 3 took off and i didnt see them again.the groundsman at the arena next door told me they have called every day recently.he reckons they dont stay long but when the rugby have played they stay longer eating the leftovers though with the average warriors fan weighing 44stone they probably dont get much.

__________________
Rob Thorpe


Status: Offline
Posts: 1679
Date:
Permalink  

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Mesnes Park, early afternoon:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Goldcrest

__________________
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks for the update Geoff, hadnt seen all three since they left, had 2 on chimney t'other day an seen adults about around Scholes flats so nice to know they're ok
smile.gif

__________________
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

The three ravenet's were still at the site this evening 20.30 on the opposite side of the nest no sign of the adults.1 blackbird and 1 pied wagtail both in full song around the site.

cheers geoff biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

No show with the Ravens this morning but with it raining the young could have been in the nest keeping there heads downno.gif

This Afternoon
3:00 Adult Raven seen on Mast biggrin.gif

Cheers Jimmy

__________________
fred fouracre


Status: Offline
Posts: 211
Date:
Permalink  

swifts arrived back on my house today.oh what joy.

__________________
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

Both adult ravens knocking around,all three kids back in the nest and sleeping when i arrived,strikes me that bringing up ravens is quite a relaxed affair.biggrin.gif

cheers geoffbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

This Morning
Ravens were on walkabout 2 had left the nest leavingsmile.gif just 1 doing plenty of wing flapping on in the nest then it got the courage up to go to the others.biggrin.gif
Looks as if they will try to fly next couple of days just hope they get it right when they do as there is a lot of concrete and traffic about if they get it wrong .

Cheers Jimmy

__________________
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

went for a quick 10 mins at lunch yesterday to look at the Ravens but still could only see 2 chicks, back again today and finally got to see the third one biggrin.gif they're getting fairly big now so shouldnt be long before they fledge smile.gif hopefully they'll keep away from the nearby roads... was surprised this evening to see at least 15 Greenfinches still using the roost at the Oak Hotel confuse.gif

__________________
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

And indeed yes,a lunchtime visit to see the ravens turned up a 3rd chickbiggrin.gif in the nest,lots of wing flapping and some sleeping,both adults around, snap shots to ian.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

Paul,thats great news,I had word from an untrained observerwink.gif of two chicks seen yesterday,They seem much more advanced than I thought they would be,maybe we are due more surprises.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

20 mins at lunch time today were rewarded with seeing 2 young Ravens on nest. one doing wing flapping exercises on side of nest, both adults were also feeding them... biggrin.gif

__________________
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

A quick look at dinner time both adults ravens around and 1 chick making it,s debut appearance,just a head poking out from the nest 'gasping' in the mid day sun,there might be morehmm.gif but one,s a good resultbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

Another pleasant hour watching the ravensbiggrin.gif,both birds perched and flying around the area,mostly chasing off seagulls.I can,t make out what is happening at the nest,I think the female is still sittingconfuse.gifbiggrin.gif
cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

Spent a hour watching the ravens at dinner walking up and down the area,both adults around and using the mast as a meeting point,I saw one food pass from presumed male to female then into the nest.A word of caution i,m pretty sure they 'clock' everyone watching them and then watch the watchers which might affect the result,so if you go for a look I think it,s best to walk, look and move on.Or you can don a cherry and white put a pie in your hand and blend into the background.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Saturday 3rd of April 2010 05:08:51 PM

__________________

mm
David Duncan


Status: Offline
Posts: 69
Date:
Permalink  

I'm hoping to see some chicks soon, but that nest is huge and looks pretty deep.

__________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86466226@N07/
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

Cheers David, I just checked incubation period for Ravens and it says 18 - 20 days. I had assumed such a large bird would be at least 30+ days so hadnt even bothered to check them properly
ashamed.gif
they take a long time to fledge though 35-42 days yawn.gif would be nice to know how many young are in the nest
had some nice views of one of the adults a couple of times in trees near John Bull pub and there's got to be a slim chance of seeing one on top of Raven Pub biggrin.gif

__________________
David Duncan


Status: Offline
Posts: 69
Date:
Permalink  

The Ravens have been feeding now for two weeks, or at least the female has. The male just seems to bring food for the female and watch.

__________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86466226@N07/
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

Watched Ravens feeding young this evening, didnt have binocs with me so couldnt see any beaks but defo feeding biggrin.gif

__________________
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

Both Ravens at nest this morning then male i think flew off leaving the other one on nest then the one returned but didnt look like it brought any food back

Cheers Jimmy

__________________
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

Both Ravens perched on side of nest when I drove past this evening, cant be much longer till they hatch can it? smile.gif

__________________
Rob Thorpe


Status: Offline
Posts: 1679
Date:
Permalink  

Sunday 14 March 2010

A Raven was mooching around Tesco car park early afternoon.

__________________
Judith Smith


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
Permalink  

Hopefully you can tell us when they hatch?

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Adam Dyson


Status: Offline
Posts: 50
Date:
Permalink  

excellent views of one of the ravens from wigan college. my room is on the top floor and one was being mobbed by crows before gliding just over the roof of my room biggrin.gif

__________________
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

One Raven seen at DW Stadium where it picked up a a piece of pie left from last nights match probably and flew off to the Town Centre
Pie Eaters get every where

Cheers Jimmy


__________________
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

The ravens were both present 12.30 1.30 giving great views and calling often from various perching points.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

Grey Wagtail on Douglas at Central Park Way
and a pr Grey Wagtail back on territory further up river

Raven looked to be on nest but no other sightings of its mate in the area


Buzzard soaring over Wigan Lane

Cheers Jimmy

__________________
dave broome


Status: Offline
Posts: 2872
Date:
Permalink  

As the John Bull Curlew looked moth-eaten when I first went in there 23 years ago I doubt there's much meat left for the Crows

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 6th of March 2010 08:31:13 AM

__________________
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

20+ Carrion Crows in trees on Coopers Row nr John Bull 08:30:confuse:

(thought at first they might have been waiting for Curlew from John Bull )

Pr Sparrowhawks Displaying over Mesnes field 10:45

Cheers Jimmy



__________________
dave broome


Status: Offline
Posts: 2872
Date:
Permalink  

A Raven was being mobbed by a Carrion Crow over Mesnes Park/Mesnes Road at 17:15 tonight

__________________
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

Raven on nest mid morning with male flying over nr the Railway cronking as he went

Cheers Jimmy

__________________
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

female Harris Hawk flying down Wigan Lane, landed on Bowling green pub and stayed long enough for me to park up and get a couple of pics before flying off towards copull lane.
Raven over standishgate
40+ Greenfinches coming in to roost in evergreen bushes at the side of the Wigan Oak hotel biggrin.gif
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Sunday 28th of February 2010 07:22:13 PM

__________________
Ian Woosey


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:
Permalink  

Bit of a round-up, locally:

1 Grey Wagtail frequenting my back yard lately (in Whelley)
Also in Whelley, 1 Tawny Owl calling from the roof of St Stephens church @ 22:00 on Friday night (26th). Info from me mother, who`s house backs onto the church-yard, and who went out to investigate (it was spooking the dog !).

The Ravens still being seen at the eyrie from several drive-bys over the weekend...

__________________
Judith Smith


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
Permalink  

Both birds were present at noon. The (presumed) female was spending a lot of time in the nest and hardly visible, male visiting occasionally. I suspect she may be laying now.

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
fred fouracre


Status: Offline
Posts: 211
Date:
Permalink  

went to look at the ravens today around 1.30.only one bird present and all i could see was the tail sticking out of the nest.i stayed about 20 mins and never saw the other bird.the one on the nest never moved or changed position so maybe eggs have been laid.

__________________
Ian Woosey


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:
Permalink  

21/2/10

With Mr Meadows & Mr Hargreaves:

Both Ravens present at 12:10 for ten miutes or so then departed, returning at 12:45 (from a south-westerly direction), one bringing in wool. They both hung around till 13:30 perched on a nearby aerial occupying themselves by a spot of mutual preening......

Also seen overhead:

1 Goosander (fem)
1 Sparrowhawk
7 Skylark
8 Fieldfare
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Cormorant

__________________
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

early morning both birds chased an intruding Raven out of area, cracking aerial pursuit between flats at bottom of scholes. Female Sparrowhawk then had all the pigeons and Starlings up. afternoon nice meeting up with Geoff and and a decent oppertunity to get some pics biggrin.gif

__________________
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

Called early this morning before trip to North Wales with RSPB Group
Sadly no show of the birds disbelief.gifbut nest is coming on nicely will call back tomorrow to see how things are goingsmile.gif


Cheers Jimmy

__________________
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

urged on by some sunlight i hot footed it to have a look at our latest stars,after a half hour wait myself and Mr.Risley were rewarded with both birds arriving at 14.55 one setteling on the nest and the other posing on a nearby mast both birds departed at 15.10.What a treat biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif
also plucked out 2 mallard(over) 1 pied wag 4 crows and quite a few pigeons
cheers geoff biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Ian Woosey


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:
Permalink  

20/2/10

A trip to the opticians late this morning was made bearable (nearly) by the prospect of catching a glimpse of the Ravens; They did not dissapoint, as I watched both arrive at the nest at 12:15, one bringing in what could have been wool (I was obviously binocular-less). The size of the nest really surprised me, as did the actual location on the chimney...... Later on (13:30) one was perched on a telephone mast nearby, "cronking" away, watching the shoppers go past below smile.gif

I think a good place to set `scopes up and watch from (probably best on a Sunday morning) would be from the car-park next to Franco`s Italian restaurant, at the bottom of Library Street.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:29:06 PM

__________________
fred fouracre


Status: Offline
Posts: 211
Date:
Permalink  

jimmy.......i dont think they are the dw birds.i was watching them today and saw both without an injured leg.when i got there one was on the nest the other on top of the chimney.the one on the nest was very active so i think the nest is still under construction.then they both flew off.they were gone about ten minutes then returned together.the female got on the nest and the male got on the female.naughty boy!!! so this nest looks a definite goer.

__________________
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

was up at the undisclosed nest site last night after work and have checked the area several times recently, unfortunately no signs of any nesting attempt there and havent seen a pair in close proximitry to last years nestsite since last year.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 09:13:10 AM

__________________
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

No sign yet of Ravens nest building at the DW they keep calling in but dont stop long but one of last year's birds had a injured leg

Cheers Jimmy

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 09:14:44 AM

__________________
Judith Smith


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
Permalink  

I've asked Dave Broome, who works for Wigan MBC, to get in touch with whoever is i/c of the building to make sure they aren't disturbed (as crows or magpies could be, legally, at this stage) - Ravens are fully protected.

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15811
Date:
Permalink  

Obviously it goes without saying that the chimney pair have rightly been considered suitable for public release but the same cannot be said for every pair.

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

Judith et al,I,m going to have a look on sunday morning (pictures weather dependant) I,ll keep a log of any ravens I see with times and locations for comparisons.If anyone else is having a look it,s worth noting that the first nesting attempt at the DW stadia (latics footie ground to the layman) was easily viewable from outside the groundwink.gif .

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:23:49 PM

__________________

mm
Ian Woosey


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:
Permalink  

I think there are three pairs currently building nests (or at least prospecting) round Wigan town centre. I saw four over Abram on Saturday while Dave Broome was watching one in Haigh CP...

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:22:49 PM

__________________
Judith Smith


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
Permalink  

How many pairs have we got here, folks? Seems like a bit of simultaneous watching is called for.

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Paul Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 479
Date:
Permalink  

both Ravens carrying fine material and lining nest, lunchtime today biggrin.gif

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:32:06 PM

__________________
«First  <  1 … 7 8 9 10 11  >  Last»  | Page of 11  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> WIGAN TOWN CENTRE (and environs)

RODIS

 

This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar.