Sunday 14 February 2010

Originally posted by Paul Risley:

"After seeing a "large Crow" perched on one of wigans tallest chimneys while driving to work for the past few days, today the penny finally dropped, Pair of Ravens have built a substantial nest . The site is inaccessable and the only problems I can see is possibly from strong winds. here's hoping they have better luck than last year
"

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 15th of February 2010 04:15:51 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:25:10 PM

Raven over Marsh Lane this morning 9:45

Dipper today, still on River Douglas adjacent to Tesco petrol station

Its not that unusual Jimmy.

My other half just stands there looking on, when I do something stupid

2 Grey Wagtails on Market Street roofs this morning

Raven on top of Grand Arcade this morn

Grey Wagtail in the Wiend Area
also Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush singing on Caroline St

Jtn Queen + Wallgate a last years Goldfinch nest now showing with the leaves off the trees


Cheers Jimmy

Raven over Mesnes St 10:10 Calling heading West

sparrowhawk over wigan park this afternoon sending the pigeons everywere.

Buzzard over Greenough St 16:30 looked to be to Haigh Plantations

Cheers Jimmy

18 Mistle Thrush feeding on Mesnes Field yesterday morning

female-type Mandarin on the River Douglas today by Tesco with three Mallard, probably a full-grown juvenile as it had immaculately fresh plumage, also a Goldcrest by Central Park Way

No House Martins this year at Drumcroon Centre Parsons Walk

Queuing in traffic this evening was livened up by a Raven on Trencherfield Mill, then flying around Wigan Pier/Miry Lane

No sign of yesterdays Waxwings on a 3hr mooch around got displaying Greenfinch though at the jtn of Dicconson St

Cheers Jimmy

17 Waxwings today on New Market Street and Mesnes Street (see Waxwing thread).

Magpie nest building in Galleries Shopping Centre in the tree that Pied wagtails used to roost in

Cheers Jimmy

yesterday 2 ravens displaying over jjb stadium.then they made at least 6 visits to the roof of the east stand carrying twigs.but its not possible to see onto the roof as its too high so its not known if they are nestbuilding.this info care of cliff aspey who is groundsman at robin park arena.

peregrine flew over wigan pier today 4.00pm

groundsman on the municipal stadium next door who is very up to speed with birds reckons they pass thro every day sometimes landing on the running track football pitch.when i saw the bird fly in with a stick it could have been a gesture to its mate.arent ravens known to do this?

That's an excellent record Fred. Would you mind submitting it to the BTO Atlas website? http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/index.htm
The breeding code to use is B (nest building). The tetrad should be SD50X Wigan Centre although you can check this on the BTO website by using the Google map on the data entry page.
In 2008 there were only two records of probable breeding and two records of confirmed breeding of Raven in GM submitted to the Atlas. None in the Wigan area. I'm sure there must have been other pairs present elsewhere in the county. This is one of the species we are particularly keen to monitor as it did not breed in the county when the last Atlas (BBGM) was published in 1984.
On a general note, although the recording period for the 2009 breeding season doesn't officially start until 1st April, you can submit records before this date for any breeding activity seen by less common species or early breeders.

Steve

2 Ravens this morning on Wigan College roof, then on to the tower of the NHS place by Mesnes Park, before flying off over the park

Today a Goldcrest was noteworthy, deep in to the town centre, in the single tree-like Cotoneaster next to Smiths Bookshop, Mesnes Street, where Pied Wagtails roost.

Sparrowhawk spooking pigeons for a good 10 minutes just after one o clock this afternoon