Black red still around.

I wonder how many did have me as a train spotter? I have to say the train spotters that were there, left so that I could do my stuff, and when the opportunity arises I will thank them if I recognise them.

I have to say that whilst conditions and circumstances were far from ideal for photography I did get to spend many hours with these birds enjoying what they go through to bring up a family and the hazards they have to put up with. Seeing things over extended periods in real time just gives you a perspective that you can not otherwise appreciate with just breif glimpses.

At the end of it all I got in a few half decent shots of our birds (despite having to use the dreaded converters and manual focus ring), so it's over to you should he wish to show them Ian

For those of you who saw the peregrines on the 'One show' I can say that I had the pleasure of using the BBC's camera, it had just been used for the wild cats on Springwatch . How could I resist the temptation? Thanks to the camera man who let me use it. What a piece of equipment!!!. It isn't until you actually operate one of those things that you realise the skill that those operators have when doing wildlife or indeed football or rugby when having to track and manually focus and deal with the sensitivity of the zoom . I would have loved to have done our black reds with that motion camera. Come to think of it , I wished I had chosen a different job!

I hope the birds hang round a little longer and are back next year.

I was only joking, Adrian. I think the worst thing that could have happened to you was being mistaken for a train spotter!

Steve

I obtained permission to photograph from carpark and in the station. I remained in public access areas. Because the birds are sched 1 listed I assumed just one position when at each location and kept low so that I could not be accused of risking disturbance albeit these birds have chosen high disturbance areas! I think it would be wrong to actively pursue the birds. It is still an offence to disturb dependant young even away from the nest.

I photographed the birds at distance and got one or two close shots. I will not be photographing again with long lens since I obtained permission for one day only.

An adult can sometimes be seen going off to feed around the M.E.N arena.

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy at 08:23, 2008-07-23

Black reds still around trhis evening.

Just out of interest, I was looking at records for this species on the database and in 2005 Nigel Troup had one singing on Federation St...the nest certainly looks as if it's been in use a few years, and I feel sure they nested last year there, judging from the sightings you and Simon Johnson had, in that area.

Thanks to Adrian for showing me where to look for them. We had superb views of one adult feeding three juveniles.

Melanie - the birds have left the nest site but I'm not sure if it is o.k. for me to post where the best place is to see them as they are schedule 1. Perhaps another member can enlighten me.

Gary

Adrian Dancy wrote:

---

Visit to the site this morning and I can now confirm 3 juvs....brilliant!

Edit ...confirmed with Gary Marland who enjoyed these birds for being a lifer.

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy at 12:32, 2008-07-20

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Well luck was on your side today,l visited the site THREE times today and saw NOWT!!!

After many hours watching today I can only confirm that one chick has fledged.

At 7.15pm one of the juvenile peregrines had a go at one of the adult black redstarts as it took off to the Victoria rail station car park. It was a close call.

Two hours at the nest site this evening with no visits by any of the adults. However one adult seen during the course of high drama as a juvenile peregrine falcon landed on the roof of the Federation building overlooking Corporation Street. It was very vocal and a blackbird and a pied wagtail (obviously with a nest nearby) came to bravely mob the bird. The black redstart sat on Victoria station roof and did a lot of calling as did many local song birds but no young seen. When the peregrine flew off the black redstart flew onto the federation building and then around it collecting food near nest site but I did not see it enter the nest hole or come out of it..

I later saw a black redstart return to Victoria station where it collected food from the open steelwork, then it flew back onto the Federation building. I checked the nest site again but no bird seen around the nest hole nor were there any sounds coming from the nest hole. Chicks have probably fledged....? I will check things out again in morning. It would be nice to know how many have fledged, if they have.



-- Edited by Adrian Dancy at 20:25, 2008-07-18

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy at 20:29, 2008-07-18

I saw both the male and female visit the nest between 8.50am - 9am this morning.

Steve

I stayed a good while longer and the sounds coming from the tree were in fact coming from the juvenile grey wagtails. whilst I did see a bird come down from the tree onto the wall it may well have been an adult...but who knows?

Cheers

AD

According to Campbell & Ferguson-Lees, fledging is 16-18 days...

Spent most of the day at the site and met a lot of people from other areas. Got one or two half decent shots in.

One of grey wags escaped with its life and missed the clutches of one of our well known raptors which puts in a lot of time at this spot. Don't ever think peregrines won't strike low in the city.

13th July 08

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy at 00:23, 2008-07-14

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy at 13:40, 2008-07-14

Called at the site after getting off the train at Victoria on the way to the Hardrock cafe at 6.00pm tonight and the male showed up within 2 minutes! Great to see
Steve

Best views ever this morning at 0850. Male appeared from nest and dropped down onto the pavement right in front of me before working his way, one ledge at a time, to the top of the building. Well worth standing around in the rain for!

Steve

approx 13.25 first visit and very easy to find

both adults very active flycatching above my head and returning to the nest

free 24hr parking on Hanover St confirmed by a parkie nicking a BT van on double yellows below the nest

next stop round the corner

Stopped off on my way home from Liverpool tonight 7.15-55 p.m. Redstarts visiting approx. every 5 mins during this period; Grey Wags visiting their nest slightly more often -roughly 3 to 2 ratio.

Do nestlings of different species become vocal at different stages of their development, or, indeed, are some species more vocal than others? While the Wagtail chicks were clearly audible from the other end of Federation St., neither Steve Bourne (nice to chat, Steve) nor I heard anything from the Redstart nest, despite the fact that faecal sacs were being removed. Maybe it's just the enclosed area of the nest muffling the sound?

Of course there could be another expanation. Maybe there is just one chick, being zealously fed by both parents, too satiated to squawk

I've caught a couple of brief glimpses of a BX - I think - flying past my office window on the 3rd floor of the Triangle building (just opposite the rounded SE apex of the Urbis building).

I thought I might put a tray of mealworms on my windowsill to entice it/them closer for pics, but before I do this can anyone tell me if this is advisable or not? (i.e. would mealworms be OK for baby BXs?)

Paul

Female seen leaving the nest at 8.35am this morning with what appeared to be faecal sac.

Both grey wagtails seen also.

thanks paul

will be trying to see the black reds in the morning, should be there about 730am, is it possible to drive up to the site or can you leave your car nearby?

Female seen at 6.10pm this evening before flitting off over the roof

Quite frantic feeding activity by both parents this morning just before 9am.

Chatted to interested staff member who had been talking to someone from the RSPCA (Mr Heaton, I presume). He said the CWS will be selling off the building and moving out in a couple of years. I presume the exterior of the building is listed and there should be no adverse effect on the birds and their nest sites.

Steve