Waxwings

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

RE: Waxwings

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

Now a total of 11 Rowans have been planted next to the former Rail House.

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

Mark Rigby wrote:

Well I have had my reply today and it states

"I write in response to your email dated 19th December 2008 and relating to the removal of trees on Boad Street. I can confirm that the removal of trees was permitted as part of a recent planning approval (ref: 085967/FO/2008/C3) for the refurbishment and extension of the building, however the approval granted requires the replacement of any tree removed with two new trees. Full details of this application are available at www.manchester.gov.uk via the Public Access page should you require any further information."

Lets see what happens, that should be 8 tree's if I have read it right-or do they mean 2 tree's in total?

Credit where credit is due. 8 Rowan's have been planted where 4 used to stand, and quite sizeable trees at that! Well done Manchester City Council

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Paul Heaton wrote:

Indeed , a well thought out, well timed article, who can get bored by watching waxwings, cheers Ian.

ps for those that put sightings on, please remember, there is more than one Talbot road, after a report of sightings on Cholton, then Talbot road, I spent some time on Talbot road Stretford, nice place but no luck, off to Hyde today!

keep birding ( in the right places)

I made the same mistake Paul

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Yes I'll second that great article Ian with some stunning photos and excellent illustrations too. How on earth do you find the time to do these articles on top of everything else?

Debs Wallace · Status: Offline

Fantastic article Ian, I have just learnt a lot. Thank you. Stunning photos folks

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Paul not being a local I did not think to look how many Talbot Roads there are I just followed the thread started by Ian Mc last Friday the 9th that mentioned Hyde.
In fact if you look in the A2Z there are 6 Talbot Roads mentioned so I guess we were both lucky

Paul Heaton wrote:

Indeed , a well thought out, well timed article, who can get bored by watching waxwings, cheers Ian.

ps for those that put sightings on, please remember, there is more than one Talbot road, after a report of sightings on Cholton, then Talbot road, I spent some time on Talbot road Stretford, nice place but no luck, off to Hyde today!

keep birding ( in the right places)

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

Indeed , a well thought out, well timed article, who can get bored by watching waxwings, cheers Ian.

ps for those that put sightings on, please remember, there is more than one Talbot road, after a report of sightings on Cholton, then Talbot road, I spent some time on Talbot road Stretford, nice place but no luck, off to Hyde today!

keep birding ( in the right places

)

Paul Wilson · Status: Offline

Excellent article Ian. I did wonder why no images of Waxwings were appearing in the photo gallery - seems they were being saved up for the article. Well worth the wait. I particularly like the shots containing several birds (I only managed to see a single bird at Elton).

Dave Thacker · Status: Offline

I totally agree with Jimmy, everything about the Waxwing article is Superb.

Well Done

Jimmy Meadows · Status: Offline

Brilliant piece on Waxwings Winters Delight a big thank you to Ian and all concerned just made my day

looking at the pictures and reading about them absolutley marvelous.
Cheers Jimmy

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

I did a leaflet on street trees for Waxwings which you can send to them - I'll email it to you

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

Mark Rigby wrote:

e-mail sent...

It says on the Manchester Biodiversity Strategy:-

"Manchester values its trees, and the City Council is more committed than ever to looking after one of our most valuable natural resources. Trees make a fantastic contribution to Manchester, adding to the Citys beauty and contributing significantly to peoples quality of life. They are incredibly beneficial to wildlife, and feature prominently as priority habitats and species of the Biodiversity Strategy. We aim to become Britains Greenest City, and a key part of achieving this is by demonstrating our commitment to Manchesters trees."

Lets see what reply I get

Well I have had my reply today and it states

"I write in response to your email dated 19th December 2008 and relating to the removal of trees on Boad Street. I can confirm that the removal of trees was permitted as part of a recent planning approval (ref: 085967/FO/2008/C3) for the refurbishment and extension of the building, however the approval granted requires the replacement of any tree removed with two new trees. Full details of this application are available at www.manchester.gov.uk via the Public Access page should you require any further information."

Lets see what happens, that should be 8 tree's if I have read it right-or do they mean 2 tree's in total?

Cheers

Riggers

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

Took my luch break in pacific st altrincham today to stake out the six or so rowan trees that are still laden with berries despite 6 mistle thrushes 2 blackbirds and twenty or so starlings gorging on them,maybe i,ll get lucky tommorrow

.

cheers geoff

i meant to say i can only check this 'virgin' site once a day so if anyones passing it,s as good a spot as any.

-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves at 21:25, 2008-11-11

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

I said when I started this thread that I wasn't sure of the reliability of the source.

"Friend A" had told me that "Friend B" had seen the Hulme "Waxwings". When none of the gallant forum members were able to locate these birds I told "Friend A". He checked with "Friend B" who said "I was was pretty sure they were Waxwings - I went back for another look later in the day and met a birder who was looking for them, so they must have been Waxwings". Doh!!!

Apologies to everyone. I'll never again put anything on the forum from this source. At least you all know where the berries are when the waxwings do eventually arrive.

Steve

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

A ride around town on my day off this pm. Brunswick St. behind the 60s church 2 Mistle Thrush on station protecting their huge crop of yellow Sorbus berries. University area packed with students so too much disturbance. No birds at all to be seen on Blackfriars Rd/Renault garage area. Horribly wet and windy and unpleasant riding weather so didn't inspect any more sites. Soaked right through.

Anthony Dixon · Status: Offline

Had a look around the Hall Street (Stockport) site, where they have been in the past today and the berry bushes seem to have been severely cropped this year!
No sign at Nissan or Vernon/Woodbank Parks...Will be going back daily to check.

Anthony

Paul Cliff · Status: Offline

had a mooch around brunswick street after work late afternoon to no avail, also dropped into pilsworth retail park on the way home - cracking berry trees scattered across the site, will drop by whenever i can...

Melanie Beckford · Status: Offline

Les Steele wrote:

Hi all

Birdguides reports 20 Waxwings in Stockport this morning "opposite the Nissan Garage on St Mary`s Way though mobile."

Although I don`t live in Bury any more - a reliable spot in Bury for Waxwings is outside the Pensioners bungalows in Dumers Lane. - May be worth a look if you`re passing.

Regards

Les Steele

l passed the bungalows this morning but no berries also tried the nearby park.....again nowt!!

Steve Atkins · Status: Offline

Riggers,
I hope you have better luck with your Rowan trees than me. I planted two in my back garden in 2004 and every year since in late summer they have produced a magnificent crop of berries. The only problem is that as well as the local Mistle Thrush pair taking a few, the Starlings are very partial to the berries and have devoured the lot by the end of October leaving nothing for the Waxwings.

Steve

Mark Whalley · Status: Offline

Hi

Who did you send the e-mail to about the vandalised trees beside rail house?

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

A lovely lunchtime for cycling around town looking for said birds - none found so this is a berry report:

No berries at all on the Rowans around Gt. Ancoats St. retail park so they won't be going there.

A superb crop of traditional red-berried Rowans all around the Renault garage at the junction of Trinity Way and Blackfriars Road. Two smaller Rowan-type trees with fatter yellow berries opposite the Blackfriars pub just south of the junction but some builders huts and a bit of disturbance here. They have fed from these trees in the past.

Other berry-bearing species of trees on Lamb St. and Frederick St. drive

Some ornamental Rowans in Sackville St. Gdns with small white berries but also a large crop of young baghead/alkies!

I will check the berry crop at Manchester University science buildings where they have also been seen in the past.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

I think this year's Waxwing invasion is different from the usual ones where the birds arriving in Hattersley, Stockport, Manchester etc follow reports of bigger flocks in Sheffield, suggesting a movement west.

This years birds seem to be arriving in big numbers much further north, and are now filtering down, hence arriving further west earlier? Reports at Seaforth, Red Rocks etc might add some weight to this.

Also, birds seem to be moving on quiickly even though food sources are there.

I've not done any real research though - this is purely based on my anecdotal recollections.

-- Edited by Rob Smallwood at 13:54, 2008-11-07

Les Steele · Status: Offline

Hi all

Birdguides reports 20 Waxwings in Stockport this morning "opposite the Nissan Garage on St Mary`s Way though mobile."

Although I don`t live in Bury any more - a reliable spot in Bury for Waxwings is outside the Pensioners bungalows in Dumers Lane. - May be worth a look if you`re passing.

Regards

Les Steele

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

I believe the maximum 'fine' for damaging a tree covered by a TPO is around £20,000.

Dont quote me on that though. Ultimately its up to the Judge.

Dean Macdonald · Status: Offline

On the subject of trees being cut down. There's a big planning/building dispute going on in Darcy Lever Bolton at the moment. They want to build "Villas

" in the old railway cutting on the edge of Leverhulme park. Planning permission has just been rejected again, for the umpteenth time.
While all the protests and discussions have been going on the land owners sent the bulldozers in a chopped a load of trees down, the locals protested and where basically threatened. Chopping the trees down was illegal but even if the land owners were prosecuted they would face a measly fine of a few thousand pounds!! Of course, if replanted, the trees will take decades to return to how they were. I've also been told that they could then get rid of the saplings because young, small trees are not protected!!
How ridiculous is this

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

e-mail sent...

It says on the Manchester Biodiversity Strategy:-

"Manchester values its trees, and the City Council is more committed than ever to looking after one of our most valuable natural resources. Trees make a fantastic contribution to Manchester, adding to the Citys beauty and contributing significantly to peoples quality of life. They are incredibly beneficial to wildlife, and feature prominently as priority habitats and species of the Biodiversity Strategy. We aim to become Britains Greenest City, and a key part of achieving this is by demonstrating our commitment to Manchesters trees."

Lets see what reply I get

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

Paul,

As you know, I work at Piccadilly and checked out the lack of tree's this morning but Mark beat me to the post.

I have had waxwing's here over the years as well as resident and winter thrushes. The enterance to the staff car park is only a few yards away, so I checked out the tree's twice a day going to/from work.

Maybe we should put pressure on the authorities to have the tree's replaced after the building work has finished. Not much good this year though.

It says on the Manchester City Council Website (tree preservation orders) "In certain circumstances, it may be agreed that pruning or removal may be permitted in order to accommodate development, but the TPO enables the council to control these actions and to obtain new planting to replace trees which are removed." I suppose it rests on whether these tree's had been identified before the work started.

Mr Warfy took me to his local garden centre to buy a Rowan for my garden and a 6ft specimen cost £25. The bigger the tree, the more money you paid. The rail house tree's must have been worth a couple of grand each using that theory.

The tree's at the retail park at Ancoats are also looking a bit bare this year.

I feel an e-mail coming on............

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

Right I think it may be time to move this thread to the discusson section, can you do that Ian.

We have no sighting of waxwing yet, but I am blooming angry at the loss of 4 very smart trees, the spot near rail house was always a stronghold for waxwings and thrushes feeding, its a crime and I do intend to take it up with someone.

I am sure you can get protection orders on trees, and feel we should do so straight away, you shouldn,t just be able to chop them down, rant rant rant. I am a bit uset by this.

ps the waxwings should be here soon.

keep off our trees.

keep birding

Steve Atkins · Status: Offline

Mark,
You might like to have a look at the City of Manchester biodiversity website which has a section on trees. http://www.wildaboutmanchester.info/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=117&Itemid=80
There is also a link to the planning departments website http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1424

Steve

Mark Whalley · Status: Offline

The trees next to Rail House have been torn up by the builders who are refurbishing the place so Govenment Office of the North west can move there from City Tower. I live just down the road and am considering a complaint to Manchester City Council about this eco vandalism

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

Well spotted Dave, I tried all the haunts I know in Manchester/Stockport no sign anywhere, Mr Riggers can you find out whats going on with the trees at the side of Rail house, they appear to have disappeared.

So they are in Bolton, no doubt they will be all over the place soon.

keep Birding.

Paul Cliff · Status: Offline

had a good look birtle, grizlehurst and rochdale cemetery this morning/lunchtime no signs, sadly.

David Craven · Status: Offline

On the more general "spotting waxwings" subject, I first saw them when I was 15 and not even looking for them. Walking the York City walls, they were all in a tree by the wall, which meant I saw them from about 6 feet away!

They didn't seem remotely fussed about me stopping and watching them.

My teachers didn't accept it as a valid excuse for being late to school!

David Craven · Status: Offline

15-20 in the Great Lever area of Bolton today, but only saw them in the air, never managed to spot where they came down.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

No sign there between 7:10 and 7:40 but probably too early.

As Tim says, there are low Cotoneaster type berry bushes here - but few Rowans or similar which in my experience tend to be the preferred early targets of Waxwings on arrival.

Had a very brief scout around the nearby estate with no joy either.

I'll try again at lunchtime if time allows.

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Checked the garden centre at just gone 4pm. The lady who works there had a bird book and I showed her what we are looking for and asked her to let the site know. Actually there was only one small appropriate bush behind the centre with hardly masses of berries. They have been known in Hulme before. Last invasion they turned up at Toys R Us and around Trinity Way also at Fletcher Moss in Didsbury. Out of county my first were at the Mercedes garage in Macclesfield where there is a massive stand of tall Rowan trees. Got some good digiscope pics of them too. Once they're settled feeding they can be very tame

correction 8.30am: plenty of lw shrub berries outside the centre along the Junction Pub car park. but still no Waxwings.

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox at 08:57, 2008-11-05

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Paul's right - its a rare Waxwing winter when Stockport Station approach does not attract a flock, and this looks like being a bumper year.

Other GM places I've seen them include Timperley, Hulme, Piccadilly, Salford Crescent, Oldham, Hyde, Old Trafford (inc the cricket ground!), Stretford - I'll be amazed if you don't all clear this blocker off your list this year.

I'll take another look at Hulme tomorrow morning.

Dean Macdonald · Status: Offline

I'm with you Ian, having loads of problems with the computer at the moment. They're great when they're working but a pain in the a*** when they play up

I've been pretty lucky with Waxwings over the years. Best advice i can give is check them Starlings. In the dull light at this time of year Waxwings can look very plain from a distance. So what looks like a few Starlings in a tree, could be Waxwings when you get close. I drove past a flock on the way to work a few years ago, every day for a week before i stopped at the lights and saw one, which turned out to be a flock of 30 or so. They tend to stick around until the berries have gone.
So check them Starlings

Cheers Dean.

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

An extremley good birder had one over his house at Gatley today, so they are here,
Stockport train staion is always a good place, and will be checking out other haunts tomorrow

Keep Birding

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

It wasn't just you Geoff but I and others could see all the posts all the time. I don't get these technical problems, I'm still awaiting a fix so I can update the website, I only went on holiday for 10 bloody days

I am but a lowly birder so please bear with any technical difficulties

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

Hi Geoff and all other;" I've never seen a Waxwing", birders out there. I'm still waiting also and have even been too Burnley to miss them by 1 hour, last Winter. I actually don't think they exist

Going mad now!
Maybe this Winter

Cheers Ian

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

seems to be an empty thread,for all you none 'pager' gm birders(me amongst you) 400 waxwing have been reported on skye.I,ve never seen one but the advice i got was to check every berry tree/bush closley because what you might think are starlings could turn out to be waxwings.

cheers geoff

since i wrote this the other bits have now appeared

heh hum still somthing to look out for

-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves at 21:50, 2008-11-04

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

Checked it out this afternoon loads of berries but no waxwings.

keep birding.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Old Birley Street runs parallel to the west of Princess Parkway south off the A5067 Birchall Way.

It'll have to be tomorrow now - but this area has held Waxwings in the past so as they often return to traditional sites its a distinct possibility.

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

It's on Old Birley Street if that means anything to you, Rob.

Cheers, Steve

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

I might be able to - any idea where the garden centre in Hulme is?

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Have heard rumours (not sure about reliability) of Waxwings in Hulme near the garden centre. Could anyone local check it out?

Steve