BLACK REDSTARTS IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

RE: BLACK REDSTARTS IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE

Mark Whalley · Status: Offline

Male Black Redstart singing on scaffolded building on Dale Street today at 3-15. Heard later at 3-30 on Port Street and then seen flying from Port Street towards Tariff Street.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

All posts related to Black Redstart(s) in Fallowfield have been moved to the Fallowfield thread

Sean Sweeney · Status: Offline

Another Black Redstart in the city centre today. Just been watching what looked to be an adult male on the Town Hall spire. A very black coloured bird, with a flashing orange/red tail. It was fly catching around the base of the main spire, in full view from my office window with binoculars at 09:30 this morning. It then flew to the other side (Albert Sq side) out of view for a few minutes, but then reappeared on the top of the spire, perched on the spikey golden ball at the top of the spire. I managed to put a few of the lads in the office on it, who showed a little more interest than the other week!?!

Anyway, this bird did not look at all like the one I saw the other week, as it was much darker on the chest and had no signs of downly or light coloured plumage on the underside. It was also black on the chest and wings, rather than the greyer/browner colour of the bird I saw the other week.

After watching it on and off for about 10 minutes it flew off towards Princess Street in a northerly direction, so keep your eyes on the sky if you are in the city centre today.

Ivan Ellison · Status: Offline

Excellent news lets hope the birds make use of it. I think Dancy will probably book a room there for the entire summer!!

Nick Hilton · Status: Offline

of interest (need to cut and paste into browser);

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/10231-bird-conservation-project-for-piccadilly-hotel.html

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

steven burke wrote:

Adrian Dancy wrote:

I have not seen or heard any black redstarts recently despite there having been a pair seen on the town hall roof in June that I hoped would breed. In an effort to attract the birds next year I requested Dave Barlow from Bio-Diversity to put up some suitable plants and nest boxes (with agreement from the building manager) in the hope that the birds may be encouraged to stay next year . Dave and the Building Manager agreed to do what we could. Today myself and two MCC employees put up the plants and next week we will put up some nest boxes. Of course it may not work...but unless you try....?

Meanwhile I found this piece of excellent footage on YouTube. I have no sound on my computer...probably a good thing. I think the footage is brilliant... worth a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0wJcjF6rv0&feature=related

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Friday 15th of July 2011 11:08:14 PM

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Friday 15th of July 2011 11:09:03 PM

adrian,the footage is brilliant & the sounds not that bad
great job with the plants & nest boxes,fingers crossed for next year now.

Superb find Sean.

I think I will be in the city as soon as I can get my skates on.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Excellent.

Sean Sweeney · Status: Offline

Amazingly, I have just been watching a first winter Black Redstart on the top of the derelict building opposite Peter House on St Peter's Square. I last saw one on this building 3-4 yeas ago, so I'm made up that whilst having a brew and watching out of the window for a moment I have seen one again. Glad I have a trusty old pair of binoculars on my desk

.

My attention was brought to the roof when I saw a pied wagtail land on top of the building, so thinking it was the start of the winter roosting around the city centre squares I picked up my binoculars to see if there were any more about. To my surprise the black redstart was on the ledge on the top of the building, where it scampered about looking for food, flycatching up and down in the air or just perching on the ledges and other structures on the roof top.

After making a few notes of its plumage, a slight lighter chin, overall grey in appearance on its chest, but on the weak side of grey, with a darker grey back and an orange tail that was a little tatty I enjoyed observing it a little longer before it flew towards the buildings beyond my view, towards the direction of Chinatown.

Obviously, with this being a late record for a young bird it may be a migrant, but to be perfectly honest it could be a young bird from a hidden nest somewhere in the city centre that eluded Adrian and others this summer

.

If you're in the area, keep your eyes peeled on the roof tops.

-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Wednesday 5th of October 2011 03:55:49 PM

steven burke · Status: Offline

Adrian Dancy wrote:

I have not seen or heard any black redstarts recently despite there having been a pair seen on the town hall roof in June that I hoped would breed. In an effort to attract the birds next year I requested Dave Barlow from Bio-Diversity to put up some suitable plants and nest boxes (with agreement from the building manager) in the hope that the birds may be encouraged to stay next year . Dave and the Building Manager agreed to do what we could. Today myself and two MCC employees put up the plants and next week we will put up some nest boxes. Of course it may not work...but unless you try....?

Meanwhile I found this piece of excellent footage on YouTube. I have no sound on my computer...probably a good thing. I think the footage is brilliant... worth a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0wJcjF6rv0&feature=related

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Friday 15th of July 2011 11:08:14 PM

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Friday 15th of July 2011 11:09:03 PM

adrian,the footage is brilliant & the sounds not that bad

great job with the plants & nest boxes,fingers crossed for next year now.

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Well, the colloquial German name is House Redtail

Ken Dunning · Status: Offline

Fantastic video, nice one

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

I have not seen or heard any black redstarts recently despite there having been a pair seen on the town hall roof in June that I hoped would breed. In an effort to attract the birds next year I requested Dave Barlow from Bio-Diversity to put up some suitable plants and nest boxes (with agreement from the building manager) in the hope that the birds may be encouraged to stay next year . Dave and the Building Manager agreed to do what we could. Today myself and two MCC employees put up the plants and next week we will put up some nest boxes. Of course it may not work...but unless you try....?

Meanwhile I found this piece of excellent footage on YouTube. I have no sound on my computer...probably a good thing. I think the footage is brilliant... worth a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0wJcjF6rv0&feature=related

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Friday 15th of July 2011 11:08:14 PM

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Friday 15th of July 2011 11:09:03 PM

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Late post for yesterday morning c.9.30am One sining on the roof of Manchester Art Gallery. A work tick!

Joey Eccles · Status: Offline

No sign around the town hall area that i could see from 12.55-1.15 and again from 3.55-4.00

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

An unfamiliar trill above our office car park around 5pm - between Dickinson St and Bloom St

I should say - I didn't see the bird but it was definitely an unfamiliar song - usually there's just a few Blue Tits around there.

I have seen Black Redstarts in the area in the 90's and it's not that far from the Town Hall.

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 10th of June 2011 08:21:05 PM

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Black Redstart singing from corner of Princess Street and Mosely Street at 7.50. Then flew up Mosely Street past the Art Museum.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Black Redstart above the main entrance to the town hall at 09:55 this morning.

Info thanks to Dave Broome

steven burke · Status: Offline

town hall/albert square. 6.50pm singing on spire next to union jack flag,then flew above the clock then right upto very top on the globe then flew off towards deansgate.

-- Edited by steven burke on Monday 6th of June 2011 11:43:53 PM

steven burke · Status: Offline

dave broome wrote:

steven burke wrote:

did have a load off nude cyclists going around albert square at 7.40

..and I presume nobody batted an eyelid , but the moment we dare to get the bins out to look at Black Redstarts in the city centre, passer-bys look at us as if we're pervy wierdos

dave,everyone was just laughing,whistling,cars beeping horns and even taking pictures. so i joined in and took a video off them

so i guess im a pervy wierdo now

and the chap with the mirror this morning ,like kerry says very disturbing.
so thats the reason for no black redstarts

kerry skelhorn · Status: Offline

Nude cyclists may be strange but at 8 am there was a bloke walking around holding a large mirror to his face & yelling at his reflection - very disturbing!! Maybe it was all a bit too surreal for the black redstart - don't blame it for moving on!

dave broome · Status: Offline

steven burke wrote:

did have a load off nude cyclists going around albert square at 7.40

..and I presume nobody batted an eyelid

, but the moment we dare to get the bins out to look at Black Redstarts in the city centre, passer-bys look at us as if we're pervy wierdos

steven burke · Status: Offline

kerry skelhorn wrote:

No sign of the black redstart between 7:30 and 11:15 this morning All those lucky birders who turned up & saw it straight away - I'm so jealous! Nice to meet Steven, Adrian & John though & see the photos taken the previous evening! I do hope the peregrine didn't have it for breakfast!

nice to meet you too kerry,sorry you did not see the bird. i did pop back around 7.20pm when i got off the train in piccadilly, but heard nothing seen nothing

hopefully they wont be far away.

kerry skelhorn · Status: Offline

No sign of the black redstart between 7:30 and 11:15 this morning

All those lucky birders who turned up & saw it straight away - I'm so jealous! Nice to meet Steven, Adrian & John though & see the photos taken the previous evening! I do hope the peregrine didn't have it for breakfast!

steven burke · Status: Offline

kerry what time was you there at, i was doing exactly that.

sat with adrian dancy for a while observing the bird whilst on the spire next to the union jack flag,also had the peregrine falcon over at one point (dont think adrian liked that)

still feeding on the town hall around 8.45pm but then disappeared and so did i with a numb bum.

did have a load off nude cyclists going around albert square at 7.40

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Steve Suttill wrote: How do you identify a birder? Is there a field guide?
and not all birders wear woolly hats and have grey beards - that's just me

Steve

--

........ and me

kerry skelhorn · Status: Offline

Yes I must admit I was a bit reluctant to get the bins out of the bag & walk around that part of Manchester alone - perfect way to attract wierdos! Just sat on the benches facing the town hall trying not to look too conspicuous!

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

I think the vast majority of county birders have now connected with Black Redstart over the years in one location or another and hence the apparent lack of interest in going down to the busy city centre and breaking your neck staring up of the tops of buildings

Although, I have seen them often enough in City Centre Ian, I for one will be breaking my neck in the coming weeks for my Manchester Borough Year List!!

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

JamieDunning wrote:

Have been out past 4 days running & not seen another birder!

How do you identify a birder? Is there a field guide?

Not all of us would walk around the city centre with bins displayed prominently - with some justification!

and not all birders wear woolly hats and have grey beards - that's just me

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Suttill on Friday 3rd of June 2011 05:43:42 PM

steven burke · Status: Offline

4.20pm feeding on top off town hall. Was sat on the bench facing the town hall it went from right to left and then back to the right and then dissapeared over the top towards st peters square.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

I think the vast majority of county birders have now connected with Black Redstart over the years in one location or another and hence the apparent lack of interest in going down to the busy city centre and breaking your neck staring up of the tops of buildings

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

2pm splendid view on window washing railing high above Cafe Nero jnct Mosley St/Princess St very black male. Then flew off to Town Hall extension. Guess everyone with time off is staring into a field on Chat Moss. I'm lucky enough to do this in my lunchbreak

JamieDunning · Status: Offline

Have been out past 4 days running & not seen another birder!

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

1.10 Just moved to roofs around Kennedy St/Cooper St. Hard viewing conditions and constant danger of being run over! Surprised nobody else trying their luck

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Currently 12.45 singing from a turret with a fleur de leys just to the left of the Union Jack flag. Slightly hairy viewing from bus stop on Princees St as my bins are nearly going straight into the sun!

Just moved to the shade of the Frank Rostron shirt-makers sign but he's gone quiet again

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 3rd of June 2011 12:56:16 PM

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 3rd of June 2011 12:57:14 PM

JamieDunning · Status: Offline

I did go out again last night and (as always happens) I was just turning around to leave after an nearly two hours when I heard one.
followed it down booth street where it perched with another for a few minutes on an old church like building, opposite the sir alfred abbercombie the took off over the police station.

Ollie Wright · Status: Offline

9:30am

I had no luck at all with the Manchester Black Redstarts last summer, so I didn't really expect to see one within five seconds of turning up at Albert Square this morning.

I love it when a plan comes together... The bird was flitting from spire to spire, around the location described by Adam below (left-hand side of the Town Hall Building as you face it from Albert Square).

I will return after work with my scope, so doubtless it will be nowhere to be seen by then!

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Singing once again this morning at 8.00 from the spire of the Town Hall at the corner of Princess Street and Albert Square. Stayed in the same position for a good 10 minutes.

JamieDunning · Status: Offline

You must have been there the same time as me then.
but may go out again in an hour or so, it is after all a nice day.

I think your right about mornings..

kerry skelhorn · Status: Offline

I went out yesterday pm to look for it and heard something briefly from an ariel on a building to the opposite side of the small town hall spire - but the bird flew off as soon as I'd located it so can't be sure it was the black redstard. I spent ages looking & listening ofter that between 4:30 and 5:30 pm but had no luck. Had some nice views of a peregrine circling over though.

Sounds like early mornings are the best time to look.

JamieDunning · Status: Offline

Been out two days running and not seen or heard a thing..

Where do they go during the afternoon? (stupid question?)

Richard Norris · Status: Offline

Male singing and flycatching from top of flag pole on top of the Ship Canal building at 6:45 am until a pair of Mistle Thrushes dared to fly through, whereupon it chased them into Albert Square and then carried on from its perch on the spire of the town hall on the corner of Princess Street. It had returned to the Ship Canal building when I left at 7:30, where others have since seen it.

Nice to meet Iain Johnson this morning.

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Singing from the spire of the Town Hall at the corner of Princess 0street and Albert Square at 7.50.

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Black Redstart singing from the top of flag poll on Ship Canal House, King Street at 7.40 this morning. Flew down King Street to the next building and continued singing there.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Black Redstart now singing and showing well on the town hall building, mainly from the small spire on the Princess Street/Albert Square corner.

Info thanks to Adrian Dancy

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Standing opposite Lloyds Bank as the Town Hall clock struck 9, two birds with the right jizz (I was looking into the sun) flew up King Street towards the Ship Canal Building. I followed and heard singing from roofs on Kennedy Street not far from Albert Square.

Open you office window, Adrian - you should be able to hear!

Steve

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

I saw the Black Redstart myself shortly after Adam's sighting, singing from an aerial on Lloyds Bank. At about 0807 he flew over King Street in the direction of Four Yards/South King Street.

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Black Redstart heard and then seen this morning at 7.45 from above the Diesel shop on Cross Street (opposite Lloyds building). It then flew across Cross Street to position itself above the Chop House.
A life time first for me. Having associated myself with the song this morning, it was not difficult to identify when I heard it.
A great start to my working day.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

It's still New Cross though

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

I was watching Black Redstarts in the city centre before they'd invented the "Northern Quarter"

What was it you were saying about my grey hair, Ian?

Steve