Greater Manchester Birding

[Stand on Zanzibar]

There doesn't seem to be a thread for Greater Manchester on here. (If there is it must be pages back, I wonder why - no decent birds?) I'm not sure that starting one with news of a dead bird is a very auspicious start.....

On my way out of the new Manchester court building (the "Civil Justice Centre") on Bridge Street this morning, I spotted a crumpled bundle of feathers lying on the pavement at the foot of the building's huge glass frontage (about the size of a football pitch stood on end). It turned out to be a Woodcock which must have hit quite high up and then plummeted down during the night. I debated picking it up to take home to show the family, but had no plastic bag. I picked up a stray feather though. Still, I'm back there this afternoon....

Interesting to see just what is flying over even the centre of our cities. I just worry it won't be the last victim of this particular wall of glass.

Shame I can't add this to my 'Birds seen at court' list (but I've been meaning to start "Birds I have found dead" list for a while now), which includes an escaped Cockateil clambering around on the scaffolding netting on the old Manchester Magistrates Court and a Buzzard over Salford Quays, during a 3 day hearing at Salford County Court - I can't remember anything about the case, save having to fight back the urge to interrupt everyone in court to get them to take a look.


Tim

[Rob Smallwood]

You really need to keep out of trouble - that's far too many court visits for one birder ;)

[kingwolf]

Are there no birds or are there no bird watchers - always puzzled me about Grt. Manchester.

Must also agree with Rob - just cos you live in Manchester doesnt mean you need an ASBO!!

[a.dancy]

I think this what you saw. I took it to Manchester Museum.

[mcapper]

Could it have been a peregrine kill? They often hunt waders at night.

M

[Stand on Zanzibar]

I think this what you saw. I took it to Manchester Museum.

I wondered where it had gone! Here's a photo of my feather. It was loose at the side of the bird. I didn't see any others but I suppose that they could have blown away.

I don't think it was a Peregrine kill, it didn't look to have been 'fed on' and it was right under the glass frontage.

Tim

[Stand on Zanzibar]

You really need to keep out of trouble - that's far too many court visits for one birder ;)

I just keep making that mistake, last time was at the dentist, "Sorry I'm late, I've just got out of court" led to some odd looks!

Tim

[Rob Smallwood]

Mind you - Greater Manchester Courts seem good for birds - I work opposite Stockport Magistrates - and we've had Parakeet, Buzzard and believe it or not dead Woodcock too!

Thriving birding scene in Greater Manchester - check out:

www.manchesterbirding.com

and its own Forum for more details!

[a.dancy]

Could it have been a peregrine kill? They often hunt waders at night.

M


Hi Mike how are you doin'

doubt very much a peregrine kill....there may have been a peregrine chase. The injuries are consistant with having gone into a window. It is the second bird I know of that has gone into the justice building...the other was a woodcock too.

Adrian

It seems we still have the death penalty. If you build glass structures next to rivers you have to expect birds to die as a result.

[Jaff]

Me thinks a bird that was migrating from the continent and was looking for a nice place to call home for the winter but had an abrupt end to its trip.

[Sandra (Taylor)]

What exactly is Greater Manchester, Tim? It's not a county is it? Rochdale is in Lancashire so where on an address does 'Greater Manchester' come? I live in Walsden, just over the border from Lancashire and I'm always curious about GM. (Yes, I do live in Yorkshire, although our postcode is OL - Lancashire)

Sandra

[Rob Smallwood]

If you look at the Greater Manchester site you'll see a map showing all the boundaries.

It is a county for recording purposes, but very few use it in their postal address!

http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/ten-towns.html

Confused before? You will be now! :)

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Thanks Rob. Have put it in my Favourites for a leisurely look when I get home so I'm sure all will be made clear ..... or not!

Sandra

[saluki]

Confused before? You will be now! :)

I live in Lowton - which is now in Cheshire but used to be in Lancashire - but my local council is Wigan Met., which is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester! If I walk fifty yards down the road I'm in Leigh, which is in Greater Manchester but has the postal address of Lancs!!

So - nice and straightforward . . .

Jonathan

[kingwolf]

Sorry Sandra but Rochdale is Greater Manchester and not Lancasire (Now anyway). It was all done in the reorganisation back in the 70's if I remember my local history right.

[Steven Astley]

I live in Bolton where Nat 'The Lion of Vienna' Lofthouse comes from, with that info no need for the Greater Manchester bit.;)

[rezMole]

I live in Bury, Greater Manchester (although the post office insist we put Lancashire on our address!). Of course, I refuse. Being originally from Yorkshire - I could never be a Lancastrian!

[Jaff]

You think you lot have got it bad.
I'm on a Liverpool postcode, a Southport tel. area code and our district is officially South Ribble (used to be West Lancs which it should still be!). True no-man's land. ;)

[Sandra (Taylor)]

You think you lot have got it bad.
I'm on a Liverpool postcode, a Southport tel. area code and our district is officially South Ribble (used to be West Lancs which it should still be!). True no-man's land. ;)

Almost as bad as we are, Jaff. We are physically in West Yorkshire; council is Calderdale; postcode is Oldham (?); postal address has to say Lancashire; and phone code is Rochdale.

Sandra

[rezMole]

This thread seems to have turned into a "what is manchester" thread.

Juat to get in back on track - have a Firecrest in my garden at the moment - a nice garden tick. Benn trying to get a decent picture all day, but this is the best I could do as it has been very illusive.

[desgreene]

This thread seems to have turned into a "what is manchester" thread.

Juat to get in back on track - have a Firecrest in my garden at the moment - a nice garden tick. Benn trying to get a decent picture all day, but this is the best I could do as it has been very illusive.

Nice garden tick. I've been checking out every Goldcrest that turns up but no joy yet.

Des.

[mcapper]

I've had Firecrest round the corner from my house but not in the Garden. They are cracking birds and one of the best garden ticks you can get.

Nice One!

[Rob Smallwood]

Caspian and Iceland Gulls at Audenshawe tonight.

[rezMole]

Here are two more pics of one of the TWO Firecrests currently residing in my garden. Better pics than the last ones - but there's always a better one to be had!

[Rob Smallwood]

Two is just greedy!!

[mcapper]

In that case you have one to spare and can send one my way...!

M

[desgreene]

Here are two more pics of one of the TWO Firecrests currently residing in my garden. Better pics than the last ones - but there's always a better one to be had!

Not as good as your Firecrests, but just had a visit from a male Blackcap.

Frantic feeding and bathing going on this afternoon. Getting themselves fettled for a cold night!

[peter hill]

not sure where to ask this but i am planning a walk around the jumbles res area of bolton and wondered what i might encounter there on the res or in the wooded area:t:

[rezMole]

Just in case anyone is interested, the two firecrest are still in my garden and here's a link to some new pictures etc:

http://www.freewebs.com/rezmole/rezmolesfirecrests.htm

[kingwolf]

Spoke to my mum today and she told me there was a dead snipe at Manchester Picadilly (main entrance (not the taxi rank)) yesterday morning. She believed from the blood on it that it had smashed into the glass frontage there.

I'm supprised to have Snipe so close to the centre of Manchester. Any opinions??

[Rob Smallwood]

They do move around at night and therefore it could happen.

I've twice been "called" to see dead Snipe that had flown in to buildings in town centres - both were Woodcock!

[Jane Turner]

If anyone is interested, I am selling a copy of the Birds of Lancashire here http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1274098#post1274098