Hi. They used to roost in the 2 Plane trees in front of the Sale town hall until the trees were lopped about 3 yrs ago. I believe they now roost in the trees at the side of Sainsbury's car park on Cross Road but I've not had chance this year to go and look.
-- Edited by Mark Whalley on Thursday 29th of November 2012 12:58:27 PM
I was Christmas shopping in St Anne's Square at about 6pm on 23rd November, and heard, then saw approximately 50 Wagtails in the trees, above the temporary shops. Amazing! I had no spectacles or binoculars on me at the time, so I could not tell if they were Pieds or Greys. I will return soon, with my bins! If anybody asks me what I am doing, I will explain to them!
-- Edited by PaulS on Saturday 24th of November 2012 10:03:13 PM
At least 10 birds calling as they prepared to roost in the trees in St Anns Sq at around 5pm. Seemingly not bothered at all by the sights, sounds and smells of the German Christmas Market.
15+ flew SE over Bickershaw Rucks at 6.15 pm , not sure if they were heading for a roost site or just a bit of migration going on, more likely the latter option I think
Hi Joe, I've seen numerous pied wags in the 'square' during evenings (though not recently). It's part of Sale Shopping Centre.
They've been around in the summer as well (possibly same birds that are roosting near sale town hall, as it's only a stone's throw away.
I've only seen groups of 10-15 though...
That's the roost i've always watched for them, that's why another so close surprised me. Perhaps it was a pre-roost gathering and they'll end up at the squarewill have another look this evening perhaps!
Has anyone else noticed a large(ish) c.30 bird roost at sale town hall? Cycling past this evening and saw them circling around, never noticed them here before so will start watching for them!
It appears there is a sizeable roost on or very near Asda at Eastlands as I saw over 50 birds flying in that direction in 2-3 minutes this evening. Also at least 1 Grey Wagtail appeared to be roosting with these birds.
Out today there were 15-20 wagtails in Sale town centre. Is this a roost site? I know you sometimes get them out near sainsbury's, but never seen them here before. Cheers, Joe
Anyone ever checked Marple High School? I was there at 4pm and there were 16 on the roof of the 'top' building, heading into and out of nearby trees. Had to shoot , but numbers may increase nearer dusk?
around 400 in wigan town centre last night.difficult to count as the birds were constantly flying from tree to tree because a wagon was unloading underneath them
Altrincham, George Richards Way on the car park beteween Toys R Us and Home Base quite a roost of Pied Wagtails was building up on Thursday evening. This despite the number of people and vehicles using the area.
again this aft/eve similar amount 80+ pied wagtails in st anns square. also a nice easy count off 21 in st peters square next to dutch pancake house. ian, i went to have a look outside the kro bar on portland street and there was 100+ in the first 3 trees,thanks for posting that
I had forgotten (neglected) to post this previously, but for the past two weeks a small roost, maximum of around 80 and a minimum of 30 or so, has been in the small pavement trees outside Kro bar on Portland Street by Piccadilly Gardens.
Wigan Town Centre By the time i got there tonight they had all settled down and with leaves still on the trees and security about a bit hard to count as they are now on 3 Trees but i got to 152 before the light went also been told that at Mabs Cross School there is a pre roost gathering on the playground of 50+
Sale town centre - over 50 pied wagtails in pre roost assembly on roof of Sainsburys at about 16:20, then at about 16:35 at least 100 flew over car park to small trees near junction of Cross Street and Asfield Road (traffic lights).
over 50 today at aout 4.40pm.......in fact well over 50 ...at st annes square of course.........felt like we were going to be beseiged..they appeared to e coming from all over
how sad a world it is that it appeared to be just me that noticed them...and was looking up at them....
I watched the pied wagtail roost last night. It is impossible to say how many but I am sure that there were several hundred, they were quite loud and the sight of them coming in was magical. I visited again at the break of dawn this morning and most of them that I saw headed past the Springfield courts.
after watching the roost last friday i thought i would spend more time trying to work out how many there is in the roost this evening,its was not easy but without exaggerating to much i would guess that there was around 3-400 in st anns square. from 5.45 til 6.35pm they were dropping in constantly & very noisy up til 6.45pm then all was quiet,have to wait til the leaves have dropped to get accurate counts
watching the pied wagtails between 6-6.45pm in st anns square, hard to get accurate count due to leaves on trees but there must off been at least 200+ and still building up when i left.
st anns square, pied wagtails gathering for roost at least 70 but still lots on the roof tops off near buildings and still gathering when i left at 8.00pm.
Biggest count I have had this season was 350 when they occupied two trees outside the old Pancake House. It would seem they have taken a big hit with this cruel winter.
There have been between 100-200 in a pre-roost in St Peter's Square for the last couple of months, normally resting up on the building above the old Dutch Pancake House or on Peter House. Plenty of droppings under the trees surrounding the tram stop too, so they are staying for long periods in the Square at times.
However, main reason for the thread was that a lovely male Sparrowhawk bumped through them this evening, then perched up on the building opposite my office window, cracking views of a lovely bird who has a lot of food available!?