The DW Manxie was released successfully last night at 9pm at Southport beach after a long walk to the sea (typically) and in a howling gale. It weighed around 446 grams which is typical for a fledging weight. The bird was a juvenile bird, aged by the pattern on the longest axilleries.
It was actually released along with a second bird which had been picked up at Aughton near Ormskirk, Lancs and that individual weighed 3 grams more!
A Manx Shearwater was picked up exhausted at the DW Stadium, Wigan this morning. The bird is being cared for and depending on it's condition will be released at Southport this evening. Unfortunately the bird will NOT be available for any viewings.
Raven flying over the Wigan Pier/Wallgate area late afternoon Common Tern fishing on the canal at Wigan Pier - bet George Orwell never saw one of those
Not sure if this is in correct section but got nice views of a pair of yellowhammers on the fence posts at the side of the M6 sliproad j25 North just before A49 roundabout. Even though i thought they were yellow wagtails at first glance. thanx to paul risley for id.! ahem.
Pied Wagtail feeding 2 Fledged young on River Dougy near Tesco Mallard with 12 young in area, also singles of Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Jackdaw, Magpie and Wren
Juvenile Linnet just fledged nest in bushes surrounding car park in Wallgate, heart in mouth as it flew low over busy main road not time to check for others, seemed to.be making towards Railway embankments
Whitethroat very vocal this morning york st./ gt. george st. wallgate along railway embankment behind work. also had linnets, willow warbler and chiffchaff in last two weeks in same area. not bad for town centre. magpie attempting to build nest above entrance to galleries. watch out for falling twigs. ! thanx to paul risley for that info.
I spent a good 10 minutes watching an aereal ballet unfold at 4.15 this afternoon over Wigan Tech.
Two Carrion Crows and a Raven in combat.The Raven gave as good as it got chasing each of the Crows in turn as they alternately dive bombed it.
A site more akin to the Welsh Hills than a grimy Northern Town and 40 years ago if someone had told me I would witness it in the skies over Wigan I would have laughed at them.
They eventually went their separate ways.The Crows heading for Mesnes Park, the Raven back towards the town centre and me to Morrisons.
Was at the Ravens nest site yesterday and watched one of the birds feeding young earlier in the morning one flew over Wallgate being persued by 4 Carrion Crows
2 Oystercatcher over the canal at Walmsleys Lake (near DW stadium). Drake Tufted Duck and a Great Crested Grebe on the Lake. Drake Goosander on the River Douglas.
Amazing sight of eight Buzzards circling and calling over Gidlow Lane at 11 05 this morning, about half an hour after we had seen five doing exactly the same thing over the canal at Haigh. Only about two miles apart, as the Buzzard flies, so there may have been some duplication but these numbers, in a built-up area, are still impressive.
Seen yesterday tues pr Ravens nest building in Wigan Town Centre thought i had seen seen the nest on sunday but couldnt stop to look but was confirmed yesterday