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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> WIGAN TOWN CENTRE (and environs)
Post Info TOPIC: WIGAN TOWN CENTRE (and environs)
Jimmy Meadows


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RE: WIGAN TOWN CENTRE (and environs)
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River Douglas nr Tesco
2 Grey Wagtails
6 Mallards (family)
Pr Moorhen with young

Cheers Jimmy

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fred fouracre


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5 ravens on top of the dw stadium today.i presume these are the town hall birds.they were preening and doing some wierd hopping up and down.then 3 took off and i didnt see them again.the groundsman at the arena next door told me they have called every day recently.he reckons they dont stay long but when the rugby have played they stay longer eating the leftovers though with the average warriors fan weighing 44stone they probably dont get much.

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Rob Thorpe


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Wednesday 26 May 2010

Mesnes Park, early afternoon:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Goldcrest

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Paul Risley


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Thanks for the update Geoff, hadnt seen all three since they left, had 2 on chimney t'other day an seen adults about around Scholes flats so nice to know they're ok
smile.gif

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Geoff Hargreaves


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The three ravenet's were still at the site this evening 20.30 on the opposite side of the nest no sign of the adults.1 blackbird and 1 pied wagtail both in full song around the site.

cheers geoff biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

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Jimmy Meadows


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No show with the Ravens this morning but with it raining the young could have been in the nest keeping there heads downno.gif

This Afternoon
3:00 Adult Raven seen on Mast biggrin.gif

Cheers Jimmy

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fred fouracre


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swifts arrived back on my house today.oh what joy.

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Geoff Hargreaves


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Both adult ravens knocking around,all three kids back in the nest and sleeping when i arrived,strikes me that bringing up ravens is quite a relaxed affair.biggrin.gif

cheers geoffbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

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Jimmy Meadows


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This Morning
Ravens were on walkabout 2 had left the nest leavingsmile.gif just 1 doing plenty of wing flapping on in the nest then it got the courage up to go to the others.biggrin.gif
Looks as if they will try to fly next couple of days just hope they get it right when they do as there is a lot of concrete and traffic about if they get it wrong .

Cheers Jimmy

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Paul Risley


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went for a quick 10 mins at lunch yesterday to look at the Ravens but still could only see 2 chicks, back again today and finally got to see the third one biggrin.gif they're getting fairly big now so shouldnt be long before they fledge smile.gif hopefully they'll keep away from the nearby roads... was surprised this evening to see at least 15 Greenfinches still using the roost at the Oak Hotel confuse.gif

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Geoff Hargreaves


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And indeed yes,a lunchtime visit to see the ravens turned up a 3rd chickbiggrin.gif in the nest,lots of wing flapping and some sleeping,both adults around, snap shots to ian.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

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Geoff Hargreaves


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Paul,thats great news,I had word from an untrained observerwink.gif of two chicks seen yesterday,They seem much more advanced than I thought they would be,maybe we are due more surprises.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

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Paul Risley


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20 mins at lunch time today were rewarded with seeing 2 young Ravens on nest. one doing wing flapping exercises on side of nest, both adults were also feeding them... biggrin.gif

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Geoff Hargreaves


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A quick look at dinner time both adults ravens around and 1 chick making it,s debut appearance,just a head poking out from the nest 'gasping' in the mid day sun,there might be morehmm.gif but one,s a good resultbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

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Geoff Hargreaves


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Another pleasant hour watching the ravensbiggrin.gif,both birds perched and flying around the area,mostly chasing off seagulls.I can,t make out what is happening at the nest,I think the female is still sittingconfuse.gifbiggrin.gif
cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

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Geoff Hargreaves


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Spent a hour watching the ravens at dinner walking up and down the area,both adults around and using the mast as a meeting point,I saw one food pass from presumed male to female then into the nest.A word of caution i,m pretty sure they 'clock' everyone watching them and then watch the watchers which might affect the result,so if you go for a look I think it,s best to walk, look and move on.Or you can don a cherry and white put a pie in your hand and blend into the background.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Saturday 3rd of April 2010 05:08:51 PM

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David Duncan


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I'm hoping to see some chicks soon, but that nest is huge and looks pretty deep.

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Paul Risley


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Cheers David, I just checked incubation period for Ravens and it says 18 - 20 days. I had assumed such a large bird would be at least 30+ days so hadnt even bothered to check them properly
ashamed.gif
they take a long time to fledge though 35-42 days yawn.gif would be nice to know how many young are in the nest
had some nice views of one of the adults a couple of times in trees near John Bull pub and there's got to be a slim chance of seeing one on top of Raven Pub biggrin.gif

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David Duncan


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The Ravens have been feeding now for two weeks, or at least the female has. The male just seems to bring food for the female and watch.

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Paul Risley


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Watched Ravens feeding young this evening, didnt have binocs with me so couldnt see any beaks but defo feeding biggrin.gif

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Jimmy Meadows


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Both Ravens at nest this morning then male i think flew off leaving the other one on nest then the one returned but didnt look like it brought any food back

Cheers Jimmy

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Paul Risley


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Both Ravens perched on side of nest when I drove past this evening, cant be much longer till they hatch can it? smile.gif

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Rob Thorpe


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Sunday 14 March 2010

A Raven was mooching around Tesco car park early afternoon.

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Judith Smith


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Hopefully you can tell us when they hatch?

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Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Adam Dyson


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excellent views of one of the ravens from wigan college. my room is on the top floor and one was being mobbed by crows before gliding just over the roof of my room biggrin.gif

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Jimmy Meadows


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One Raven seen at DW Stadium where it picked up a a piece of pie left from last nights match probably and flew off to the Town Centre
Pie Eaters get every where

Cheers Jimmy


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Geoff Hargreaves


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The ravens were both present 12.30 1.30 giving great views and calling often from various perching points.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

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Jimmy Meadows


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Grey Wagtail on Douglas at Central Park Way
and a pr Grey Wagtail back on territory further up river

Raven looked to be on nest but no other sightings of its mate in the area


Buzzard soaring over Wigan Lane

Cheers Jimmy

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dave broome


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As the John Bull Curlew looked moth-eaten when I first went in there 23 years ago I doubt there's much meat left for the Crows

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 6th of March 2010 08:31:13 AM

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Jimmy Meadows


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20+ Carrion Crows in trees on Coopers Row nr John Bull 08:30:confuse:

(thought at first they might have been waiting for Curlew from John Bull )

Pr Sparrowhawks Displaying over Mesnes field 10:45

Cheers Jimmy



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dave broome


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A Raven was being mobbed by a Carrion Crow over Mesnes Park/Mesnes Road at 17:15 tonight

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Jimmy Meadows


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Raven on nest mid morning with male flying over nr the Railway cronking as he went

Cheers Jimmy

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Paul Risley


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female Harris Hawk flying down Wigan Lane, landed on Bowling green pub and stayed long enough for me to park up and get a couple of pics before flying off towards copull lane.
Raven over standishgate
40+ Greenfinches coming in to roost in evergreen bushes at the side of the Wigan Oak hotel biggrin.gif
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Sunday 28th of February 2010 07:22:13 PM

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Ian Woosey


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Bit of a round-up, locally:

1 Grey Wagtail frequenting my back yard lately (in Whelley)
Also in Whelley, 1 Tawny Owl calling from the roof of St Stephens church @ 22:00 on Friday night (26th). Info from me mother, who`s house backs onto the church-yard, and who went out to investigate (it was spooking the dog !).

The Ravens still being seen at the eyrie from several drive-bys over the weekend...

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Judith Smith


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Both birds were present at noon. The (presumed) female was spending a lot of time in the nest and hardly visible, male visiting occasionally. I suspect she may be laying now.

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fred fouracre


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went to look at the ravens today around 1.30.only one bird present and all i could see was the tail sticking out of the nest.i stayed about 20 mins and never saw the other bird.the one on the nest never moved or changed position so maybe eggs have been laid.

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Ian Woosey


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21/2/10

With Mr Meadows & Mr Hargreaves:

Both Ravens present at 12:10 for ten miutes or so then departed, returning at 12:45 (from a south-westerly direction), one bringing in wool. They both hung around till 13:30 perched on a nearby aerial occupying themselves by a spot of mutual preening......

Also seen overhead:

1 Goosander (fem)
1 Sparrowhawk
7 Skylark
8 Fieldfare
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Cormorant

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Paul Risley


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early morning both birds chased an intruding Raven out of area, cracking aerial pursuit between flats at bottom of scholes. Female Sparrowhawk then had all the pigeons and Starlings up. afternoon nice meeting up with Geoff and and a decent oppertunity to get some pics biggrin.gif

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Jimmy Meadows


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Called early this morning before trip to North Wales with RSPB Group
Sadly no show of the birds disbelief.gifbut nest is coming on nicely will call back tomorrow to see how things are goingsmile.gif


Cheers Jimmy

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Geoff Hargreaves


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urged on by some sunlight i hot footed it to have a look at our latest stars,after a half hour wait myself and Mr.Risley were rewarded with both birds arriving at 14.55 one setteling on the nest and the other posing on a nearby mast both birds departed at 15.10.What a treat biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif
also plucked out 2 mallard(over) 1 pied wag 4 crows and quite a few pigeons
cheers geoff biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

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Ian Woosey


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20/2/10

A trip to the opticians late this morning was made bearable (nearly) by the prospect of catching a glimpse of the Ravens; They did not dissapoint, as I watched both arrive at the nest at 12:15, one bringing in what could have been wool (I was obviously binocular-less). The size of the nest really surprised me, as did the actual location on the chimney...... Later on (13:30) one was perched on a telephone mast nearby, "cronking" away, watching the shoppers go past below smile.gif

I think a good place to set `scopes up and watch from (probably best on a Sunday morning) would be from the car-park next to Franco`s Italian restaurant, at the bottom of Library Street.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:29:06 PM

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fred fouracre


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jimmy.......i dont think they are the dw birds.i was watching them today and saw both without an injured leg.when i got there one was on the nest the other on top of the chimney.the one on the nest was very active so i think the nest is still under construction.then they both flew off.they were gone about ten minutes then returned together.the female got on the nest and the male got on the female.naughty boy!!! so this nest looks a definite goer.

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Paul Risley


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was up at the undisclosed nest site last night after work and have checked the area several times recently, unfortunately no signs of any nesting attempt there and havent seen a pair in close proximitry to last years nestsite since last year.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 09:13:10 AM

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Jimmy Meadows


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No sign yet of Ravens nest building at the DW they keep calling in but dont stop long but one of last year's birds had a injured leg

Cheers Jimmy

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 09:14:44 AM

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Judith Smith


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I've asked Dave Broome, who works for Wigan MBC, to get in touch with whoever is i/c of the building to make sure they aren't disturbed (as crows or magpies could be, legally, at this stage) - Ravens are fully protected.

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Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Ian McKerchar


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Obviously it goes without saying that the chimney pair have rightly been considered suitable for public release but the same cannot be said for every pair.

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Geoff Hargreaves


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Judith et al,I,m going to have a look on sunday morning (pictures weather dependant) I,ll keep a log of any ravens I see with times and locations for comparisons.If anyone else is having a look it,s worth noting that the first nesting attempt at the DW stadia (latics footie ground to the layman) was easily viewable from outside the groundwink.gif .

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:23:49 PM

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Ian Woosey


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I think there are three pairs currently building nests (or at least prospecting) round Wigan town centre. I saw four over Abram on Saturday while Dave Broome was watching one in Haigh CP...

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:22:49 PM

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Judith Smith


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How many pairs have we got here, folks? Seems like a bit of simultaneous watching is called for.

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Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Paul Risley


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both Ravens carrying fine material and lining nest, lunchtime today biggrin.gif

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of February 2010 04:32:06 PM

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