It's a bit of a late posting now, but a bird was vying for position with 4 Goldfinch at 2.30pm on Monday, in Albert Square, at the highest point of the building which houses the Slug and Lettuce (other wildlife, I know!), opposite the Town Hall.

Does someone submit City Centre records - I very rarely visit?

Singing once again this morning behind Mr Thomas's Chop House next to GAP.
Nice way to start the day.

Watching a Black Redstart currently singing on top of high building behind Thomas's Chop House near St.Annes Square.
(Watching it from right outside Rapha Cycle Store)

2.40pm today

Black Redstart was singing from the highest point of the Old Exchange building round the back of St.Ann's Square.
It's the building that adjoins Rapha Cycle Shop and goes over St.Ann's Passage.
It was just a silhouette against the bright sun before flying off!

---

Hi Steve,

Black Redstart was reported on RBA at c11.00. Singing on Chepstow Street behind Lee House and Rain Bar.

Cheers John

---

Which they got from this forum John; see Rob Creek's most recent post a few down this thread

---

Oops! Sorry folks, I should read the forum more thoroughly

Cheers John

I was looking in this area at 1.00 p.m. today and saw(or heard) no sign of any Black Redstart.
Cheers Ian

steven burke wrote:

---

No sight or sound of any black redstarts between 8.15-10.30am this morning in any of the recent areas mentioned & a few other known areas.

---

Hi Steve,

Black Redstart was reported on RBA at c11.00. Singing on Chepstow Street behind Lee House and Rain Bar.

Cheers John

I've been on Chepstow St. 3 times today due to timed deliveries. A Black Redstart was heard once but only faintly around 11am and seemed to be coming from the rear of (and between) Lee House and Rain Bar.
Lee House does have an open courtyard in the middle of the offices so the song could've echoed from around that area.

...and just to add there were 2 or 3 Dunnocks in the same area and all singing too, so these will probably be heard more readily than the Black Redstart.
Cheers, Rob

Tried to post yesterday but had problem with emails, data, etc
Since Phil's post from Sunday 19th April I've took a few tacho breaks on Ducie St. without success for a Black Redstart.
I was telling Steve Burke and Simon Gough this Sunday that I would keep trying this week.
Then yesterday approx 3pm a Black Redstart was singing near Ducie House. I tried to locate the bird but it just didn't want to be found.

There were other birds seen and heard singing in same area including...
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Blackbird
and Blue Tit

Surprised to hear a Black Redstart singing on a building opposite Ducie House, Ducie Street. It flew across to Ducie House and another none-singing bird flew the opposite way. Didn't have any binoculars, so not sure if they were a pair or 2 males.

Heard presumably this bird around 15 minutes before this. Also, f. Peregrine on the tower with kill before heading back up the river. thankfully looked like a pigeon.

Black Redstart (male in breeding plumage) seen today on Manchester Cathedral. Only distant views since it spent all the time on the tower roof. It sang frequently from early morning to noon but did not sing a full song. It made a few feeble noises in the afternoon and was last seen at about 5.00pm.


-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Wednesday 14th of May 2014 08:41:19 PM

Male Black Redstart just seen briefly from my office window (Town Hall).

I have now down loaded my images and sent them to Ian, so the age of the bird I saw will be his call.

I would , if I may, make one request. It will not be the first time that it has been speculated how many Black Redstarts we may have in the city centre at any one time. A few years ago we had a breeding pair and I watched a second year (+) male bird see off a first summer male( the latter having similar plumage detail to a female Black Redstart). In order that we can best nail what birds we have it would be very helpful if possible for a description and an exact time and location of sighting to be cited and for it to be called in as quickly as possible. As some of you know I am a bit nuts with this species. It is one of the rarest breeding birds in England and is a Schedule 1 species and my only interest is that our birds get monitored so that they can be afforded maximum protection especially if they are nesting. Of course it will not always be possible to offer a description if the bird is only heard and not seen (or partially seen ) but giving a time and location may help.

Many thanks

AD

I got into the city at the break of dawn and did all the black redstart haunts then did them again. I finally got to the Cathedral having got myself a well earned cappuchino and enjoyed the noise from the nearby water pump (not) and the twittering of Goldfinches (yes) then at 9.45am heard the sound of a Black Redstart coming from on high (pun intended). I could not see it and its song was intermittent and seemingly lacking one or two notes but I was still 100% sure it was made by a Black Redstart (I sent Ian a text to report find). I suggested to the guy running the pump that he turn it off for a moment and he said it will be turned off permanently in a couple of minutes. True to his word the pump was turned off...but alas silence from on high. I checked out the north side of the cathedral but the machines were very noisy...so I went to the back of the cathedral and eventually heard the stunted song briefly again. My bins finally rewarded me with a nano second glimpse as the elusive bird dropped from one of the highest cathedral uprights so I could not make out detail. Things went a bit quiet for a while then I heard the bird again then later on the Corn Exchange roof and so I went round the building several times and eventualy found the bird singing at a high level. From the angle I was at I could only get the bird's head and a fraction of the upper breast through bins but what I got looked distinctly pale suggesting that the bird was a first Summer male. It flew over to theArndale Centre at 11.25am I took photos and checked histogram for exposure which was spot on...then sent Ian another text indicating that it looked like a first Summer male. I later heard the bird around Harvey Nichols but since I had other things on my agenda I gave up looking. I later met Steve who went to check King Street for the bird later in the afternoon. I have not downloaded my pics yet and when I do I will let Ian decide on the year of the bird (if that be possible) I await being torn down a a peg or two<img src="www.sparkimg.com/emoticons/no.gif" border="0" alt="no" title="no" />

Forgive spelling and other errors I'm bushed it has been a long day and spellcheck does not work.

First summer male seen and heard on the Cathedral and later on the Arndale early afternoon today.

Info thanks to Adrian Dancy

Typically for young males (the bird, not Adrian!), it is covering a fair old area in its quest to attract a mate (presuming it hasn't already!); something similarly aged birds have done previously at other city centre locations.

A Black Redstart was singing from the roof of 123 Deansgate, mid-morning. Heard it, but couldn't see it.

I had a brilliant day on the Manchester Peregrine Project today as we were joined by a male singing Black Red. It turned up on top of the Corn Exchange building around 12ish and then I spotted two over the top of Harvey Nicks half an hour later, when I then followed of on to the Royal Exchange Theater building were I got a very poor record pic.

On my lunch I looked around for it again and walked over to the Town Hall and Victoria Station but I didn't hear or see one again.

http://austinmorley.blogspot.co.uk/

no signs of any black redstarts around canal street area and other known sites between 8.10- 10.30am. just like Adrian mentions there was a very vocal grey wagtail in the canal street area on several occasions.

It seems Canal St is the place for the Black Redstarts. Seen and heard whilst walking down to the start of the Bupa Mcr 10k today. Heard on the way back on the Law Courts Building.

Mark Rigby wrote:

---

Another fruitless search for the Black Redstart with Miss Foulkes.
It was a bit unnerving when a drunk hobo started waving at us, so we beat a hasty retreat. Sorry Adrian-nice to meet you again.

---

Good to see you too....I do like to blend in

I will be in Manchester soon for another search.

I've also drawn a blank over the last two days, both in the mornings and at lunchtimes. No sign in the Dale Street area nor by the town hall where it frequented last year.
The search goes on.

I had a look in Manchester last Friday and got nothing. Went to Derbyshire Saturday. Spent several hours at the location yesterday. Arrived on location at about 12.15pm today and on all occasions got zilch. I asked a local car park attendant to keep an eye out. I hope my luck changes soon. The wren was lively and there are several recently fledged magpies.

Black Redstart heard only in the Dale Street/Little Lever Street area at 11.15am today.

Info thanks to Mike Chorley