black stalk manchester??

[nevetsnosnas]

i work in the city center of manchester and have spotted four birds that are always together on a very high lampost on the ring road of manchester. They fly from one high structure to another. The bird is black but is very big and could be mistaken for a heron but only for it's colour and it looks slightly smaller. It has a long wingspan and long neck which streches out as it flys. I managed to get a closer look and it has a white under carrage. I checked the internet and it is almost identical to the pictures i have seen of a black stolk. I don't know much about birds but these have took my interest. Please can someone help identify them??

[spudo]

it could be a cormorant ...but its not likely to be a cormorant if there is no big lakes near by, but thats what it sounds like as some cormorants have a white under throat.

[Ethel]

Almost definitely a cormornant

http://www.ypte.org.uk/animal/cormorant/65

[happyjo]

Perhaps it lives near the quays in Salford?? plenty of water there.

[spudqueen]

I think that the young comorant has a white underbelly. There is plenty of water around Manchester, ponds, lakes, canals, rivers etc.

[Eve]

Ooh I'll have to look round for them.

There are lots of birds here which isn't too far away...

http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/121/martin_mere.h tml

Haven't seen or heard the kestrels for a while so maybe they have moved on.

I have pidgeons nesting in the wall behind me at work though cooing all the time and sounds like they have chicks. The management are coming to move them soon though :(

[Eve]

Ahhh, seems like there were loads a few years back round this way...

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/ 172/172087_death_sentence_on_3000_cormorants.h tml

doesn't look like it ended very happily for them though :(

[nevetsnosnas]

excellent!! it is deffinatley the bird you have all mentioned. Where i see the bird is Castle Key which is based close to the river and the othe little stream that run of it. I managed to get a closer look today and it is deffinatley the one that you can see on the links you have posted. Thanks all!

[nevetsnosnas]

jenna they are usually around the peugeot dealership near the grovesnor casino on Regent Road. I your around that area look up on the high lamposts around the carridgeway that have 5 to 6 lights on and they you will see 4 or 5 of these birds.

[Eve]

Ahhh I know where you mean :) Came back that way from Streford the other day.

We tend to go up there to get to the 602 to Eccles Morrisons on a sunday so will keep my eyes peeled :)