Mystery pink pigeon spotted on rooftops in Breightmet

6:39pm Friday 20th June 2014 in NewsBy Jeremy Culley, reporter

A MYSTERY pink pigeon has been spied in Breightmet.

The bird, which has pink and white plumage, but still has a normal grey head, was spied on a rooftop in Breightmet earlier this morning.

There is a breed of bird called a pink pigeon — called nesoenas mayeri which are native to Mauritius — but these are very rare and normally such a paler shade of pink they are almost white.

David Taylor managed to photograph the unusual bird in Tetbury Drive at about 8am on June 20 and said: "I was having breakfast this morning and saw this red and white pigeon on top of a neighbour's roof.

"When I went out it was gone but then 15 minutes later I spotted it on a neighbour's roof.

"I don't know why it's that colour, I thought someone had painted it.

Jackie Fish, who also from Tetbury Drive, thought someone had spray painted the bird in the colours of the St George flag.

Continued

Amazing owl finally returns home after it was missing for more than a week

11:00am Tuesday 10th June 2014 in NewsBy Liam Thorp, Reporter

A BARN owl that “flew the nest” has been returned home — after it spent days fending for itself around Bolton.

Bird lover Andrew Ridyard, aged 28, was flying his feathery female friend in his garden in Moorside Avenue, Farnworth, on May 21 when it was spooked by a loud noise and flew off.

Andrew Ridyard with his pet owl

After The Bolton News appealed to the public to look out for the owl, several residents called to say they had spotted her at locations across the borough.

Mr Ridyard initially remained upbeat about his chances of finding the bird.

But after a week passed without her returning home he admitted that time was running out and that he was concerned she would starve or be attacked by larger predators.

But thanks to a group of helpful Bolton residents, the owl has now been returned to Mr Ridyard.

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Parrot on the loose in Egerton

5:01pm Wednesday 30th April 2014 in News

A parrot has been spotted in a garden in Egerton.

The bird was seen by Yvonne Sutcliffe in the back garden of her house in Water Street.

She said: “I am used to seeing lots of birds coming to eat from the feeder in my garden, but I have never seen a parrot before, it flew off after I spotted it.”

She described the bird as having a deep red coloured upper body and a turquoise blue lower section.

She added: “I think it is a shame if someone has lost it.”

If anyone has any information about a missing bird please contact The Bolton News on 01204 537243.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/11183375.Parrot_on_the_loose_in_Egerton/

BIRD RESCUE: Sparrowhawk trapped inside Bolton furniture factory

6:00am Thursday 13th March 2014 in News

Exclusive By Neil Robertson, reporter

A BOLTON factory has attracted an employee with a difference — a female sparrowhawk.

The bird flew into the premises of Heightvale Ltd on Monday morning as it chased a pigeon in through a goods delivery door.

The pigeon evaded its talons and the falcon could not find its way out again.

Staff at the factory on the Spa Road Industrial Estate, near the town centre, have been trying to free the bird by offering it chunks of meat, but have so far been unsuccessful.

Yesterday, experts from North Wales Bird Trust’s Lancashire hub in Rossendale visited the factory to try to free it.

Business development manager James White, from the building contractor firm, said: “We’re trying to get the bird out, but we don’t want it to get frightened or agitated.

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Twitchers flock to Bolton as four rare glossy ibis spotted near Bob's Smithy Inn

WHEN it comes to famous visitors to Bolton — few could have attracted quite as much interest as the four who descended on the town over the weekend.

Long lens cameras and binoculars were out in force in an attempt to get a close-up view of four feathered friends — but these are not of the common-or-garden variety.

The rare glossy ibis birds have made a temporary home in a farmer’s field just behind the Bob’s Smithy Inn much to the delight of local twitchers and those from further afield.

Upon hearing the news — announced on the internet — the birds had landed hundreds of birders have been seen around the spot over the weekend as they attempted to catch a glimpse of the bird or, if they are lucky, get a much-prized photograph.

Bernard Hooley is one such bird enthusiast who dragged wife, Irene, along from their Kearsley home.

Apparently either used to human attention — or perhaps unfamiliar with other species — the birds appear completely at ease with all the attention and Bernard, along with his fellow watchers, has managed to get within six feet of them.

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