My son, who lives in Brynmill, Swansea, phoned last week to say there was a 'green parrot' sitting on a branch of a tree in his next door neighbour's garden. I suggested it might be a ring necked parakeet, which I have often seen in the South of England (Kent, Sussex) but never in Wales. He looked at pictures on the RSPB website and confirmed this was the bird he saw. A few days later, his flatmate also saw it (or another one) in the same area. According to the RSPB website it is reasonably common in the South of England. My (and my son's) question - could this have been a wild bird, migrated from England? Are they spreading across the UK? Or was this an escapee from an aviary or private home? I've asked several friends who live in Swansea, and none of them have seen one.
Adar am byth!
Hi twm pib
They do seem to be spreading. Another forum member reported seeing a small colony in Blackpool. You might like to take a look at the thread concerned which gives quite a lot of background.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/forums/t/30564.aspx?PageIndex=1
Regards TJ
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Tony
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Living and working around that area I have never seen one to date , so would say its most likely an escapee.
However as previously stated they are on the move, so could be a few pioneers......
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Unknown said: Hi twm pib They do seem to be spreading. Another forum member reported seeing a small colony in Blackpool. You might like to take a look at the thread concerned which gives quite a lot of background. http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/forums/t/30564.aspx?PageIndex=1 Regards TJ
Thanks for that, TeeJay. I guess if they can reach Blackpool then we COULD have something in Swansea... I guess we'd need to see more than one - our two sightings were probably the same individual. My son and his friends are keeping a look out for them.
mpiekp said: Hi twm pib Living and working around that area I have never seen one to date , so would say its most likely an escapee. However as previously stated they are on the move, so could be a few pioneers......
Thanks, Mpiekp. I wonder if there are any aviariees nearby? Ccan't find any info about any (Brynmill Park aviary closed 10 years ago, andI don't think there'st one in Singleton Park/Botanic Garden), but of course could be private collection...
We have just been remembering when we saw our first RN parakeet. It was in Windsor Park and our daughter was still a baby in the pram. The parakeets were well established then and our daughter is now 30, so I am not surprised that they are now so widely established around the country.
Hi Twm pib
Welcome to the RSPB Community from me. :-)
It does seem like ring necked parakeets are spreading. They are fairly common in London now.
Best wishes Chris
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