Like a carrot dangling from a stick - the elusive greyish Black Redstart in London

[Deb London]

There is a regular report of a Black Redstart singing within a stones throw of somewhere in London that I'm visiting regularly at the moment.

It's just too much for me to bear. All I have is a postcode. And a little hint from a WABBER.

What are my chances of finding it by walking the streets? LOL

(If you know where it is, please don't post here. Please do however feel free to PM me. People here know that I am not dodgy in that way).

[Za]

I saw a programme a while back that showed gardens on the roofs of office buildings which are attracting black redstarts in and around the City.
You might need to get up on the roofs to find them

Za

[Deb London]

Yeah, I'm willing.

[Jonathan]

If I were you Debs I'd spend some time on xeno-canto learning their song, contact & alarm calls. Then I'd get to the area early (latest 5.00am!) before the noise of the city really gets going and have a wander around, try and choose a windless morning so the sound carries. If you know the postcode then presumably you can pin it down to a fairly small area.

Good luck!
Jonathan

[Deb London]

Wow, that early. Thanks Jonathan.

[nikolai_avenger]

The wife works for..shall we say..a very well known global accountancy firm. She was telling me only the other day that one of their London offices is a 5 storey high building, with a rooftop wildlife garden whereupon, apparently, can be found the aforementioned black redstart, amongst other stuff.

Not sure if it's open to Joe Public or not but I can certainly find out.

Cheers. Nik.

[Deb London]

Thanks Nik!

[captaincarot]

the manchester ones sing from about 8pm at the moment too

[Deb London]

That's a less ungodly hour. Thanks CC.

[actionfinch]

please let us know how u get on... i see my first pair last weekend ,and what an esquisite site it was.
and the redstarts on springwatch are just great as well