Parakeets in the NW

[HildegardNightingale]

Just spotted a Parakeet on my dog walk in NW England. It’s freezing!

I get them on my bird feeder in Herts as well.

I take your parakeet and raise you macaws in Cumbria! Kirkby Stephen has its own local macaws like a little taste of the Amazon. Originally established last century by local wealthy eccentric nature lover they have been there since. Don't spread however as surrounded by forbidding fells they can't expand their territory, so it's like those high mountain baskets that end up with unique wildlife populations in self contained limited areas. There are videos on YouTube. The locals have mixed feelings I believe. Fruit trees, noise, damage.

12 in my garden yesterday, they're a real nuisance down here in the South East.

We have them in Reddish Vale in the NW.

I’m also in west London so a long way away but there’s been LOADS more this year so that would tie in with them moving further north as the populations are growing so much.

Loads in my garden all the time! South Manchester, have been for years. Apparently they're a pest though and a threat to native species..

I'm in Greater Manchester and we've loads, they always make me smile.

There is quite a lot in areas near heathrow and has been for years
I heard a shipment years ago they escaped but don't know if that is true but have seen the parakeets and they have grown in population over the years

We have a massive flock near us in SE. They are just moving North as the flocks grow too big to stay together. I have counted up to 15 on our apple tree at one go. They are very cheeky and hard wearing. And they do a brilliant impression of our postman's creaky-wheeled trolley.

Macaws! That's a bit more like it. Swap you 1000 parakeets for a dozen macaws.

@longwayoff

Macaws! That's a bit more like it. Swap you 1000 parakeets for a dozen macaws.

They are stunning! I thought I was going slightly mad as I went past the livestock market where sturdy farmers were bidding for cattle and I could hear parrots. 😆😆 Then I saw them, a stunning pair. Just as I was about to consider how to reunite these lost pets with their owner I was told they were wild.

We're overwhelmed by them here in SE London, they're screechy loud, a pain in the area and force out the native birds.

Local legend suggests that Jimi Hendrix released a pair or that they escaped from a film set.

They're remarkable, @RealisticSketch, thanks for introducing us to them. I recall dozens of people bought parakeets in pairs, in the early 80s, sold as lovebirds. I suspect lots of them contributed to these huge SE flocks.

@mrswhiplington

We saw some in Didsbury, Manchester on Saturday. You could hear them before you saw them. We had one visiting our garden in east Manchester a couple of years ago, it was a bit of a bully and used to scare the other birds away. It loved the berries on the rowan tree.

I saw some at Dunham Massey on Christmas Eve!

They've been near Burnley for a few years now

The parks of SE London are absolutely teeming with them

@Sloth169 No way!! I've never seen any around here, heard them though and I'm not a million miles away from there.