it also has, i think, the 2nd largest heronry in the country (in the pines across the mere) and bittern is virtually guaranteed in winter

Yup - one of my favourite birding sites close to Manchester.

If you take in Neumanns Flash and Hayden Pool as well, you could spend all day there.

Probably the most reliable place for LS Woodpecker, as well as all the usual woodland birds. Good for Black Terns early Autumn. Usually Green Sand on Hayden Pool about now, and loads of Golden Plover in the winter on Neumanns.

Various rareities turn up, including GW Egret and White Stork in the last few years.

Never been here before i didn't realise how big the place is. Had a 3 hour walk which took in the main Mere and surrounding woods. The Mere had fantastic numbers of Great Crested Grebes 60+ probably nearer 80. Loads of juv with plenty of adults still sitting on nests(6 at least). A Buzzard flying over (one of 3 seen) put the Lapwings up, a flock of about 100. Decent size gull collony, mainly Black heads with Herring and L Bl back. 100s of Canada Geese and a few Greylag. At least 20 Herons. A few Tufties scattered about and good numbers of Coot(didn't count em but 100s) only noticed 2 Mute swans with 2 young. One of the Buzzards had me thinking(hoping) it was an Osprey, it was hovering! never seen a Buzzard hover before, but it was deffinitely a Buzzard. The woods where a bit quieter a Garden Warbler the highlight. Few Coal Tits, Long tailed tit, Gt Sp Woodpecker, Song Thrush plenty Wood Pigeons. Another highlight for me was a positive id of a Migrant Hawker dragonfly. It's the golf tee you know Glad i bought some close focus bins A good day all round. Cheers Dean.