Check out your local RSPB group - I'm on the committee of the South Manchester group and we organise various coach trips to far flung places like Norfolk and Scotland as well as meeting up locally on car trips.

It always helps being around more experienced birders and you can always ask and try out people's binoculars and telescopes and get an idea of what suits you.

Hi Ryan im from Hindley, get yourself a good pocket guide to birds, collins do a decent one.Borsdane woods just past the tunnel entrance is a good spot for willow tit,willow warbler,chiffchaff,nuthatch,great spotted woodpecker.
another good spot is low hall, left hand side of road, oposite strange ways pub on liverpool road heading towards platt bridge from hindley.the other side of the road is also good and is callled Amberswood.
keep your eyes to the skys

ryan,welcome to the forum,if you use the main website it,s got all the popular birding sites listed so 'gen up' on the site guide section then use the sightings section to see
whats been seen at sites recently,don,t be dissapointed if you can,t find all that has been seen by other birders it takes time to 'get your eye in'a lot of birders can tell you whats around just by listening (a skill i,m struggling with).I,d make a start at one of the feeding stations pennington,three sisters or hawkley (which by far the best for willow tit)then a good look round the area should get your list going,

cheers geoff

wigan flashes rock

hi, i am begining in bird watching and have stared compileing a life list i am only 16 and would like some tips on were to find more birds round the hindley/wigan area and what equipment to use etc. thankyou. ryan