best bird for me was cettis warbler, superb views of the bird after over 6 months of trying. best twitch was purple sandpiper at audi, great bird, great laugh, county birding at its best.other highlights for me include seeing great white egret, cattle egret and spoonbill in the same year. lowlights, missing alpine swift, fulmar and glossy ibis.

It has to be the Audenshaw Alpine Swift for me, only my second in the country and first in GM.
Fantastic views of a fantastic rare bird.
Thanks to Paul Hammond, a great find.

l've had an AMAZING year (well 8 months).....since l've joined this forum.My 'best' birds are MANY not as impressive as some have been seen out there but to a novice like me,l couldn't have been happier.The Cuckoo's at Rindle will always have a special place for me also being the first to see the heads of the Peregrine chicks pop up from their nest in Bolton and the Wryneck at Flambourough to name but a few.Soaring Gannets at Bempton was a day out that l'll never forget along with visiting sea birds colonies in the summer......l could go on but won't,my HUGE thanks go to the guys that l have met along the way that have been kind enough to share their knowledge and patience with me especially when l have a 'blonde' moment Warfy,Paul C,Riggers and Dave Thacker.
Dave Thacker (mega thanks) told me about this website and l've never looked back,my confidence and skills hopefully have improved and l can't wait for 2009's birding....
Best Wishes to you all and have a Wonderful Birding Year X

Managed the Great White (Egret not Shark) but for me, definately the Lesser Spotted woodpecker at Dunham, with Green and Great making the hatrick the same day - mostly thanks to Rob and Geoff. Wouldn't have been possible without this website - awesome

What about the Great White Egret at Astley.

If someone had told me 12 months ago that I would be watching one within 20' of Rindle road then I would have helped him finish the bottle

Best wishes to everyone for the New Year



-- Edited by Dave Thacker at 22:51, 2008-12-31

juv hobby at pennington,watched and photographed for over an hour (see my avatar),and the redstart male at the front of horrocks hide brilliant

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 19:16, 2008-12-31

self found lesser spotted woodpecker at dunham massey in february this year, closely followed by the 2 weeks of constant looking for the black redstarts to find judith and adrian staring up at them on federation street whilst out photographing lotus cars!

i loved this year, with all that this forum has brought to my birding experience - new found friends, new found skills, new bins and a new confidence to get out there and look, look, look!

all the best to you all for 2009 and a massive thank you to ian for this place being the hub of it all!

-- Edited by Paul Cliff at 18:01, 2008-12-31

Rob I have a couple, the Alpine Swift was a long sought for bird in Manchester and I always thought Audenshaw would be the place to see one, the cattle egret was great but the greenshank that gace me a merry run around all year was nice to see, but my favourite bird of the year was oh cant say yet you will have to read next years bird report

All the best for 2009 to all GM birders,and whippersnappers

KEEP BIRDING.

What was your personal favourite? Mine has to be my Horrock's Flash Cattle Egret, but followed very closely by the Pennington Glossy Ibis.