Thanks Ian, Judith, and Pete for your replies.

It's no problem at all you moved my post, Ian (it's my mistake). Yeah, I will report any local sightings of mine on here. I love all birds. I have about 30 resident (lively and playful) House Sparrows in a tree in the back garden, and I love watching and listening to them chirping away. Plus Robins, Dunnocks, Starlings, Blackbirds, Collared Doves, and even Woodpigeons paying a visit to the feeds I've made for them.

Best,

Wayne

Hi Wayne,

welcome to the forum and thanks for joining, I hope we see (or atleast read ) more from you. I hope you won't be offended that I've moved your post to the general birding discussion where it is better suited, that it was in the bird sightings forum is fine (as your post includes some bird sightings) but I thought it better suited to this forum instead

Keep the posts coming, the Long-eared Owl must have been particluarly satisfying but not being a fisherman myself (I like a nice bit of Sea Bass though  , pan fried!) I don't understand all the Carp buisness, although I believe you can eat them (once you get some fresh, clean water through them which takes away that muddyness they have)

Hello Wayne,

Can you email me privately, as I need to ask you something about carp fishing which won't be of interest to this forum (judith@gmbirds.freeserve.co.uk)?  Cheers.

All the stuff from the old website which I administered, was transferred to the new one - if you can't find anything let me know.

Judith Smith (County Recorder)

Hi Wayne,

Nice to hear from a carper who's into birds. No carp news from Chorlton Water Park as we operate a closed season now until May 1st. We have a 30lb mirror here, though I'll leave the fishy news for the fishy sites. Cheers.

Hello from a new member! I'm a keen GM birder from Wigan (Worsley Mesnes) and my regular birding haunt is (obviously) the Wigan Flashes. I've spotted many birds there. I spotted my first Bittern on Bryn Flash (while fishing) last July. I saw a Kingfisher yesterday near the culvert on Scotman's Flash. I'm also an avid carp angler. I'm a member of the night syndicate at Higher Hall Flash in Bickershaw. Last September at dusk a Long Eared Owl landed on a fence next to my peg. I've also seen (and heard) Tawny and Barn Owls there. There's many Kestrels hunting there and a few Buzzards.

I'm glad to have found this site. It's great to read about local sightings again. I was disappointed the other GM bird site closed.

(PS: My avatar is a Great Spotted Woodpecker I photographed at Risley Moss).

All the best,

Wayne