As of November 1st, 2025, Great White Egret has been removed from the County Rarity List. Full details of the decision and some analysis of past records can be found on the ‘What’s New’ page of the Manchester Birding Website here
26/1 Late afternoon Snipe - 7 flushed off the (very) flooded hay fields by Millgate Fields. Never even seen a single Snipe there before. Little Grebe - 2 on Mersey by Simon's Bridge Goosander - 2 pairs on Mersey Green Woodpecker - 1 by Millgate Fields
Looks like the UK Gov have decided to use the previously GE Hitachi owned land (that UK Gov bought in 2024) to build our next generation of Nuclear reactors over the Tern Colony at Cemlyn. Now don't get me wrong, I am a nuclear reactor designer and operator by day job but Wylfa was built in the 1970 for one p...
The "last of the summer wine" lads had a good day at Old Moor. Remembered my bins as well. Nearly bought a Viking 66ED scope - very nice.
Flocks of lapwings,starlings and plovers.
Brent Geese,
Swans
Great Tits
Blue Tits
Tree Sparrows
Green Finch
Goldfinch
Linnets
Grey Heron
R...
Sunday 7th: An impressive group of 12 Buzzards circling in the vicinity of Ashurst Beacon before dispersing Peregrine along the West Lancs side of the Billinge Hill ridge -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 20th of April 2011 10:27:00 PM
Maybe its just me but I seem to be seeing much more movement of Pink-feet this year. I'm probably seeing at least 1 or 2 skeins per day over the house whereas in previous years I'd probably see 1 or 2 per week, or am I imagining it?
On walk from town centre to bridge at East Didsbury saw the following: Sparrowhawk - female by pyramid Kestrel - near bridge for M60 Bullfinch - pair near vale farm Chiffchaff - definately 4 birds possibly 5, in several places but 2 birds near vale farm blue tit great tit long tailed tit dunnock mistle t...
We are looking to thin out much/most of our bird book collection and have various books in the Poyser, Pica, and Helm series (covering bird families) as well as 4 in the New Naturalist series, field guides for virtually all world hotspots/countries, as well as the handbooks for The birds of Africa (6 v...
Just got back last night from a four day stint at Spurn Bird Observatory. No great rarities, although I did miss Bee Eater which was present before we arrived, and Spoonbill on Sunday morning (due to spending too much time in the pub on Saturday evening).
The weather looked promising on Thursday w...
As it was only 30 odd miles from where I was ,thought I'd pop up for the Western Sandpiper at Maidens as I'd never seen one in this country,only in Mexico and California. Wasn't disappointed as the bird was showing well all the time I was there in the harbour.
A Hobby was hawking Swallows on reverse slope of Werneth Low (Compstall side) behind Hare and Hounds pub at 2.45p.m. today, moving off towards Windy Harbour.
Info thanks to Antony Marriott
Having returned from Shetland a couple of weeks ago, where I struggled to get good views of the Siberian Thrush, Ive decided to invest in a thermal imaging scope. For Shetland its becoming a necessity to have one and especially as those birders who had one, were quickly getting onto the bird, by follo...
Just back from a three week cruise, sailing from Southampton to Quebec City and back. We also called at St Johns in Newfoundland, Gaspé in Quebec, Havre St Pierre in Quebec, La Baie down the Saguenay Fjord in Quebec, Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, Halifax in Nova Scotia and finally Sydney in N...
20.02.11
Very dull and overcast day making visibility poor to say the least.
On arrival great close up views of redpol,tree sparrows,willow tit plus all the usual tits and goldfinches on the feeders around the visiter centre.All the usual ducks present with a few hundred lapwings and at least 10 g...
Visiting folk in Glasson Dock today during high tide. There is an excellent pool where lots of waders gather with the usual Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Goldeneye, Little Grebe etc, but this is a great place for "Shanks". All three there: Spotted, Green and Common on the pool a...
The Lancashire Wildlife Recorder's Conference takes place at Blackburn College on Saturday 7th December 10:00 - 17:00 hrs and is billed as: A chance to find out what is happening across Lancashire from people and groups who monitor, record and conserve birds, plants, mammals, insects, fu...
Not a big deal, but everyone's avatars seem to have disappeared. Is it the website or my ageing computer...? -- Edited by Tony Darby on Tuesday 7th of October 2025 08:08:18 PM
A very quick visit here and straight to the hides overlooking Tack Piece produced 3 Crane, 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese, a single Pinkfoot, and a Peregrine amongst the expected fare.
A large brown moth in my kitchen identified as an Old Lady moth. Name given due to the brown markings on wings resembling an old victorian lady in a cloak. Book says it's common and commonly finds it's way into houses!
Having looked back to 2008 there was no topic for Middlewich, so I have started one! Today I got news of a Grasshopper Warbler in Middlewich, showing well. So seeing as I was going to Middlewich Lidl and it's only a couple of miles away I thought that I would go and check this out & add to my knowledge of...
Spent a few hours down there this afternoon and its certainly starting to feel a bit like Autumn with the ducks building up:-
Lillte Grebe now 24 inc young birds... possibly 2 more chicks on the southern pool which were out of sight.
Wigeon 2,
Teal 24
Gadwall 9,
Tufted duck pair plus female with 4 d...
Next year this forum (along with the Manchester Birding website) will be celebrating its 20th anniversary, yes, its now been running for 19 years! It has gone from strength to strength too, become busier and busier all thanks to you its dedicated users. Though we’ve come close to a million views a mon...
I have for a good few years now operated a rarity text alert system for county rarities within Greater Manchester. The system was originally offered to those birders who contributed with the Manchester Birding website in some way, usually those who sent in images, bird sightings and the likes. With...
Some signs of movement today - 220+ Pinkfeet flew southeast at 08:55 and then 3 Whooper Swans flew east at 10:00 (going the wrong way for Martin Mere). Also a Kingfisher showing well on the reserve, 40 + Siskins around the Ealees car park and one, possibly two, Treecreepers (a rare bird here!) Simon Hit...
Mrs P and I, plus 8 week old Mini P successfully twitched the Squacco Heron in Angle yesterday.
I have to say, it was probably one of the easiest Twitches I have ever been invloved in! We parked up on the track near to the harbour near the described red boat, and it was in the creek just beyond the boat, app...
The 2008 Lancashire Bird Report arrived earlier this week. It's a beltin' thing to dip in to and the colour plates are excellent. I always find it interesting to compare bits from the Lancs report with goings-on in GM. For example, good days of Meadow Pipit passage over Billinge or elsewhere, unsurpr...
I was leading a walk at Urmston Meadows last night and towards the end we came across a large hawker dragonfly in the woods along the bridleway section. It wasn't a Brown Hawker, and having seen Emperor at Sale Water Park on Monday I told everyone that's what is was. But on reflection (and looking at some...
Visited this new managed realignment scheme near Skeffling this morning and it was excellent. Highlights: 2 Common Crane, 2 Merlin, 200+ Avocet, 4 Greenshank, 2 Yellowhammer, Dunlin, 100+ Redshank, 20+ Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Golden Plover, Whimbrel, uncounted Shelduck, Greylag Geese,...
