Erm, I was thinking more of post-breeding dispersal; the start of the (soon to be) autumn's viz-mig; return wader passage which often brings something rarer; and those rarer terns which seem to turn up in the month, amongst the usual late breeding birds to enjoy
You need to get out in changeable spring weather for good birds. Wait till calm sunny days in July and nothing at all will be happening. That's the time to brush up on your butterflies
Audenshaw reservoir is easily accesible by both train & bus from Piccadilly. Fairfield station on the Rose Hill Marple route is about a 10 minute walk away & the 219 Stalybridge bus route goes right past the door.
Reddish Vale is also close to the 203 bus route
Dunham Massey is a 20 minute walk from Hale station on the Chester train service or you can stay on for Delemere Forest.
As for Martin Mere, i generally buy a return to Southport & combine the stop at Burscough Bridge with a morning trip to MM & or Mere Sands Wood (believe there is now a proper signposted trail between the 2 sites), then hop back on the train & spend the rest of the day at Ainsdale beach or Marshside.
If you are prepared to bike it I'd recommend going to Chorlton Water Park, Sale Water Park (make sure you don't miss Broad Ees Dole there too) then follow the Transpennine Trail (route 62 cycle signs) out to Carrington Moss and Altrincham Sewage Works. I only live two miles south of the centre and this is precisely what I was doing yesterday. You don't need a mountain bike, a town bike will do though it can be done on a road bike in dry conditions. Don't follow Oxford Road unless early on Sunday morning go down Lloyd Street South then Yew Tree Road then Burton Road, then Barlow Moor Road to the turn off for the WP.
You should visit Martin Mere which you can get to on the Southport line from Oxford Road Station. Get off at Burscough Bridge station. You can also put your bike on this train. Come out of the station, over the bridge and follow the brown road sign to Martin Mere down what looks like an unpromising direction down a residential street - it is right. Or if on foot you can take the footpaths across the fields but come to the front of the reserve not via the back where there is a footpath but its use is frowned upon by the reserve!
Trains to Silverdale for the superb Leighton Moss also run from Oxford Road. You want the Barrow-in-Furness train or change at Lancaster. Make SURE it does stop there and then don't be alarmed by the electronic on board 'next station' sign which never says Silverdale!
You should get some Ordnance Survey Landranger maps for larger areas and OS Explorer maps for more detail from one of the camping shops on Deansgate. Also get the big A-Z for Manchester which covers all 10 Boroughs (we all use this). I also recommend getting 'Where to Watch Birds in North West England & the Isle of Man' published by Helm. Judith Smith, our last County Recorder wrote all the Manchester entries.
Good birding!
PS if you feel homesick for parrots we have Rose-Ringed Parakeets in our South Manchester parks too
In Manchester City centre itself there are Peregrines (the RSPB usually have a stall & telescopes around the area known as The Triangle, near The Printworks) & also Black Redstarts, see the relevant threads for details
As Neil says Salford Quays is probably the quickest & easiest site to get to via public transport from Manchester City centre. The Metrolink tram line has several stops that are close to the main birding areas. If you go to the Site Guide page I have written a birders guide to the area, look for the article "Salford Docks SBI", this has more information, including the birds that you might see. ((This area also has good tourist facilities, such as a Heritage Trail, & the shiny new BBC Media City)) For recent sightings, check out the threads Salford Quays & Pomona
Good birding, James
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Chorlton Water Park is pretty easy by bus - a 111 will get you to Barlow Moor Rd, then walk up Maitland Avenue.
You could then walk up the Mersey to Sale Water Park then get a 41 bus back on Northenden Rd
I'd second that, if you look on the "County Birding Sites" section under M for Mersey Valley there's a map. It's all well-signposted and public access.
Pomona/Salford Quays are even closer to the city centre and very easily reached by the Metrolink tram going to Eccles/Media City.
If you have a whole day free I'd recommend splashing out a bit of money and going to the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss in Lancashire, it has a railway station on the doorstep at Silverdale with direct trains from Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations.
I've been living in Manchester City Centre for the last 8 weeks. I'm using the recent weather as my excuse to not get out and find some nearby birding patches.
I am after any tips for sightes that are an easy commute by bike or public transport from the city. I am an Australian, so I'll be happy to get some photos of pretty much anything as it's mostly new still.
, nothing at all happening? Those days of birders turning their attentions to butterflies and months alone during the summer are well gone 