There were plenty of good birds during the year although most of my Lifers were admittedly Out of County!
You mention some great contenders there Mike, another that stuck in my mind besides those was the Two-barred Crossbill at Binn Green. That was made a bit more frustrating and eventually satisfying for some, as the bird didn't show until 3rd and 4th visits for some, unlike the Rough-legged Buzzards that were wind hovering literally yards above everybody's car!
Another good species was the quartet of Black Terns at Pennington Flash a week after the White-wingers at Elton.
Although not Mega's or anything, some other good birds were noted at various sites. Avocets at Elton and Pennington. The Yellow-billed Pintail at Elton albeit an escape! The Red-crested Pochard pair at Wigan Flashes. The long staying Common Scoter at Elton, and the ones at Hollingworth and Wayoh. The record-breaking Marsh Tit still at Watergrove, and not forgetting the Goshawk and Great Grey Shrike there too! ...and let's not forget the sheer numbers of various species that probably broke Horwich Moors records. I'm sure there's plenty of others aswell. Cheers Rob
Another great post from Mike Passant who always writes such interesting inclusive stuff.
I'm pretty new to birding, so I don't really know if 2014 was a vintage county year or not, but I had a great time getting out and about. I visited loads of great birding sites for the first time: Elton, Alty ETW, Chorlton and Sale Water Parks, Dunham Massey, Chat Moss and Croxdens, Lees Hill, Pearsons Flash and more. I saw 41 new birds last year in the county area, of which 18 were lifers, including the Little Bittern and the Two-barred Crossbill and some other not bad ones like Common Crossbill, Jack Snipe, Black Tern and Whinchat.
I enjoyed the duo of Crossbills in April as much as any. The Two-barred was a belter especially for being so close, I was lucky enough to be there on a Saturday morning when it flew up over the assembled folks' heads and perched for a moment in a tree in the middle of the feeders. I think the shade of orange of the Common Crossbill male seen later that morning is the most beautiful plumage colour I've seen yet, it was like a Tequila Sunrise of orange tinted with peachy pink, although the weather wasn't exactly tropical and I felt more like a double brandy after I'd slogged through the peat and mud to Chew Reservoir a few hours later.
My ambitions for 2015 are to keep adding to my GM list, keep seeing the best of the local countryside and wildlife and get up to 50+ for my Wythenshawe patch list before the entire area is dug up for airport parking. In what other scenario is a Moorhen a cracking bird eh?
But another big thing for me is that when you read the posts from birds like the Elton terns and the RL Buzzards the joy and good humour bursts out of the screen. This website is a massive asset, it is like a calling card to mention you contribute to the forum. Not quite the masons but you know what I mean...time after time people you meet share knowledge, give you tips and help you along, not to mention the material published on here which people have put so much effort into.
So thanks to everyone I've met and have yet to meet and lets hope 2015 is a ripper.
Sitting here in Madrid, I thought that I´d take a look at Manchester Birding after a break of ten days or so and was a little surprised that nobody has commented on what a super year 2014 has been in terms of the sheer quality of some of the finds.
So may I nominate Elton as top site, not in terms of no. of species recorded, but certainly in terms of quality, with Black-necked Grebes, a Long-tailed Duck and one or more Iceland Gulls as well?
For Bird of the Year, I nominate Brian Fielding´s Little Bittern, closely followed by the two stunning White-winged Black Terns at the same site a week beforehand, (costing me about 90 quid in fuel terms but worth every penny). I suggest the Rough-legged Buzzards for 3rd spot.
2015 will have to be good to top that lot?
Best Wishes, Mike and Barbara Passant
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