[si654]

Anyone know any hotspots around this area becuase that is near where i live.
I am pretty mobile on my push bike or using public transport.
T.I.A Simon

[TonyC]

Chorlton Water Park and the Mersey valley in general are probably the easiest by pushbike. In winter you get the odd good duck turning up such as Scaup.
Audenshaw Reservoir is probably a bit too far and birds tend to pass through there.

Pennington Flash is the best place by far in Greater Manchester but involves a few bus journeys to get to Leigh then a walk. Alternatively Manchester RSPB have a trip there 8/7/6 leaving from the Gateway pub see http://johnfair.brinkster.net/rspb/default.asp for details.

[James Lowther]

I'd echo what Tony says about Chorlton. There used to be buses to Leigh for Pennington flash direct from manchester city centre. Other places a bit further afield but reachable by train include martin mere, leighton moss, parkgate marsh and frodsham marsh, if you fancy stringing marsh warbler any time soon

[si654]

Originally Posted by TonyC

Chorlton Water Park and the Mersey valley in general are probably the easiest by pushbike. In winter you get the odd good duck turning up such as Scaup.
Audenshaw Reservoir is probably a bit too far and birds tend to pass through there.

Pennington Flash is the best place by far in Greater Manchester but involves a few bus journeys to get to Leigh then a walk. Alternatively Manchester RSPB have a trip there 8/7/6 leaving from the Gateway pub see http://johnfair.brinkster.net/rspb/default.asp for details.

Do you have to be a rspb member for those Manchester rspb trips as i am not at the mo.
i have been looking into leighton moss what train station do you get off if you wanna go there warrington? is it far from the station..

[James Lowther]

Well leighton moss is a VERY long way from warrington station. However it's extremely close to silverdale! It's quite a long train journey but worth it occasionally i should think..

[Rob Smallwood]

Carrington Moss isn't bad, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Buzzard, warblers in summer, finches in winter, Altrincham Sewage Frm is still OK although viewing is hard and it isn't a patch on what it was like in the 50's!

Rostherne can be good although the birds are distant, view from the churchyard or get a permit to use the hide (still distant from the water), Tatton Park too.

Whereabouts are you based?

[si654]

Originally Posted by Rob Smallwood

Carrington Moss isn't bad, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Buzzard, warblers in summer, finches in winter, Altrincham Sewage Frm is still OK although viewing is hard and it isn't a patch on what it was like in the 50's!

Rostherne can be good although the birds are distant, view from the churchyard or get a permit to use the hide (still distant from the water), Tatton Park too.

Whereabouts are you based?

I'm in South manchester near the airport

[Rob Smallwood]

Rostherne and Tatton should be fairly easy by bike then.

I'll try and link up with you one day and if you fancy a walk around Carrington Moss we could perhaps sort something out. Family commitments prevent me getting out as much as I'd like but I'll keep in touch.

The advice about Chorlton WP is good too - especially in winter.

[si654]

Originally Posted by Rob Smallwood

Rostherne and Tatton should be fairly easy by bike then.

I'll try and link up with you one day and if you fancy a walk around Carrington Moss we could perhaps sort something out. Family commitments prevent me getting out as much as I'd like but I'll keep in touch.

The advice about Chorlton WP is good too - especially in winter.

Thanks, I mite check out rostherne and tatton tommorow if the weather is good..

[TonyC]

We prefer RSPB members on the trips as we normally go to their reserves, but you are welcome to come along. Meet up at the Gateway about 8:50, then we sort out how many cars we have and who can give who a lift.

If you fancy a short walk - check out Sunbank Wood SJ798843 which isn't far from the airport. There's the usual stuff like Treecreeper, Nuthatch, GSW etc. I have seen LSW further along the Bollin towards Hale in the winter and there's Grey Wagtail under the M56 bridge. (I'm surveying that square for the CAWOS bird atlas so let me know if you see anything exciting !)

[henerz1]

Originally Posted by TonyC

We prefer RSPB members on the trips as we normally go to their reserves, but you are welcome to come along. Meet up at the Gateway about 8:50, then we sort out how many cars we have and who can give who a lift.

If you fancy a short walk - check out Sunbank Wood SJ798843 which isn't far from the airport. There's the usual stuff like Treecreeper, Nuthatch, GSW etc. I have seen LSW further along the Bollin towards Hale in the winter and there's Grey Wagtail under the M56 bridge. (I'm surveying that square for the CAWOS bird atlas so let me know if you see anything exciting !)

Hey, I'm from the south Manchester area too. Try the walk from Hale Barns along the river bolling for Kingfisher, grey wagtail and Lesser-spotted woodpeckers (if you're lucky!) and maybe a walk along 'Brooks Drive' from Halen Barns which goes right through to timperly. This has had Little Owl, Woodcock and some great warblers in summer including Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. At the end of shay lane is a small patch of woodland which is good for Siskin and Lesser Redpoll (my garden is along the road and turned up Mealy Redpoll last winter so there are rarities to be found!). The fields near the end of shay lane (accessed along buttery house lane) are pretty good and i've had teal, wigeon, mallard, cormorant, canada+greylag goose on small ponds and flying over. Scan the fields in spring for wheatears passing through too.

Hope this helps. Maybe we could meet up some time to go birding locally?
Cheers
Henerz

[Rob Smallwood]

Some good birds there Henerz - I'm not far from the Timperley end of Brook's Drive and in all honesty have never birded it - looks like I might have to now!

[nick scarle]

This is my stamping-ground too, although like you Rob, other committments prevent me getting out as much as I would like. The Mersey Valley is good in Winter and Spring - especially Chorlton Water Park & Chorlton Ees. I like to bird around Fletcher Moss and Millbank Farm towards the A34 too.
Nick

[tom mckinney]

http://www.manchesterbirding.com

[IanPlant]

What about Styal. I saw an owl on brooks drive at the hanging gate lane end last year

[Rob Smallwood]

See Tom's link above - lots of good site information and very up to date reports.

[Cheshire Birder]

Ladybrook Valley - easily accessed via Cheadle Hulme station.

Heaton Park - access via the metrolink.

[thesalebirder]

A fair site is Abney Hall in Cheadle and the area over to the Mersey. Abney contains Tawny Owl, Sparrowhawk, Snipe Occasional Brambling and lots of great spots + plenty more. The Mersey just up from Abney this year recorded breeding Goosander, Dipper and a regular view of Kingfishers.

[bornwild]

surly someone on here could take you with them petrol costs ect ..
we go out every saturday and live near ashton under lyne if your close no probs in you tagging along
if your a rspb member as we tend to visit them mostly
bornwild x

[henerz1]

Originally Posted by IanPlant

What about Styal. I saw an owl on brooks drive at the hanging gate lane end last year

What species of owl out of interest Ian?
I've not seen Little myself in the area but have had historical reports. Tawnies are resident. Thanks. Henry.

[IanPlant]

Originally Posted by henerz1

What species of owl out of interest Ian?
I've not seen Little myself in the area but have had historical reports. Tawnies are resident. Thanks. Henry.

Sorry i didn't get a good look at it as it was in flight tried looking for it with no luck but it wasn't small one though

Ian

[lanie]

hi i live in denton and not had the bug long but i cannot belive the amount of lovely birds that i had never seen before,my house backs on to reddish vale roughly.well you can walk to it,i have seen buzzards gooseander with her 7 babies,its a good job my camera is digital it would cost me a fortune,tree creepers for the very first time oh and a kingfisher,sorry but its great on here my family just go oh right.anyway its well worth a visit if you can get there,lanie