Welcome to the RSPB Manchester News page. Your page about activities by RSPB Manchester Group members around the world
The past three months have seen a wealth of interesting birds both in Greater Manchester and further afield in the surrounding North West region. Starting close to home, the highlights have included overflying flocks of pink-footed geese on many days in October - 3,500 in total over Pennington Flash CP alone. Unexpected were an adult Sabine's gull in the evening roost at Audenshaw Reservoirs on the 14th-15th September and a Richard's pipit at Rumsworth Reservoir on 27th October. More recently No 2 tank at Audenshaw attracted a juvenile great northern diver 22nd-28th November.
Across the region there have been a great many well-watched rare birss this autumn to keep birders happy. September's main attraction was a fine Isabelline wheatear on Anglesey's Carmel Head (22-24), whilst star billing in October was provided by immature glossy ibis which toured several sites in SW Lancashire. November's best bird has been the long-billed dowitcher on the Alaw Estuary, near Holyhead (28-29).
Now that winter is upon us we can llok forward to to the traditional wader and wildfowl spectacles at the many estuarine and wetland sites for which the North West is justly famous - nowhere more so than at our superbly managed RSPB reserves on the Dee and Ribble estuaries. Traditional fare maybe but it never fails to enthrall! Birdline North West provides up to the minute news on the latest bird sightings across the region - 24/7 to any caller on 09068 700 249
Aldabra is a world heritage site and the largest coral atoll in the world. It is home to 100,000 giant tortoises -- a far bigger gathering than on Galapagos (The Tortoise Islands). Aldabra is the home of the white-throated rail, the last flightless species in the Indian Ocean. It also hosts several endemic species - the Aldabra drongo, the Aldabra fody and the Aldabra sacred ibis (with blue eyes). It also hosts several very localised species - the Madagascar coucal, the Comoro blue pigeon, a sunbird, a whiteye and the red-tailed tropic bird.
On Seychelles there are also several endemic species including a paradise flycatcher and a black parrot. On our visit we had one bird new to the islands - a drake European wigeon!
Today six of us headed across to Inner Marsh farm on the Dee Estuary. Despite a sunny start, it soon became very grey and there was an autumnal feel in a chilly wind. We saw 43 species in total including good views of a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, a well camouflaged Snipe, large numbers of Teal (but we failed to find the Green-winged Teal amongst 1000 of it's European cousins) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker which posed on a tree-top near the warden's house. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning.
Calling all twitchers ! 09:46 13/10/06 Canada Warbler Clare Kilbaha 09:00 This is a first for the Western Paleartic region
The Galapagos, the island of tortoises in the Pacific, host a wide variety of species. The only penguin on the equator vied with the rare Waved albatross for our attention. Seabirds also included three species of booby, two frigate birds, red-billed tropic birds and swallow-tailed and lava gulls. The giant tortoises fed alongside the brilliant red vermilion flycatcher. There are mocking birds and several species of Darwin's finches. Wedge-rumped storm petrel live alongside Galapagos short-eared owl. Fur seal, sea lion, land and marine iguana share the coastline with black turtle and flightless cormorant. From the Arctic we had wintering whimbrel, turnstone and wandering tattler. This is a volcanic wonderland of wildlife.
Shell Pool Reserve Conservation Group is a voluntary organisation committed to the preservation and improvement of the nature reserve situated on Carrington Moss. The reserve is private and restricted to only a few members. We currently have a few permits available. Members pay £10 twice a year to fund the feeding stations and winter corn supplies to feed the ducks and swans. Permits will only be issued to people who are willing to help us with the ongoing work and improvements. If you would like to apply please telephone for further details - 0161 436 7551.
Pennington Flash is probably the best birdwatching site in Greater Manchester. The Flash, a 70-hectare lake near Leigh, was formed in 1905 as a result of coal mining subsidence. The original site was crossed by railway lines and the remains of one, the 'spit', can still be seen today. The whole area covers 200 hectares and is managed by Wigan Council as a Country Park. A range of recreational facilities are provided including a nine-hole golf-course, sailing and wind surfing, a children's play area and most important of all - an extensive nature reserve with six bird hides. Future plans include a new visitor centre and café. The nature reserve has various habitats including open water, reed beds, scrub and woodland. Over 230 species have been recorded (although I have only managed 120 so far, in ten years of odd weekend visits). Rarities in recent years have included great northern diver, blue-winged teal, whiskered tern and black-faced bunting. Migrants such as smew, garganey, green sandpiper, little gull, black tern and yellow wagtail all occur on an annual basis. In November, the RSPB Manchester Local Group spent an enjoyable morning here, and we saw 38 species in a few hours, including a very confiding red-necked grebe. An early morning visit can almost guarantee sightings of some rare species such as water rail, willow tit, bullfinch and reed bunting as well as a range of waterfowl. The Bunting Hide feeding station is always very productive, with close-up views of woodland birds - ideal for photography. In spring and autumn a good variety of waders drop in - usually along the spit, where this year I saw whimbrel and turnstone. Summer sees little ringed plovers, common terns and a variety of warblers. Recent improvements at the north end of the flash have resulted in a new wetland area, which is where we saw the red-necked grebe. A bittern has also been seen regularly in this area and looks to overwinter here. The county park is very popular and can get busy on a Sunday afternoon with dog-walkers, horseriders and people on motorbikes. I would recommend an early morning visit - especially on a clear frosty day. It is well signposted off the A580 East Lancs Road near Leigh and there is ample parking space with a small charge.
Many local birders (including those on the Manchester RSPB Group trip!) enjoyed splendid views of an obliging first winter red-necked grebe which remained at Pennington Flash from 9 - 18 November. The same, or another, red-necked grebe was then at Elton Reservoir (Bury) from 3 - 11 December. Less easy to see were the two overwintering bitterns - one at Pennington Flash, the other at Wigan Flashes LNR. Waxwings have again reached the Greater Manchester area this winter although not yet in anything like the numbers which occurred in last winter's record invasion. As usual, Stockport Town Centre has been the best area with small parties of up to 10 birds at Grand Central Station Approach and the Edgeley Shopping Centre. Most unusual was the single hawfinch seen in Stockport Road (Longsight) on 14 December. Elsewhere it proved to be an amazing late summer-autumn in the North West, with sooty tern and green heron, both on Anglesey, attracting hundreds of birders into the region. Species not previously seen hereabouts included Blyth's pippit (Gwynedd) and chimney swift (Anglesey and Cheshire). Birdline North West has all the latest news on 09068 700 249.