Bury - North Manchester - UK (1 Viewer)

[craynerd]

Hi Guys

I registered here several months ago since i was interested in birds whilst i fished but since then my interest has grown and i now go out soley to spot! I`m 22 and must say i havent found many like minded people my age, the girlfriend thinks i`m crackers!

Anyway, my main reason to post is to ask for information on any good locations you know about near by to me, even any hides if there are any? I`m taking this a lot more seriously now my list is growing and i`d really like to do a few sessions at some "know" or "well regarded" areas for spotting!

My list mainly consists of common garden birds but my best spot (and what i`ve gone out to look for specifically) include great spotted woodpecker and kingfishers on a few occasions!


Anyway
Hope you can help
Chris :t:

 

[Pete Loydall]

Hi Chris, welcome to Birdforum, being new to the area, I'm slowly finding area's myself to birdwatch, not quite sure how far Pennington Flash near Leigh is from you, but its well worth a visit. If i'm right there is around 6-7 hides, the Bunting hide gets good results.

Cheers Peter.

 

[brian fielding]

hi Chris

i also live in Bury and have been birding since april 2000.I would start visiting Elton res,i did for a couple of years and you should see more there than you would in your garden.The best sites locally are Pennington Flash nr Liegh which has hides and Audenshaw Res which has a hide for key holders.If you need any more info or help let me know.

 

[symphony]

Hiya Chris

Welcome to birding and Birdforum! By the way I used to be a mad keen angler as a teenager and I've recently started birding seriously having had an interest in birds most of my life, a trip to Leighton Moss in Lancs did the trick of making the birding bug bite- well we had Marsh harriers on and off all day. That was last summer.

That particular reserve isn't very close to you by the way, being above Lancaster but I wanted to recommend getting your hands on a copy of the book 'Where to watch Birds in Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire'. Your library is likely to have a loan or reference copy, if they havent, ask them to run a search as they'll prob be able to order it for you from another library branch. Also, look out for a bird report detailing local sightings, this will give you a good impression of what you might see where and when. There are reports that cover your area. Again your library may carry these, usually in the reference section or try a local bookseller or Tourist Information. A search for 'birding in Bury' or similar on the net may produce something.

The previously mentioned Pennington Flash is very good and you will surely see some new birds. On recent trip there I had 15 species at the feeding station hide alone. You get up close to the birds there so it's a good spot to get to really know some of the commoner birds and get those under your belt. You'll meet some nice people out birding and the occasional grumpy or arrogant git but birding is a great leveller in that you instantly have something in common with many of the people you bump into.

By the way one of the greatest sources of info are the birders you meet whilst you're out. Asking what people have seen on the day is always a good move and some birders are mines of information about which sites etc. Cracking hobby and far more satisfying and rewarding than fishing and amateur radio in my experience not to mention a lot less frustrating- there's always something to see.

Happy birding Chris.

Iain.

 

[Rob Smallwood]

Summerseat is good for Dipper and my friend has had Short-eared Owl, Stonechat, Green Woodpecker and Cuckoo on nearby Holkham Moor.

There are 4 Waxwings around the corner in Bolton at present too.

Welcome to the Forum, and to your new hobby! My girlfriend was dubious at first, she is now my wife and a pretty keen bird watcher herself!

 

[psilo]

Hi Guys

I registered here several months ago since i was interested in birds whilst i fished but since then my interest has grown and i now go out soley to spot! I`m 22 and must say i havent found many like minded people my age, the girlfriend thinks i`m crackers!

Anyway, my main reason to post is to ask for information on any good locations you know about near by to me, even any hides if there are any? I`m taking this a lot more seriously now my list is growing and i`d really like to do a few sessions at some "know" or "well regarded" areas for spotting!

My list mainly consists of common garden birds but my best spot (and what i`ve gone out to look for specifically) include great spotted woodpecker and kingfishers on a few occasions!


Anyway
Hope you can help
Chris :t:

Hi Chris
Not all women think birding is boring. I have been birding all my life though only seriously for the last 3 years.
Other good site at the moment near you are Moses gate country park. That is good at the moment for kingfisher, woodpecker, siskin and plenty of goosander on there at the moment too.
Also Doffococker lodge in bolton is good for close view of breeding common tern in the summer.
Also the waxwings are at the asda supermarket in astley bridge on the bushes next to the dual carriageway at the top. Just look for them sitting in the tall tree. Cant miss them as they are nearly always there.
Heres to much success in your new hobby

 

[saluki]

Hi Guys

I registered here several months ago since i was interested in birds whilst i fished but since then my interest has grown and i now go out soley to spot! I`m 22 and must say i havent found many like minded people my age, the girlfriend thinks i`m crackers!

Anyway, my main reason to post is to ask for information on any good locations you know about near by to me, even any hides if there are any? I`m taking this a lot more seriously now my list is growing and i`d really like to do a few sessions at some "know" or "well regarded" areas for spotting!

My list mainly consists of common garden birds but my best spot (and what i`ve gone out to look for specifically) include great spotted woodpecker and kingfishers on a few occasions!


Anyway
Hope you can help
Chris :t:

Hi Chris,

You may find this link interesting:

http://www.gmbirds.freeserve.co.uk/

saluki

 

[Steven Astley]

Some good advice from people above. I am 29 and yes your girlfriend is right we are crazy. I have spent to the last 2 years looking at the top of empty trees loooking for waxwings but to no avail it's now 10 years since i last saw 1 and i wasn't even looking. Abyway i have 1 too many bevies and blah blah blah, happy new year and i will help you, contact you sort things out and bird sometime even thpough not very lucky but i know my songs but no point cos never seee any that sing that song anyway. We get lots of wADERS BUT NOT TOO many of the little things. Cheshire is good for the little ones i believe. Happy new year

 

[Tockman]

Hi Chris
Not all women think birding is boring. I have been birding all my life though only seriously for the last 3 years.
Other good site at the moment near you are Moses gate country park. That is good at the moment for kingfisher, woodpecker, siskin and plenty of goosander on there at the moment too.
Also Doffococker lodge in bolton is good for close view of breeding common tern in the summer.
Also the waxwings are at the asda supermarket in astley bridge on the bushes next to the dual carriageway at the top. Just look for them sitting in the tall tree. Cant miss them as they are nearly always there.
Heres to much success in your new hobby

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi psilo,
Thanks for the info, didn't know we had waxwings in Bolton, and only a mile away! will be looking out for them next week,

Cheers, and a Happy New Year. Alan. B

 

[rezMole]

i also live in Bury and have been birding since april 2000.I would start visiting Elton res,i did for a couple of years and you should see more there than you would in your garden.The best sites locally are Pennington Flash nr Liegh which has hides and Audenshaw Res which has a hide for key holders.If you need any more info or help let me know.

I'd recommend a trip to Pennington Flash. On an average day you can get about 50 different birds. Stay in the Bunting Hide for a while - quite often get a visit from Sparrowhawk, GS Woodpecker, Jays and Water Rail, along with usual tits, reed buntings, bullfinches etc.

Elton Res is supposed to yield some good birds - recently there has been a red necked grebe. Peregrines sometimes seen, and goosanders. I should go here more often as i live about a mile from Elton Res, but you have to pick the right time as it often gets full of dog walkers. Pennington has a similar problem - but i usually go Saturday mornings and leave at about 11, when it starts to get busy.

Seems we have a few BF members from Bury - maybe we should exchange emails for the prurpose of reporting anything unusual in the area?

 

[Riviman]

Boltom Waxwings ?

Quote :
"There are 4 Waxwings around the corner in Bolton at present too."

Anyone know where the waxwings from Asda at Crompton Way have gone, have not seen them for a couple of days? B

 

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Waxwings

5 still at rear of Asda, Astley Bridge late morning today

Sandra

 

[Steven Astley]

Just to warn people in advance i will be going to asda tomorrow to look for waxwings hence, with my track record, there is a very good chance they won't be there

 

[shellduck]

Where exactly is Asda Astley Bridge?Can only find Astley Green on map.

 

[Steven Astley]

Try this www.streetmap.co.uk and type in astley bridge. Its no where near astley green or astley moss or astley village

 

[shellduck]

Cheers Birdman.Will have a look tomorrow,nowt better to do.So that will be two of us not seeing any!

 

[brian fielding]

waxwings

saw the waxwings today,they came in at 1045,they are usually in the rowans next to the dual caridgeway.they are not usually present before 11am.

 

[kanebrides]

Hi,
Chris, the Wigan Flashes hold some great birds - a bit like Pennington Flash. Pennington Flash is my local patch, I live about 10 mins away. What about Hollingworth Lake, thats in rochdale can hold some nice birds. check out my mates webpage www.wildlifeofrochdale.co.uk
Cheers Kane

 

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Astley Bridge

Hi Steven! Were you at Asda at Astley Bridge today? Bet you were because the waxwings weren't! At least, not for the 2 hrs. or so we were there! Arrived sometime after 11.00am. (Can recommend the Four Seasons cafe opp. Asda for a late breakfast to pass on the time the birds aren't there!) There was quite a number of people looking so I bet we saw you Steven. I was the one with the purple hair!!

Sandra
:hi:

 

[Steven Astley]

Hi Sandra. Yes I remember you. I waited for a further hour after you had gone and still they didn't show but i did warn people.