GMBCR Project “30 days wild”

GMBCR Project Statement – 30 days wild in Greater Manchester

  The Greater Manchester Birding City Region Project is delighted to be taking part in the Lancashire Wildlife Trust “30 days wild” challenge again this year.

Unfortunately, the Manchester Festival Of Nature public event, due to take place on Sunday 28^th June in Heaton Park, has understandably been cancelled due to the current health and safety situation.

However, the GMBCR Project looks forward to the start of the “30 days wild” on Monday 1^st June 2020 and looking at the amazing wildlife and habitats that we have in Greater Manchester during the 30 days.

In June 2019 the GMBCR project recorded a total of 100 bird species during “30 days wild” and also played a role in the promotion and organisation of the Manchester Festival of Nature.

This year, the GMBCR Project is looking to promote “The Perfect Ten”, these are ten bird species selected to represent the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.

“The Perfect Ten” bird species are ten birds that every Greater Manchester resident and visitor should see in their lifetime.

 

The Perfect Ten in the beautiful North

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/the-kingfisher-the-jewel-of-the-bolton-borough/

1/ Bolton – Kingfisher

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-little-gem-of-the-perfect-ten/

2/ Bury – Little Egret

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/rose-tinted-spectacle-the-pretty-boys-of-manchester/

3/ Manchester – Rose-ringed Parakeet

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/tawny-owl-the-superstar-bird-of-the-oldham-borough/

4/ Oldham – Tawny Owl

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131484/peregrine-falcon-chosen-to-represent-rochdale-by-greater-manchester-birding-city-region-project

5/ Rochdale – Peregrine

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/10/mute-swan-selected-to-represent-the-salford-borough/

6/ Salford – Mute Swan

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/stockports-mandarin-duck-a-spectacular-bird-to-represent-the-far-east-of-greater-manchester/

7/ Stockport – Mandarin

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/tamesides-famous-grouse/

8/ Tameside – Red Grouse

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/17/northern-lapwing-the-peewit-represents-the-trafford-environment/

9/ Trafford – Northern Lapwing

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/the-willow-tit-the-superstar-bird-of-the-wigan-borough/

10/ Wigan – Willow Tit

 

SIGN UP TO 30 DAYS WILD ON THIS LINK

https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/57739/petition/1

Sign up to 30 days wild

 

30 DAYS WILD IN JUNE 2019

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/30-days-wild-in-greater-manchester/

Mancunian Birder – 30 days wild in June 2019 in Greater Manchester (week 1)

 

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/30-days-wild-in-greater-manchester-week-2/

Mancunian Birder – 30 days wild in June 2019 in Greater Manchester (week 2)

 

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2019/06/26/30-days-wild-in-greater-manchester-week-3/

Mancunian Birder – 30 days wild in June 2019 in Greater Manchester (week 3)

 

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2019/07/03/30-days-wild-in-greater-manchester-week-4/

Mancunian Birder – 30 days wild in June 2019 in Greater Manchester (week 4)

 

https://youtu.be/J0FTJrelxH0

Invitation to Manchester Festival Of Nature, June 2019

 

https://youtu.be/_HHdD-eRCw0

Promotional Film: Manchester Festival Of Nature 2019

 

https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/james-walsh-mancunianbirder/manchester-place-bee-june

Manchester Is The Place To Bee In June

 

https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/james-walsh-mancunianbirder/getting-prepared-manchester-festival-nature

Getting Prepared For The Manchester Festival Of Nature

 

https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/james-walsh-mancunianbirder/mancunian-birders-tour-heaton-park

Mancunian Birders Tour of Heaton Park

 

The Willow Tit – the superstar bird of the Wigan borough

“The Willow Tit is not just the superstar bird of the Wigan borough, it’s the superstar bird of Greater Manchester!” says James Walsh, aka The Mancunian Birder, author of the book “Greater Manchester Birding City Region”.

“Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in the Carbon Landscape Project Conference and Willow Tit survey training where experts from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit gave us some fascinating facts about this unique species. The Wigan borough is very important at a national level for the Willow Tit.”

“In the winter time, the best place to see this species is Pennington Flash Country Park where the Bunting Hide overlooks feeding stations where the Willow Tits feed. There are also feeding stations on the Greenheart Wigan Flashes that provide the Willow Tits with a valuable food source.”

The Greater Manchester Birding City Region project has selected the Willow Tit to represent the Wigan borough as one of the Perfect Ten.

The Perfect Ten bird species are ten birds that every Greater Manchester resident and visitor should see in their lifetime.

“The Perfect Ten” have been selected to unify the boroughs of Greater Manchester through connecting with nature.

James Walsh, the originator of the project and the author of the “Greater Manchester Birding City Region” book says, “Each borough has its’ own unique birdlife, I have used my intimate, extensive experience and knowledge of the ecology of Greater Manchester to select a bird that best represents the environment and character of each borough. Each bird can be utilised for City Region / borough marketing purposes and in the Greater Manchester Tourism Strategy 2020-2030.”

“Ecotourism is a new industry that is potentially worth millions of pounds, including new job and skills creation, to the Greater Manchester City Region.”

“The boroughs and birds are Bolton – Kingfisher, Bury – Little Egret, Manchester – Rose-ringed Parakeet, Oldham – Tawny Owl, Rochdale – Peregrine, Salford – Mute Swan, Stockport – Mandarin Duck, Tameside – Red Grouse, Trafford – Northern Lapwing and Wigan – Willow Tit.”

 

Links

https://naturebftb.co.uk/the-projects/willow-tit/

Back From The Brink – Willow Tit

 

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/greater-manchesters-natural-capital/

Greater Manchesters’ Natural Capital

 

 

 

Tawny Owl – the superstar bird of the Oldham borough

 

The Tawny Owl, scientific name Strix aluco, is the Owl species that is the most widespread in the Oldham borough, and is found in parks, gardens and country parks.

The superstar bird of the Oldham borough, it is a bird that many Oldham residents are familiar with and is fairly ingrained in the local psyche.

The Greater Manchester Birding City Region project has selected the Tawny Owl to represent the Oldham borough as one of the Perfect Ten.

The Perfect Ten bird species are ten birds that every Greater Manchester resident and visitor should see in their lifetime.

“The Perfect Ten” have been selected to unify the boroughs of Greater Manchester through connecting with nature.

James Walsh, the originator of the project and the author of the “Greater Manchester Birding City Region” book says, “Each borough has its’ own unique birdlife, I have used my intimate, extensive experience and knowledge of the ecology of Greater Manchester to select a bird that best represents the environment and character of each borough. Each bird can be utilised for City Region / borough marketing purposes and in the Greater Manchester Tourism Strategy 2020-2030.”

“Ecotourism is a new industry that is potentially worth millions of pounds, including new job and skills creation, to the Greater Manchester City Region.”

“The boroughs and birds are Bolton – Kingfisher, Bury – Little Egret, Manchester – Rose-ringed Parakeet, Oldham – Tawny Owl, Rochdale – Peregrine, Salford – Mute Swan, Stockport – Mandarin Duck, Tameside – Red Grouse, Trafford – Northern Lapwing and Wigan – Willow Tit.”

“During the research for the “Birding Oldham” book, I heard some great tales of residents with Tawny Owls in their gardens perched on washing lines, of young birds being found in interesting locations, and of birds calling in gardens at night, the classic “To-wit, to-woo” sound of the the female and the male call and response duet.”

  The Owl is the symbol of the Oldham borough and  “Dare To Be Wise” is the Oldham motto based on the generally accepted folklore that Owls are wise birds and represent wisdom.

ROSE-TINTED SPECTACLE! “The pretty boys of Manchester”

“The Rose-ringed Parakeet, also known as the Ring-necked Parakeet, has moved into the Manchester borough, giving a truly exotic look to the parks of the city! I’ve even seen Parakeets flying around the Curry Mile in Rusholme!” says James Walsh, also known as the Mancunian Birder, author of “Greater Manchester Manchester Birding City Region”.

“Apparently the first Parakeets to live wild in Manchester were originally birds from “Pets Corner” in Platt Fields Park. This area, including Birchfields Park and Alexandra Park, remain the best places to see them; also try the car park at Chorlton Water Park. Winter is the best time to see the Parakeets and most of the Greater Manchester population roosts together on the island of the lake in Platt Fields Park, a spectacular sight!”

“The Parakeets have spread into the southern suburbs of Greater Manchester to places such as Wythenshawe Park, and there have even been recent sightings in the Rochdale, Oldham and Salford boroughs! Other species of Parrot and Parakeet occasionally join the flocks!”

The Greater Manchester Birding City Region project has selected the Rose-ringed Parakeet to represent the Manchester borough as one of the Perfect Ten.

The Perfect Ten bird species are ten birds that every Greater Manchester resident and visitor should see in their lifetime.

“The Perfect Ten” have been selected to unify the boroughs of Greater Manchester through connecting with nature.

James Walsh, the originator of the project and the author of the “Greater Manchester Birding City Region” book says, “Each borough has its’ own unique birdlife, I have used my intimate, extensive experience and knowledge of the ecology of Greater Manchester to select a bird that best represents the environment and character of each borough. Each bird can be utilised for City Region / borough marketing purposes and in the Greater Manchester Tourism Strategy 2020-2030.”

“Ecotourism is a new industry that is potentially worth millions of pounds, including new job and skills creation, to the Greater Manchester City Region.”

“The boroughs and birds are Bolton – Kingfisher, Bury – Little Egret, Manchester – Rose-ringed Parakeet, Oldham – Tawny Owl, Rochdale – Peregrine, Salford – Mute Swan, Stockport – Mandarin Duck, Tameside – Red Grouse, Trafford – Northern Lapwing and Wigan – Willow Tit.”

 

 

Tameside’s Famous Grouse

  “It is not widely known but the Red Grouse is the most unique bird species in the British Isles on an international level. New Zealand has the Kiwi, the USA has the Bald Eagle, Antarctica has Penguins and we have the Red Grouse!” says James Walsh, also known as the Mancunian Birder, the author of “Greater Manchester Birding City Region”.

  “The Red Grouse represents the wild side of Tameside!” says James, “The beautiful moorlands, the Brushes Valley, Stalybridge Country Park, nothing is more evocative of this landscape than the Red Grouse. It is a really fascinating bird to look at and managing a quality sighting or photograph is always likely to make your day in the hills of Tameside.”

The Greater Manchester Birding City Region project has selected the Red Grouse to represent the Tameside borough as one of the Perfect Ten.

The Perfect Ten bird species are ten birds that every Greater Manchester resident and visitor should see in their lifetime.

“The Perfect Ten” have been selected to unify the boroughs of Greater Manchester through connecting with nature.

James Walsh, the originator of the project and the author of the “Greater Manchester Birding City Region” book says, “Each borough has its’ own unique birdlife, I have used my intimate, extensive experience and knowledge of the ecology of Greater Manchester to select a bird that best represents the environment and character of each borough. Each bird can be utilised for City Region / borough marketing purposes and in the Greater Manchester Tourism Strategy 2020-2030.”

“Ecotourism is a new industry that is potentially worth millions of pounds, including new job and skills creation, to the Greater Manchester City Region.”

“The boroughs and birds are Bolton – Kingfisher, Bury – Little Egret, Manchester – Rose-ringed Parakeet, Oldham – Tawny Owl, Rochdale – Peregrine, Salford – Mute Swan, Stockport – Mandarin Duck, Tameside – Red Grouse, Trafford – Northern Lapwing and Wigan – Willow Tit.”

“In my opinion the Red Grouse is the perfect bird to represent the North of England, and the huge potential we have here for environmentally responsible and sustainable Eco-Tourism on the moorlands.”

Stalybridge Correspondent, December 2019

Red Grouse (from 1’26 – 2’06), North England Eco-Tourism (NEET)

The Kingfisher – the jewel of the Bolton borough

Kingfishers are delighting birders and wildlife photographers in the Bolton borough at sites such as Moses Gate Country Park, Doffcocker Lodge and Jumbles Country Park. 

James Walsh, also known as the Mancunian Birder, says “The Kingfisher has now become such a feature of the Bolton environment that there is even a Trail named after this sparklingly colourful bird! The Greater Manchester Birding City Region project has selected the Kingfisher to represent the Bolton borough as one of the Perfect Ten. “The Perfect Ten” bird species are birds that every Greater Manchester resident and visitor should see in their lifetime.”

James Walsh, the originator of the project and the author of the “Greater Manchester Birding City Region” book says, “Each borough has its’ own unique birdlife, I have used my intimate, extensive experience and knowledge of the ecology of Greater Manchester to select a bird that best represents the environment and character of each borough. Each bird can be utilised for City Region / borough marketing purposes and in the Greater Manchester Tourism Strategy 2020-2030.”

“Ecotourism is a new industry that is potentially worth millions of pounds to the Greater Manchester City Region, including new job and skills creation.”

“The boroughs and birds are Bolton – Kingfisher, Bury – Little Egret, Manchester – Rose-ringed Parakeet, Oldham – Tawny Owl, Rochdale – Peregrine, Salford – Mute Swan, Stockport – Mandarin Duck, Tameside – Red Grouse, Trafford – Lapwing and Wigan – Willow Tit.”

 

Link

https://www.lancswt.org.uk/our-work/projects/kingfisher-trail

Lancashire Wildlife Trust – The Kingfisher Trail

Kingfisher Trail

Greater Manchester Walking Routes – The Kingfisher Trail

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/new-kingfisher-trail-star-one-9239350

New Kingfisher Trail to star one of Britain’s best loved birds

 

 

 

In The Pink

 The Pink-footed Goose is becoming a more regular sight in Greater Manchester, especially on the Little Woolden Moss Lancashire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, where flocks of several hundred can be seen in the autumn and winter. 

 

Pink-footed Geese, Little Woolden Moss Lancashire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, Salford, 1st November 2015

 THE PINK-FOOTED POUND

The Pink-footed Goose population seems to be on the increase in Iceland and, as a result, so is the UK wintering population. Numbers are on the up in traditional areas such as the Southport Marshes, Martin Mere and The Fylde in Lancashire, and also in Greater Manchester.

A recent study suggests that Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Nature Reserve, near Skelmersdale, Lancashire is worth around £5.8 million per year to the local economy. Much of this revenue is from tourists visiting to witness the winter spectacle of thousands of Pink-footed Geese.

NEET (North England EcoTourism) have coined the phrase “The Pink-footed Pound” to highlight the worth of this EcoTourism spectacle to the economy. Greater Manchester is potentially poised to benefit from the “Pink-footed Pound” on the Salford Mosses and Carrington Moss if the habitats can be managed appropriately. The fields are numbered on both these areas for conservation purposes and records can therefore be kept of the favoured feeding areas. At Martin Mere the wild geese are regularly fed with potatoes.

https://mancunianbirder.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/the-pink-footed-pound/

https://thenorthernspring.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/lancashire-ecotourism-boost/

The Salford Mosses

Carrington Moss

 

THE NORTHERN RESERVOIRS

On the Northern Reservoirs of Greater Manchester, this species seems to be a more frequent sight, especially amongst the Canada Geese flocks.

The favoured sites are the Elton Reservoir area (Bury), Hollingworth Lake area (Rochdale), Castleshaw Valley (Oldham), and Moses Gate Country Park (Bolton).

In the Elton Reservoir area in 2020, one was present from January up to 1st March, two were present from 21st March – 19th April and three were present from 25th April – 4th May. One was also present intermittently, 2nd January – 18th May 2019.

At Hollingworth Lake, three were present on 20th March and 18th April 2020. Two were present at Akzo Pond, also in the Rochdale borough, in January. This area has previously hosted wintering Greenland White-fronted Geese that were scientifically proven to be wild birds.

 

At Moses Gate Country Park, a Pink-footed Goose was present on 8th February 2020. Perhaps the same bird had been present the previous year, 8th April – 15th May 2019. Three were on Rumworth Lodge in January 2020.

In the Oldham borough, a Pink-footed Goose was present in the Castleshaw Valley on 7th October and 24th November 2018. A big flock of 271 were present in the fields to the south of Castleshaw Lower Reservoir on 17th January 2017.

In the Stockport borough, a Pink-footed Goose was present at Etherow Country Park, 3rd January 2020, on the canal adjacent to the weir, and a Pink-footed Goose was photographed on Reddish Vale Country Park, 10th February 2019.

Thanks to manchesterbirding.com, Steve Christmas, Phil Rhodes and Rochdale Birding WhatsApp group for information.

 

Pink-footed Geese, Carrington Moss (Manchester Ship Canal World Heritage Group) January 2014

Pink-footed Geese, Rumworth Lodge, Bolton, January 2020 (photo thanks to Phil Rhodes)

Pink-footed Goose, Salford Docklands, March 2015 (@MancunianBirder)

 

Pink-footed Goose and Whooper Swans, Castleshaw Reservoir, Oldham, 24th November 2018

Pink-footed Goose, Castleshaw Reservoir, Oldham, 24th November 2018