Extras

Comma, Irlam Moss

Walking round the countryside looking for birds which might or might not be there keeps me busy but there are plenty of bonus extras to be found along the way.

Guelder rose, Cutacre 

Bell heather, Little Woolden Moss

Ringlet, Little Woolden Moss

Common blue, Marshside

Longhorn cattle, Martin Mere

Large red damselfly, Chat Moss

Goatsbeard, Stretford Meadows 

Rabbit, Longendale Trail

Emerald damselfly, Chat Moss

Wooly chanterelles, Cutacre

Sea lavender, Stannah

Common darter, Chat Moss

Toad, Chat Moss

Meadow brown, Martin Mere

Flesh fly, Stretford Meadows

Broad-leaved helleborine, Amberswood

Hogweed, New Moss Wood

Bramble, Woolston Eyes

Birch polypore, Martin Mere

Common red soldier beetle on field thistle, Stretford Meadows

Batman hoverfly, High Rid Reservoir

Bee orchid, Marshside

Bluebells, Keg Wood

Backdrops to 2025

West Kirby Marine Lake

One of the advantages of going out birdwatching on a regular basis is spending all that time in the fresh air appreciating the scenery. Which is an argument that lacks a bit of force when you're standing by a sewage farm looking for Winter warblers or a recycling depot searching for exotic gulls but most of the time it holds true.

Here's an entirely unrepresentative selection of some of the delights.

Risley Moss

Alexandra Park, Moss Side

From Thornham Old Road

Pennington Flash 

High Rid Reservoir 

Banks Marsh

Colwyn Bay 

Little Woolden Moss 

New Cut, Woolston

Cob Kiln Wood

Leighton Moss 

Martin Mere 

Keg Wood 

Irlam Locks 

Mere Sands Wood 

Greenslate Water Meadows

Bempton

River Ouse, York

New Brighton

Stretford Meadows 

Dove Stone Reservoir 

Blackleach Country Park 

Red Cat Lane, Burscough 

Brushes Road, Stalybridge

Bottoms Reservoir 

Reddish Vale

Crossens Inner Marsh