MEETANDGREETTHEMANKYBIRDERS

WelcometotheManchesterBirdingCommunity

byIanMcKerchar

(edit:thisarticlewasoriginallywrittenin2009andthus,some/most/allofthebirdersinvolvedlookahellofalotworseforwearnow!)

ComeandmeetsomeofGreaterManchester'scountybirdersrightherewithinthispage.Leaveitlikeyou'veknownthemforyearsandsayhelloorcastinsults/rocksatthemwhenyouseethemoutandabout.Therearemanycountybirderscurrentlymissingfromthispagehowever.Youprobablythinkyou'resafebutyouknowalltoowellyou'rewrong.You'llbeonheresoonenough!

Pleasenote.ManchesterBirdingacceptsnoresponsibilityfortheaccuracyofthesephotographs.Infact,theimagesmightjustaswellnotbearanyresemblancewhatsoevertothepersontheypurportto,itsmorea'representation'ofthatpersoninmyown(weird)mindoroftheirpersonainsomecases.ManchesterBirdingisnotliableforanylibellouscommentsnoranyoffencecausedbyanyoffensiveimages.Ifitcomestoit,Ididn'twritethisnordidIaddorchooseanyoftheimages,thepagewashijackedbysomehackerandI'vebeenunabletoremoveitsofar.ThatorI'lldenyallknowledgeandfinallygetroundtomydefectiontoCornwalltoliveinoneofthecavesbythecoveatPorthgwarra.Youmaynoticetherearenofemalebirdersillustratedhereeither.NotbecauseI'msexistbutsimplybecause'hellhasnofurylikeawomanscorned'!

RobAdderley-Oneoftheverytopcountylisters,digiscopers,rareandscarcefindersandthebirdermostlikelytobefoundbirdinginthedepthsofwinterwearingasummershirtandcasualshoes.RobiscurrentlyandquiterightlytobefoundonthecountyraritycommitteeandmoreoftenthannotathisbelovedAudenshawReservoirsbattlingfortripodspacewithjoggers,fishermen,vagabonds,scrotes,dogwalkersandtheubiquitousdogturds!Anavidtwitcherhisamiablecharacterisonlyfurtherenhancedbytheadditionofhisbetterhalf,Soniabutbeware,theycanmakeseriousinroadsintoyourbiscuitbarrelshouldyouinvitetheminforacupoftea.

SteveAtkins-AssistantCountyRecorderforthedatabase(whateverthatis!).Steve'shighaltitudebirdingofWatergroveReservoirregularlyprovideshimwithmemorablemomentsbutnonemoresothanhisfindingoftheBritishrecordforthehighesteveraltitudeBroad-billedSandpiper.Athoroughlyniceblokewithacompetitivestreaklikeyouwouldn'tbelieveandhewouldneveradmitto,despitelivinghighinthosehillsaboveRochdalehehidesthosesixwebbedfingersoneachhandwell.

PeteBerry-Reigningtopcountylifelisterandoneofthemostwidelyworld-travelledbirdersinthecountytoboot.TobefoundbirdingconsiderablylessinGreaterManchesterinrecentyearsduetoaterribleafflictiontobirding/livinginScotland.When'incounty'hisloveofgullsserveshimwellathistreasuredHeatonParkReservoireveninggullroostbuthisloveofseabirdslessso,despitedoingwellwithaLeachesPetrelthereonce.Hisfearof'grockles'andoflivinginlandlookssetseehimlessandlessinthecounty.

DaveBroome-Proprietorofbyfarandaway,thelargestgardenbirdlistinthecounty.MainlycourtesyoflivingliterallyrightontheshoreofScotmansFlashformostofhisyoungeryearsandlazinginbedalldaywherehardworkingbirderswouldgivehimaknockwhensomethinggoodturnedup!Nowspendshistimeworkingforaliving,apparentlybeingpaidtoscourfly-tippingsitesandgypsycampsforMealyRedpolls.Withremarkablesuccessithastobesaid.

PaulCliff-Birder,professionalphotographer,film-maker,bandswithsillynamesgig-goerandproperMancgeezer.Mostlikelytobeidentifiedbyhisusageofterminologysuchas'sweet','cool','man'and'sorted'oralternativelybyhisflashsportscar.HasstrivedsomewhatsuccessfullytoputBirtlefirmlyonthecountybirdingmap.

AdrianDancy-CountyWeBSorganiserAdrianisbestknownforhisloveofallthingsphotographic.Wanttoknowmoreaboutbokehorcontre-jour?Wellthen,Adrian'syourman.AlsotobefoundwearingoutperfectlygoodshoeleatheronthemeanstreetsofManchesterCityCentreinthesearchforPeregrinesandBlackRedstarts,hisphotosofwhichadornmanyanarticleandgalleryonthiswebsite.

BrianFielding-Bonafidecountytwitcher.OncecampedoutatPearson'sFlashforanentireweek,livingoffnothingbutreedstemsandnewtsjustinanattempttocatchaglimpseofaCetti'sWarblerthere.Capableofstakingoutasinglebushfordayswithoutsleep,noproblem.

PaulHammond-Thecounty'sbiggestbirder-literally!Paulissotallhefoundthe2008AudenshawReservoirsAlpineSwiftbyalmostknockingitoutoftheskywithhisheadasitfedataheightofover40feet.Hisdistinctivetracksofasize30bootprintcoupledwithknuckledragmarksensuresyoucantellifhe'sbeentoasitebeforeyou,althoughhisspringtimepost-hibernationpre-dawnvisitstoAudenshawReservoirsaresooooearlythatyoucanrestassured;he'salreadybeatenyoutothebirds.There'snoneedtorunscreamingtheotherwaywhenyouseehimstompingtowardsyouhowever,he'sactuallyaverysplendidfellowindeed.

GeoffHargreaves-HailingfromPlattWaz(ifyouhavetoask...),Geoffisperhapsthecountybirderleastlikelytobeunderstoodbothverballyand'inlitt'duetohisbroadWiganesedialectandmouthpermanentlyfilledwithpie.HehassomedecentcountyrareandscarcebirdfindstohisnamethoughandcontinuestoworkthosetopWigansitesandpieshopswithequalvigour.

PaulHeaton-Thecounty'stopbirdingRSPCAinspector.Paulhashadmorecountyraritiesinthebackofhisvanthanyou'vehadhotdinners.Anindefatigablebirdbookcollector,heiscurrentlywritinghisownbookonthelifeandtimesofHildaOgden.Thecurrentreigningcountyyearlistingchamp,heisstilllikelytobefoundatthesceneofacountyraritybeforeyou'veevenhadtimetostudyit'stertialsorotherwisebirdingatasitewhichcannotbenamedforfearorexecution.

CraigHigson-Ex-PenningtonFlashranger,ex-parttimetwitcherandex-ringer.Currentlyprecariouslyfightingagainstbecominganex-birderbyenduringsporadicforaysintothemysticalandenchantedViridorWood.Anaturaldeterrenttobirds,Craigsubsequentlydoesn'tseeverymuchbutisatleastusedtothephrase"youshouldhavebeenhereearliermate"!

PeteHines-IntheeliteoftopUKtwitchers,heeasilypossessesthebiggestBritishlistofanyotherbirderinthecounty.Oftentobefoundlaidupinbedwithman-fluwhenthoseIrishwestcoastorNorthernIslesmegasturnup(apparently!).HisexperienceisnowbeingrightlytappedviahisappointmenttothecountyraritycommitteeandhisworkasaMerseyValleyWardenofmanyyearsensureshekeepshiseartothegroundchasingupthose'funnylittlebirds'reportedbyJoePublic.Oneday,oneofthemwillturnouttobeanoverwinteringMagnoliaWarbler,justyouwaitandsee.

BarryHulme-PenningtonFlashsilentassassin.UnlocksthedoortoHorrock'sHideinthemorningsoearlyyou'venotevengonetobedyet,subsequentlyfindsbirdsyou'venochanceof!SharpasaSamuraiswordandquietasamouse,takeyoureyesoffhimandhe'llhavepickedoutabiggybeforeyou'veevengotyourbinsup.Frankly,anyonewhogetsupthatearlyeverydaydeservesthoserewardsandatthattimeofthemorning,he'swelcometothem!

AndyIsherwood-RelocatedfromrarityrichEastYorkshiretosamplethefinedelightsofinlandnorth-westEnglandbirding(thinkHouseSparrowVisMig,Gadwallcountsandsewagebedperusal)andneverlookedback.Oneofthebestrare/scarceradarsinthecounty,hisunquestionablebirdingabilityhasfoundhimasanotherofthosecurrentlyonthecountyraritycommittee,thoughhispenchantforbirdinginaformalsuitisfarmoreopentoquestion.

SimonJohnson-GreaterManchester'stopVisMigger.ThebalconyathisflatinWhitefieldhasbecomesomethingakinto'thenarrows'atSpurn.SimonisregularlytobefoundScopeathandpeeringthroughneighbour’swindowsatmigratingpipitsandwagtails.Well,that'swhathesayshe'sdoinganyway!Adiligentbirder,hispatchofHeatonParkReservoirregularlyfailstoliveuptoexpectationsbuthislistof'onesthatgotaway'remainsaconstantreminderthatabiggywillsticksoonerorlater.

JohnLyon-PenningtonFlash'fixtureandfitting'.Generallytobefounddawn'tildusksatinthecornerofHorrock'sHideorratherasitnowtermed,'Lyon'sden'.CanalsooccasionallybefoundwanderinghidetohidecompletewithEverestexpeditionsizedrucksackbutoftenonlycommunicatesviaaseriesofgrunts,clicksandwhistles.Regardless,hecontinuestofindsomeseriouslygoodcountybirds!

DeanMacDonald-Boltonianbirderandthecounty'smostprevalentcatlover.DeanspendscopiousamountsoftimeinandaroundthecentreofBoltonasguardianofthetowncentrePeregrinesthere,fightingcrime,rightingwrongsandwearinghisunderpantsontheoutsideofhistrousers.

AndyMakin-MastRoadmoocherandanothercountyVisMigger.HeonceusedhisownfundsinanendeavourtosetuphisownSmithillsfeedingstationonlytofinditbeingdevouredbyasheeptheverynextday!HisremarkablesuburbanHindleygardenlistproveswhatcanbeachievedanywhereinthecountybylyingonyourbackwithapairofsunglassesonforhalfoftheday.

IanMcKerchar-AssistantCountyBirdRecorderforrarities(whatevertheyare?)andthesolevoicebehindtheManchesterBirdingempire.Justaguywhohadanidea,nayadream,forunitingacounty,buildingabirdingcommunityandperhapsproducingsomebetterbirdingalongthewayviathiscrummywebsiteandlesscrummyforum.WatchitallfalltocrapwhenIfinallylivethedreamandrelocatetoCornwall.

JimmyMeadows-Countybirdingstalwart,truegentandall-roundgoodegg.Coverstheverywesternboundaryofthecounty,includingsomesitesnoone'severheardof.Possessesanadmirablepairofsealegsascrows-nestwatchmanaboardtheMerseymouthandIrishSeaLiverCruisesanddoublesupasoccasionalWiganRSPBoutingguru.

JohnRayner-Long-timecountybirder,reinvigoratedandreformedinrecentyears.Oldenoughtorememberwhensitesinthecountyweren'tjustcoveredwithamassoftrees,decentwaderhabitatexistedandAdswoodTipwasatopbirdinglocation.Alsooldenoughtoforgetjustexactlywhathe'sgotonhiscountylifelist!

PhilRhodes-1930'sthrowbackPhilremainsadamantthatGreaterManchesterdoesn'texistandfailstorecogniseanyofit'sboundaries.Despitethishecontinuestofindsomeexcellentbirdsinthewestofthecounty(oldLancashireandGreaterBoltonashelikestorefertoit)andisresolutethathewouldneversetfootanywherenearatrueManchestersitesuchasAudenshawReservoirs.Otherthanthetimehewasrattlingthegatestogetapeekatthe2008AlpineSwiftthere!

MarkRigby-CastleshawReservoirshaveneverhaditsogoodthankstothestaunchattentionofMr.RigbywhoseregularfloggingofthesitehasnowrecordedseveralSandMartins.Besidesbeinganenthusiasticbirderandtwitcher,MarkisalsooneoftheUK'stoptrainspottersandhasalistof'birdsseenfromasteamlocomotive'thatissecondtonone.

RobSmallwood-BirdforumsupremoandprideofTimperley.Rob,besidesbeingabirderandmorethanoccasionaltwitcherisalsoguitaristintopboybandXL5.Withtalentsthatknownobounds,hetaughtEx-DireStraitsfrontmanKnopflerallheknewandalsohowtoutiliseprimarymoulttimingintheidentificationofYellow-leggedGulls.HassincepioneeredtheuseofsimpleguitarriffstoattractautumnalmigrantpasserinesfromdeepwithincoastalSeaBuckthorn.

SteveSuttill-DedicatedBTOrepresentativeandanotherhilldwellerfondofaltitudesicknessbirding.Hispassionforcountybirdingiscurrentlybeingploughedintodeepandmeaningful,ifnottomentionattimesstressful,atlaswork.Thiscouldpotentiallyleadtohimbirdingeithermoreorlessinthefieldandalsotohishairfallingout,whichcouldeventuallymakehimlooklikehishead'sonupsidedown!

RobThorpe-Oneofthemostpersistentpatchwatchersinthecountywithakeeneyeandambitiontomatch.PlundersHorrock'sFlashforallitsworthonaveryregularbasisandtheterm'gluttonforpunishment'comestomind!WoulddearlylovetopermanentlyrelocatetohissecondhomeofSpurnbutapparentlytheydon'tdopiesthere.

JohnTymon-Oneoftheoriginalcounty'moochers'.Johnwentthroughsomethingofaperiodofwildernesssomeyearsago,spendinghistimebirdinginafarinferiorcountybeforetherealisationthatPenningtonFlashisindeedtheRutlandWaterofthenorth.Hiscountybirdingrevivalhassincealsoseenthedevelopmentofhisphotographicskillsandofashorteningofthespineduetothefourtonsofgearhecarriesaround.Bytheway,"t'awreet"basicallymeanshello,shouldhecastitinyourdirection.

AlanWarford-TopmanandofcoursehalfthereasonfortheexistenceofWarfyjunior(seebelow).Rankseasilyinthetop10ofcountylifelistersthoughhe'sstillafewbehindmoremanicjunior.Onceallegedto"giveaGreaterManchesterbigyearlistagowhenIretire".Ithasn'tcometofruitionyet,butasandwhen(andif?)hedoes,youcanrestassuredhe'llgiveithisfullattention.

SimonWarford-Eltonchieftain,siteyearlistrecordholder,sonofAlan(above)andmorethanoccasionalUKtwitcher.MakesenjoyingthedelightsofEltonReservoirhisgoalinlifealthoughhehasdevelopedadistincthabitofbeingoutofcountywhensitebiggieshaveoccurred,notthathe'sbotheredofcourse!Willalwaysberememberedfordisappearingacrossableakandlonelymooraloneatduskinfrontofassembledfriendsonlytovanishintotheclouds.We'renotsayinghewasabductedbyaliensbut...

TimWilcox-Birderandcelebrated'artluvee'.Renownedatonetimeforonlybirdingtheentirecountybypush-bikebutthensubsequentlyforcomingoffworsewhenplayingchickenwithataxiatfullpeltoneday.Nowonlybirdsthecountybycar!

PaulWilson-Anotherofthe'Eltonelite'.Paulhasfairedwellfindingsomeexcellentcountyrareandscarcethereandhasgonetheextrayardinphotographingmostofthemaswell.HehasanaffectionforpartakingintheinfamousEltonmudbathritual(goodforthecomplexionapparentlyifnotthenostrils)andforattractingFirecreststohisgardenusinghistopsecretalluringtechniqueswhichremainascloselyguardedasecretasthecoatingforKentuckyFriedChicken.

DavidWinnard-ChampionofperhapsthebleakestbirdingsiteinthecountyinAshworthMoorReservoir.MaintainshisaccoladeasGreaterManchester'sveryownDavidBellamythankstohismanchesterwildlifewebsite.HasafondnessforthingsfungalandforluggingaboutaTymonthrashingsixtonsofcameraequipment.AstheRochdalesceneaficionado,ifit'sgoingoninthemhills,thenhe'llknowaboutit,justdon'tstrayfromthepaths...

IanWoosey-Ex-shortlivedtwitcherandnowpassionateadvocateofbirdingtheboroughofWigan.IancurrentlyplieshistradeamongstthetreesofHaighCountryParktogoodeffect.AtopNorthernSoul'keeperofthefaith',hecanoftenbefoundcombiningbirdingatAbramFlasheswithslickdancemovesonabedoftalcumpowderalongthecanaltowpathaccompaniedbythesweetsmellofaGallowayspie.

IanMcKerchar,September2009

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