Tyldesley Sewage Works, Autumn/Winter 1983 (Ian McKerchar0

poor quality photos due to the rubbish camera at the time, but this is number 1 pan of what was then county birding mecca and my second home (behind Pennington) from being an 11/12 year old

Tyldesley Sewage Works, Autumn/Winter 1983 (Ian McKerchar)

Number 2 pan with 2 Green Sandpipers arrowed (done in 1983!). In summer the tops of the pans formed a thick crust and as 7-8 year olds, friends and I used to run across the tops of them, of course I didn't realise how good they were for birds or how dangerous that was!

Tyldesley Sewage Works, Autumn/Winter 1983 (Ian McKerchar)

Number 3 pan, which was rubbish and only good for Moorhens!

Tyldesley Sewage Works, Autumn/Winter 1983 (Ian McKerchar)

Number 4 pan, where we used to get all the ducks, but when I say all........................

Pennington Flash, Autumn/Winter1983 (Ian McKerchar)

taken from what used to be Pengies Hide (near where the Bunting hide now is), notice the view in the distance is of the main track up to the canal, minus the trees, bushes and hide (New hide) that now reside there!

Pennington Flash, Autumn/Winter1983 (Ian McKerchar)

The hide (Grebe Lodge) that used to overlook Rammies just past where the new viewing screen now is, was eventually burned down (by vandals, not the wardens or birders!) and never replaced, shame!

Roofless Horrock's Hide, 30.01.07 (Les Steele)

blown completely off after the severe gales in late January 2007, fortunately nobody was in it at the time!

Foursome have Shag whilst on boat on Hollingworth Lake, November 2006 (Rob Adderley)

crude yes, but funny!

Audenshaw Gull Roost, 24.09.06 (Rob Adderley)

you could almost imagine you were somewhere else!

Audenshaw's Sabine's Gull Dip, 16.09.06 (Rob Adderley)

one of the counties biggest dips, if only we'd have all turned up the following evening when the Sabine's reappeared!

Desert Wheatear, Irlam Moss, 09.03.07 (Adam Davidson)

Greater Manchester's top county lister (left) and partner search every blade of grass for the elusive bird only to find that it had chosen tarmac as it's most suitable habitat :-)

Desert Wheatear walfare, Irlam Moss, 08.03.07 (Paul Heaton)

always with the welfare of rare birds first, here I cunningly use Paul's RSPCA van as cover whilst obtaining afew record shots of the Desert Wheatear shortly after it's finding, little did I know that later on it would allow reasonably close approach!

Desert Wheatear twitch, Irlam Moss, 09.03.07 (Tom McKinney)

probably as large as the crowd ever managed over the birds all too short stay with photographer Paul Hackett (see his shots of the bird in the respective gallery) at the front of picture

Ashworth Moor Reservoir, April 2007 (Tom McKinney)

included here for, as the photographer puts it, looking all 'Royston Vasey' (for those who watched the 'League of Gentlemen'! Remember, don't stray away from the paths :-)

Pennington Flash, 1983 (John Tymon)

the view of Rammies 'as it was' complete with the Bickershaw pit visible in the background (scanned image from a conventional film photo)

The Pennington Flash 'A team', 1988 (John Gramouskas)

a 24 year old John Tymon (left, complete with stonewashed jeans, trainers, 'fashionable' wax jacket and 'bird scaring bag') and 21 year old Paul Brown (right, who eventually escaped the county to live in North Ronaldsay and found himself a Siberian Blue Robin!) give their opinion to the photographer!

Mr. Hargreaves, Astley Moss, 07.05.07 (Ian Woosey)

have you seen this face? If so please report it to the Enviroment Agency for ruining a very pleasant view (you're a lovely man really Geoff :-)

Mr. Woosey, Astley Moss, 07.05.07 (Geoff Hargreaves)

Ian trying to look interested and giving it his very best Littlewoods catalogue look...suits you sir!

A new addition to the British List, Pennington Flash, 11.06.06 (Mike Baron)

Two headed Coot anyone? You work it out...

Pennington Flash, a long time ago!

supplied by John Tymon (not even John's old enough to have taken it for himself though :-0), Pengies Farm can be seen in the background to the left

Manchesterbirders, Spurn, East Yorkshire, 27.08.07 (Ian Woosey)

Jimmy Meadows collecting his butties from the 'Wooseymobile' at the Bluebell car park

Manchesterbirders, Spurn, East Yorkshire, 27.08.07 (Ian Woosey)

Jimmy Meadows looks suitably enthralled by Mark Heywood's wonderfully elaborate plan for the team to escape from the Crown and Anchor pub in Kilnsea and the evil clutches of the wicked witch of the east who resides there, just as soon as we've finished our pints anyway...

Manchesterbirders, Spurn, East Yorkshire, 27.08.07 (Ian Woosey)

the cunning plan was however too late for the unfortunate Tom McKinney who had succumed to the wicked witch's evil spell and turned him into, well, take a look at that face! Paul Hammond (left) thought it was all terribly amusing though!

Manchesterbirders, Patrington Haven, East Yorkshire, 27.08.07 (Ian Woosey)

Tom McKinney (3rd from left) looks decidedly happy (if that's indeed what that look is? Probably still suffering the effects of that evil spell) whilst Simon Warford (2nd from right) raises his arm in an absolutely stunning 90 degree angle in celebration as the Mancky birders dig out their very own Red-backed Shrike from the apparently birdless bushes

'Moochers', Martin Mere, circa 1983 (Louis Culshaw)

from left: Andy Makin, Paul Brown (apparently in his 'Frank Zappa is God days'!) and John Tymon get a break from Pennington.

Cattle Egret dippers, Pennington Flash, 03.12.07 (Ian Woosey)

from left, me (with my back turned!), Paul Heaton, Simon Warford and Barry Hulme

Cetti's hopefuls, Pearson's Flash, 23.12.07 (Ian Woosey)

staring at the reeds from left, Paul Hammond, Sonia Adderley (with back turned), Andy Makin and Rob Adderley

Cetti's hopefuls, Pearson's Flash, 23.12.07 (Ian Woosey)

a desperate bunch, not knowing which way, not where to look!

Cetti's hopefuls, Pearson's Flash, 23.12.07 (Ian Woosey)

from left, Jimmy Meadows,. Alan Warford and Simon Warford

Pennington Flash, 1955

almost unrecognisable by todays standards! (image supplied by John Tymon)

Now where's that Fulmar?, Chorlton Water Park, 25.05.08 (Rob Adderley, but that's a secret)

county birder Andy Bissitt searches the depths of Chorlton Water Park for the elusive Fulmar. Confused? Seriously, he was looking for the Fulmar in this image, you had to be there apparently!

Fulmar meets Berry, 25.05.08 (Ingrid Berry)

the county's top lister is deeply overcome by his new addition and the fact that it joins Manx Shearwater as 'county rarities seen in RSPCA inspector Paul Heaton's hands'!

Hero of the hour, Chorlton Water Park, 25.05.08

Pete Hines after heroically rescuing the poorly Chorlton Fulmar, dig those rubber waders Pete...groovy!

Pete Hines meets Baillon's Crake, Sunderland, 19.05.89

note the sub-adult plumage of Pete (not the bird!). In fact Pete Hines, like the aquila eagles, has had many plumages of immaturity, although full adult plumage has now been attained I am reliably informed (dubious?)

Dotterel twitch, Axletree Edge, 26.04.09 (Paul Heaton)

the Manchester masses adore the wonderful bird and view with Rob Adderley at the forefront of the huge crowd ensuring the twich was well controlled

Two Pennington Flash gurus, Pennington Flash, 05.09.09 (John Tymon)

site legends Charlie Owen (left) and David Wilson (right) search for Sparrowhawks

Swan rescue at Elton, September 2009 (paul Wilson)

county birder, Elton regular and famous comedian Harry Hill , assists locals with the rescue of a Mute Swan from his local patch. Nice one Harry!

Pie-eaters in Suffolk, May 2009

The pie-eating clan of (from the left) Geoff Hargreaves, Rob Thorpe, Ian Woosey and Jimmy Meadows relax after tasting Suffolk's finest at Minsmere.

Pie-eaters in Suffolk, May 2009

Here the pie-quaffing team of (from the left) Jimmy Meadows, Ian Woosey, Geoff Hargreaves and Rob Thorpe try out what Westleton Heath has to offer and find that means no pies! Hence the disappointed look.

Geoff Hargreaves, Minsmere, Suffolk, 2009 (anon)

Geoff seamlessly, nay beautifully, blending into his surroundings but we really need to talk about that hat...

Ross Beach, Co. Galway, Southern Ireland, 03.02.10 (Pete Hines)

County birder Pete Berry enjoying juvenile Thayer's Gull amongst the throng of other birders...

Pie-eating Raven protectors, a secret location in Wigan, February 2010 (anon)

From left: Ghandi, Amin and Wally (see the 'meet and greet the Manky birders' in the Miscellaneous Articles on the articles section of the website), look after Wigan's newest immigrants.

Wigans 'special kids', Dunsop Valley, 21.03.10 (anon)

What a bunch of reprobates (other than second from the left of course). I bet the windows on the bus that took them there were nice and clean by the time they arrived! From left: angry young Thorpe, the only grown up there Thorpe senior, the annual appearance of Mr. Higson before his retirement once again, Jimmy 'ten cans but no binocs' Meadows, 'big daddy' Woosey and 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here' Hargreaves.

Wiganers, Horsey, Norfolk, May 2010 (anon)

Once again the Wigan boys look suitably miffed as they realise that the Horsey windmill is non-operative and their chance of a nice bit of pastry has gone. "What about shingle, is that edible"? asks 'mad dog' Meadows.

Wiganers, Cley beach, Norfolk, May 2010 (anon)

Messers (from left) Meadows, Thorpe junior, Woosey and Hargreaves look particularly glum after they realise that shingle is not edible. "What about eating Geoff?" asked Ian 'sixty bellies' Woosey.

Wiganers, Norfolk, May 2010 (anon)

Geoff Hargreaves R.I.P.

The might of the Manky paparazzi, Dover Basin (Osprey twitch), 16.05.10 (John Tymon)

Battle of the big lenses with Charlie (mines usually bigger than this honest) Owen far left, Jon (bazooka) Taverner with his head just visible mid photo and Steve (I've got all the kit you know) Collins in the blue cap. Craig (almost packed in) Higson makes a rare appearance talking to Charlie and Geoff (really not a full shilling you know) Hargreaves can be seen sporting the usual Wigan camouflage of stonewashed denim jeans and sensible shoes.

Turtle Dove twitch, Haigh, 31.05.10 (anon, if you took it let me know)

Woosey and Makin 'grin-on' in baseball caps whilst 'the Adderleys' (far right) pack up to seek out the nearest cake shop or perhaps outstanding rarity.

Weirdo, Walker Fold, 02.10.11 (Simon Warford)

Have you seen this man? If so please contact the fashion Police immediately and do not approach due to his possesion of seriously knobbly knees. Aliases known to include 'shit, what's that flying over', Meakon Man, Bloody Idiot, 'there's another two Mipits' and occasionally Andy Makin.

Odd-lot, Haigh, May 2010 (Ian Woosey)

This man needs help. Please 'phone the 'Andy Makin fashion helpline' in order to donate your flares, sandals, flowery shirts and all-in-one cat suits.

Find me some hills, quick, Boyton, Suffolk, October 2011 (Ian Woosey)

Mark Rigby suffering from serious low-altitude sickness whilst on the sea-level lowlands watching Sandhill Crane.

Wiganers, Rossall Point, May 2010 (Ian Woosey)

Seawatching...from Rossall Point...in spring...can only be coastal deficient Wiganers, Meadows (left) and Hargreaves (right).

A rather odd gathering, deepest north-east England, August 2011 (anon)

Amazing who you bump into when you're out of county. Wee Jimmy Cranky meets the UK's oldest folk singing birding band 'The Decrepid Old Crakes'. From left: Foulkes, Passant, Chorley, Rigby, Rayner.

Who ate all the pies, Spurn, 16.10.11 (John Rayner)

Wiganers did of course! Jimmy Meadows (left) and Ian Woosey (right) take a break from an intensive pie eating contest at the Bluebell, Spurn via a nice cup of tea.

Sea-level sickness strikes again, Spurn, East Yorkshire, 16.10.11 (John Rayner)

Mark Rigby, blighted by too much oxygen to the brain caused by sea-level sickness, is forced into the well known symptom of concrete staring, unless of course he'd spied a new digger species for his 'construction vehicle list'. Either way, your donation of a pound a day could help Mark and many sufferers like him...

Possibly the worlds oldest birder found in Wykenham Forest, Yorkshire, 15.06.10 (Mark Rigby)

What is considered perhaps the worlds oldest birder was found in Wykenham Forest and just happened to be our very own county birder John Rayner! Mark Rigby who was there at the time of the discovery and managed to take this snap of the beast, apparently defecating behind a bush or perhaps hiding from Nightjars or something, commented "I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a fossil at first but then it moved and swore at me". Scientists are looking to carbon date Mr. Rayner to see if he pre-dates Lindow Man, a birder who was found in a Peat Bog in Cheshire (Google it!).

Ian Woosey 'not twitching', Suffolk, 03.10.11 (Mark Rigby)

Would you believe it! You just go for a nice, quiet drive out to Suffolk for the day, not for anything in particular because you're not a dirty twitcher or anything and you park up for a quick pie and find this lot watching a Sandhill Crane. What are the chances of that? Well, it'd be rude not to take a peek for yourself now wouldn't it!