COUNTY OFFICIALS AND ORGANISATIONS IN GREATER MANCHESTER
Please use the tabs to open the various selections
GMBRG CHAIRMAN AND COUNTY BIRD RECORDER
Ian McKerchar, 42 Green Avenue, Astley, M29 7EH. Tel. 01942 701758 Mobile: 07958 687481. Email: [email protected]
GMBRG SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT COUNTY BIRD RECORDER
Steve Atkins, 33 King's Grove, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9HR. Tel. 01706 645097. Email: [email protected]
GMBRG CONSERVATION OFFICER
Craig Higson. Tel. 07957 552317. Email: [email protected]
BTO REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, MANCHESTER REGION
Nick Hilton, 26 Tewkesbury Avenue, Davyhulme, Manchester M41 0RJ. Tel. 07920 494240. Email: [email protected]
BTO BREEDING BIRD SURVEY ORGANISER
Nick Hilton, 26 Tewkesbury Avenue, Davyhulme, Manchester M41 0RJ. Tel. 07920 494240. Email: [email protected]
BTO WETLANDS BIRD SURVEY ORGANISER (WeBS)
Tim Wilcox, 43 Horton Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 7QB. Email: [email protected]
GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE COUNTY WILDLIFE LIASON OFFICER
Chief Inspector David Henthorne. Tel.
Email: [email protected]
Ian McKerchar, 42 Green Avenue, Astley, M29 7EH. Tel. 01942 701758 Mobile: 07958 687481. Email: [email protected]
GMBRG SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT COUNTY BIRD RECORDER
Steve Atkins, 33 King's Grove, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9HR. Tel. 01706 645097. Email: [email protected]
GMBRG CONSERVATION OFFICER
Craig Higson. Tel. 07957 552317. Email: [email protected]
BTO REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, MANCHESTER REGION
Nick Hilton, 26 Tewkesbury Avenue, Davyhulme, Manchester M41 0RJ. Tel. 07920 494240. Email: [email protected]
BTO BREEDING BIRD SURVEY ORGANISER
Nick Hilton, 26 Tewkesbury Avenue, Davyhulme, Manchester M41 0RJ. Tel. 07920 494240. Email: [email protected]
BTO WETLANDS BIRD SURVEY ORGANISER (WeBS)
Tim Wilcox, 43 Horton Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 7QB. Email: [email protected]
GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE COUNTY WILDLIFE LIASON OFFICER
Chief Inspector David Henthorne. Tel.
Email: [email protected]
GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD RECORDING GROUP
The Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group (hereafter referred to as GMBRG) was founded in 2002. There are currently two group administrators, Ian McKerchar (Chairman and County Bird Recorder) and Steve Atkins (Secretary and Assistant County Bird Recorder).
OBJECTIVES OF THE GROUP:
MEMBERSHIP: Membership of the GMBRG is free of charge. Individuals wishing to become members of the group should complete the GMBRG Application Form (see bottom of post) and return it to the contact details on the form but it should be borne in mind that as the group's main objective is to further the recording of wild birds in the county, its members are expected to contribute to that. Once acknowledged, your membership will not require renewal and will continue until it is cancelled by the member themselves or the GMBRG.
Your membership allows us to:
COUNTY BIRD REPORT: The GMBRG produce and publish the definitive account of birds within the county in their Annual County Bird Report. The four man Report Production Team, consisting of Steve Atkins, Ian McKerchar, Bill Myerscough and Steve Suttill, strive to maintain the report's high standards of data collation and presentation, whilst striving to improve the overall report with innovative ideas, the inclusion of photographs of the very highest quality, excellent artwork and top class articles to ensure the report remains something enjoyable to read yet contains all the information required for birding in the county.
FINANCE: Any income from the sale of annual county bird reports or from the sale of data supplied to ecological consultants will be paid into the GMBRG bank account. This account is only for the use in improving future annual county bird reports and/or for developing the birds and birding within the county of Greater Manchester. Any significant expenditure should be passed to the GMBRG membership for approval/vote.
The Greater Manchester Annual County Bird Reports are available to be downloaded for free in PDF format below.
Please note that they are large files (up to 28MB) and may take from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes to download depending on the download speed of your internet connection. Paper copies of reports may still be available from the County Bird Recorder for those who require them.
The Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group (hereafter referred to as GMBRG) was founded in 2002. There are currently two group administrators, Ian McKerchar (Chairman and County Bird Recorder) and Steve Atkins (Secretary and Assistant County Bird Recorder).
OBJECTIVES OF THE GROUP:
- To further the recording of wild birds in the county of Greater Manchester and encourage the submission of records.
- To produce the county bird report as the definitive annual account of the county's avifauna.
- To appoint all county official positions.
- To work for the conservation of birds and sites of ornithological interest.
- To co-operate with national and regional societies and organisations in regard to survey work, research and conservation.
- To liaise with local bird clubs and RSPB groups.
MEMBERSHIP: Membership of the GMBRG is free of charge. Individuals wishing to become members of the group should complete the GMBRG Application Form (see bottom of post) and return it to the contact details on the form but it should be borne in mind that as the group's main objective is to further the recording of wild birds in the county, its members are expected to contribute to that. Once acknowledged, your membership will not require renewal and will continue until it is cancelled by the member themselves or the GMBRG.
Your membership allows us to:
- Increase the involvement and ownership of county birders within the GMBRG.
- Permit the right for each member of the group to an individual vote on any decisions requiring one within the GMBRG (i.e. county official elections/appointments, significant monitory spending). Again, this allows the members of the group more input into decision making on important county matters.
- Allow easy consultation for GMBRG officials to all members, via a GMBRG members only section of the Manchester Birding forum.
- Increase the submission of county bird records by county birders and increase the use of these records by relevant organizations for the protection of sites and conservation of species. As the primary function of the GMBRG is to record the county's avifauna so its members will be expected to submit their key records.
- Make the GMBRG stronger and more united with a view towards having more influence and involvement in county conservation issues.
COUNTY BIRD REPORT: The GMBRG produce and publish the definitive account of birds within the county in their Annual County Bird Report. The four man Report Production Team, consisting of Steve Atkins, Ian McKerchar, Bill Myerscough and Steve Suttill, strive to maintain the report's high standards of data collation and presentation, whilst striving to improve the overall report with innovative ideas, the inclusion of photographs of the very highest quality, excellent artwork and top class articles to ensure the report remains something enjoyable to read yet contains all the information required for birding in the county.
FINANCE: Any income from the sale of annual county bird reports or from the sale of data supplied to ecological consultants will be paid into the GMBRG bank account. This account is only for the use in improving future annual county bird reports and/or for developing the birds and birding within the county of Greater Manchester. Any significant expenditure should be passed to the GMBRG membership for approval/vote.
The Greater Manchester Annual County Bird Reports are available to be downloaded for free in PDF format below.
Please note that they are large files (up to 28MB) and may take from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes to download depending on the download speed of your internet connection. Paper copies of reports may still be available from the County Bird Recorder for those who require them.
| 2010 Greater Manchester County Bird Report |
| 2011 Greater Manchester County Bird Report |
GREATER MANCHESTER ECOLOGY UNIT
The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) works across the 10 districts of GM and identifies, surveys and selects County Sites of Biological Importance (SBIs) of which there are over 500. Information on individual SBIs may be obtained from GMEU and a copy of the SBI selection guidelines can be downloaded from https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/wildlife_sites/. The SBI boundaries can be viewed at https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/mapapp/
In addition, GMEU assesses and comments on the potential ecological impacts of development proposals on behalf of the ten GM district planning departments, and provides advice on safeguarding wildlife on development sites. The unit also inputs into the preparation of local development frameworks and other plans and strategies, including the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).
GMEU is also home to the Greater Manchester Local Records Centre (GMLRC) which was established in 2008 and forms part of a national network of LRCs. GMLRC’s primary roles are to promote wildlife recording across GM and to maintain a database of species and habitat records which are of vital importance to GMEU’s work. In order to protect wildlife, we need to know where and when species occur. By building up a detailed picture of the current distributions of Greater Manchester’s wildlife, we will also be able to monitor future changes, especially in response to climate change.
GMLRC’s website https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/ provides information on wildlife recording in Greater Manchester. Records of flora and fauna (including birds) can be submitted to GMLRC via the website using the on-line recording system SWIFT which has been adopted by the GM Bird Recording Group as our preferred method of record submission with effect from January 2021. Bird records submitted through SWIFT are shared with GMBRG and sightings of other species including butterflies, dragonflies, mammals and plants, are shared with the relevant County or Vice-County Recorders.
Close co-operation with the GM Bird Recording Group means that all bird records submitted to GMBRG are made available to GMEU for the selection and review of Sites of Biological Importance to assess the potential impacts of planning applications and to support the conservation of our county’s birds.
Contact details:
Greater Manchester Ecology Unit
Dukinfield Town Hall
King Street
Dukinfield
SK16 4LA
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0161 342 4121
The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) works across the 10 districts of GM and identifies, surveys and selects County Sites of Biological Importance (SBIs) of which there are over 500. Information on individual SBIs may be obtained from GMEU and a copy of the SBI selection guidelines can be downloaded from https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/wildlife_sites/. The SBI boundaries can be viewed at https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/mapapp/
In addition, GMEU assesses and comments on the potential ecological impacts of development proposals on behalf of the ten GM district planning departments, and provides advice on safeguarding wildlife on development sites. The unit also inputs into the preparation of local development frameworks and other plans and strategies, including the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).
GMEU is also home to the Greater Manchester Local Records Centre (GMLRC) which was established in 2008 and forms part of a national network of LRCs. GMLRC’s primary roles are to promote wildlife recording across GM and to maintain a database of species and habitat records which are of vital importance to GMEU’s work. In order to protect wildlife, we need to know where and when species occur. By building up a detailed picture of the current distributions of Greater Manchester’s wildlife, we will also be able to monitor future changes, especially in response to climate change.
GMLRC’s website https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/ provides information on wildlife recording in Greater Manchester. Records of flora and fauna (including birds) can be submitted to GMLRC via the website using the on-line recording system SWIFT which has been adopted by the GM Bird Recording Group as our preferred method of record submission with effect from January 2021. Bird records submitted through SWIFT are shared with GMBRG and sightings of other species including butterflies, dragonflies, mammals and plants, are shared with the relevant County or Vice-County Recorders.
Close co-operation with the GM Bird Recording Group means that all bird records submitted to GMBRG are made available to GMEU for the selection and review of Sites of Biological Importance to assess the potential impacts of planning applications and to support the conservation of our county’s birds.
Contact details:
Greater Manchester Ecology Unit
Dukinfield Town Hall
King Street
Dukinfield
SK16 4LA
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0161 342 4121
GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD RECORDING GROUP
Contact: Ian McKerchar Email: [email protected]
LEIGH ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Contact: Angela Pike Email: [email protected]
STOCKPORT BIRDWATCHING SOCIETY
Contact: Dave Evans Email: [email protected]
RSPB MEMBERS’ GROUPS
Bolton: Terry Delaney Tel: 0161 794 4684 Email: [email protected]
High Peak: Richard Stephenson Tel: 0161 427 4187 Email: [email protected]
Stockport: Colin Barnes Tel: 0161 477 5118 Email: [email protected]
Wigan: Neil Martin Tel: 01695 624860 Email: [email protected]
Contact: Ian McKerchar Email: [email protected]
LEIGH ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Contact: Angela Pike Email: [email protected]
STOCKPORT BIRDWATCHING SOCIETY
Contact: Dave Evans Email: [email protected]
RSPB MEMBERS’ GROUPS
Bolton: Terry Delaney Tel: 0161 794 4684 Email: [email protected]
High Peak: Richard Stephenson Tel: 0161 427 4187 Email: [email protected]
Stockport: Colin Barnes Tel: 0161 477 5118 Email: [email protected]
Wigan: Neil Martin Tel: 01695 624860 Email: [email protected]
