Don't know if you saw my earlier posting re "Where are the best spots for Owls" but taking up Ian's point the ones I mentioned are regularly posted on other sites -Deeestuary Birding today for example noted that there were 15 SEOs at Burton Marsh - none of the owl sites that I mentioned are "classified" - all freely posted elsewhere.
I live in North Bolton, right beneath Winter Hill at the edge of the moors, we have little owls in the area local to us. Quite new to the birding world, but really enjoying it,
Thanks for the advice. I was at Pennington Flash several weekends ago but didn't manage to find the Owl. Planning a birding trip Sunday up to Hollingworth Lake,
Keep an eye on the sighting forum for any latest sightings especially as owls can receive unwanted attention and so sightings on there will have been carefully considered before being posted, especially for Long-eared Owl for which New Hide at Pennington Flash remains the only divulgeable county site.
I am sure that others will put you right for Owls within in GM but I do a lot of my birding out-of-county so the following are some sites that I can recommend for Owl viewing.
Check out the forum Wirral thread for Short eared Owls - there were 20 plus birds in the air at the same time a couple of weeks ago at Burton Marsh. You generally also see SEOs up at Derbyshire Bridge just past the Cat and Fiddle. There is a resident Tawny Owl at both Moore nature reserve and Martin Mere that can quite often be seen dozing during the day. In the early evenings you can get Barn Owls at both Denhall Lane (Burton Marsh) and Parkgate. It is rumoured that there is a Long Eared Owl at Penninigton Flash but I can never find it!!! - more reliably in the past they were to be found at Wigg Island Runcorn in the warmer weather. Generally Little Owls will put in an appearance at the farm on the way down to Moore nature reserve. Then there is the biggie - the Eagle Owl at Dunnsop Bridge in the summer time it has bred for the past two years - in 2007 the site was well published but last year not so.
What part of the county are you based in John because i'm sure there will be a few good spots quite close to home? Regarding the trickier species, I know that Short-eared Owls are currently being seen at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale (see thread in sightings section for more info) Long-eared Owls are occasionally seen at Pennington Flash but not regular this winter as far as I know. The other species are likely to be more local to you. Thanks. Henry.
