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Welcome to Macclesfield Wildlife Explorers

Our new season has started!

Next indoor meeting –

Monday 18th June 2018 – Screaming Swifts Summer Party

Next outdoor meeting –

Saturday 9th June 2018: Mini Bioblitz and Picnic – Lindow Common, Wilmslow

You can join our group by emailing us or by coming along to one of our indoor meetings.

To see What’s Coming Soon, or to download a pdf copy of our current programme, please ‘click’ here

To see Recent Events, please ‘click’ here

To see Recent Press Coverage, please ‘click’ here

 

Click here to read reports for the Big Schools Birdwatch 2018!

 

Our old website still exists as the archive of Reports of Meetings held prior to September 2013.
Click here to view our old meeting reports.

 

Monday 21st May 2018: Birds of Prey – Predator Design Perfection

Posted on by May 30, 2018

The penultimate indoor meeting of the season focussed on birds of prey and the incredible adaptations that make them formidable airborne hunters. Leader Martin explained that as well as sharp beaks and powerful talons (all perfected to deal with different prey) these birds have a whole host of mind-boggling special features to make them efficient and effective predators. In owls the facial disc channels sound precisely to allow hunting at night and their feathers have a soft edge facilitating silent flight, enough to surprise unsuspecting mice and voles. The fastest animal on earth, the peregrine falcon, can only achieve amazing … Click here for more information…..

Sunday 13th May 2018: Exploring Fletcher Moss, Didsbury – Birthplace of the RSPB

Posted on by May 24, 2018

The Wildlife Explorers visit to Fletcher Moss Park and Parsonage Gardens took advantage of a glorious sunny day. There are two main buildings on the site, one of which, The Croft is famous as the birthplace of The RSPB. In 1890, Emily Williamson held a meeting at The Croft to discuss the exploitation of bird for their feathers. The Plumage League was formed and great work was done campaigning against the use of bird feathers in fashion, particularly millinery. Birds like the Great Crested Grebe were saved from the brink of extinction. On joining forces with Croydon’s Fur and feather … Click here for more information…..

Sunday 29th April 2018: Dawn Chorus and Barbecue Breakfast

Posted on by May 10, 2018

It’s that time of year Wildlife Explorers set their alarm clocks for 5.00 am and head to a beauty spot close to Macclesfield to listen to the incredible sounds of the Dawn Chorus. 35 Wildlife Explorers gathered at the car park at the bottom of Tegg’s Nose Country Park, Leader Martin played a selection of bird songs so the group could start to familiarise themselves with the sounds filling the woods. Families learned how to identify Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Wood pigeon and the distinctive trill of the wren. There was a carpet of pretty, white wood sorrel flowers and the … Click here for more information…..

Saturday 24th March 2018: Conservation Work Party – Danes Moss

Posted on by April 6, 2018

Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers assembled a group of enthusiastic volunteers for a morning of conservation work at Danes Moss. This Cheshire Wildlife Trust reserve near Macclesfield is Cheshire’s largest and highest lowland raised bog, one of the scarcest and most threatened habitats in Britain. The open areas of the bog are covered with plants like cotton grass and cross-leaved heath and at least six species of sphagnum moss. In recent years the Trust has undertaken work to expand the reserve and recently contractors have been busy working on site to help clear large tree saplings from the bog. Bunds of … Click here for more information…..

Monday 19th March 2018: Magnificent Meadows – The Importance of Wild Flowers in the Countryside

Posted on by March 29, 2018

Since the 1930s we have lost 97% of our wildflower meadows in Britain. Changes in traditional farming practices mean that this important wildlife habitat has become increasingly rare, along with the species of birds, insects and wildflowers that it supports – some have even become extinct. At the most recent Wildlife Explorer meeting our members learned about the plants that grow in meadows and creatures that make their home there. To get everyone in the room ‘meadow-ready’ (and to help everyone defrost from the recent cold weather) we all spent a few minutes lying on the floor with our eyes … Click here for more information…..