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Welcome to Macclesfield Wildlife Explorers

Our new season has started!

Next indoor meeting –

Monday 18th March 2019 Secrets of the Rainforest

Next outdoor meeting –

Sunday 10th February 2019 Signs of Wildlife Treasure Hunt – Poynton Coppice

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.

 

Sunday 10th February 2019: Signs of Wildlife Treasure Hunt – Poynton Coppice

Posted on by February 12, 2019

Despite a soggy start to the day lots of Wildlife Explorer families gathered at Poynton Coppice for a ‘Signs of Wildlife’ Treasure Hunt. As well as brilliantly rhymed wildlife-themed clues (honestly!) – families had to complete a series of challenges on the way round the treasure trail including listing the birds we heard singing, determining the tree species on site from looking at their buds and identifying lichen. Family members of all ages took on searching out the clues and completing the challenges with great gusto. Admittedly there was one tiny glitch with the clues – Tina and Susan had … Click here for more information…..

Tuesday 29th January 2019: Mottram St Andrew Primary Academy

Posted on by January 29, 2019

Volunteers and young birdwatchers faced more wintry weather for the Big Schools Birdwatch at Mottram St. Andrew Primary Academy. After a smattering of overnight snow had turned to ice the ground was very slippery and the trainee ornithologists from the Reception and Nursery classes also had to contend with driving sleet. Despite conditions being far from ideal for a bit of birdwatching children had great fun using their binoculars. We listened out for robins, blackbirds and blue tits and we also heard crows and wood pigeons calling. As well as good views of jackdaws the children and adults were all … Click here for more information…..

Monday 28th January 2019: Terra Nova Reception and Nursery Classes

Posted on by January 28, 2019

Leaders Mark, Abercrombie, Susan and Tina visited Terra Nova for a cold but very sunny morning completing the Big School Birdwatch. After learning a little bit about about garden birds – how to identify some of them and what they sound like – children wrapped up warm with hats and scarves to head out on a birdwatching walk around the school grounds. The school regularly feeds the birds (although they have recently been competing with local squirrels for the best treats!) and a soon as the groups were outside we could hear birds singing. The best views during the morning … Click here for more information…..

Saturday 26th January 2019: Big Garden Birdwatch – West Park, Macclesfield

Posted on by January 27, 2019

Wildlife Explorers were lucky with the weather for their 2019 Big Garden Birdwatch (last year there was torrential rain!). Keen families of birdwatchers gathered near the café in West Park armed with binoculars and bird ID sheets. After a quick recap of the Top 10 garden birds for Cheshire in 2018 and some safety tips for using binoculars we set off to look and listen for the birds in the park. With so many eager birdwatchers it wasn’t surprising that we spotted a good range of species, however, we did manage to see some really special birds. We got excellent … Click here for more information…..

Friday 25th January 2019: Rainow Pre-School

Posted on by January 27, 2019

Rainow Preschool was our youngest group of birdwatchers this year- some of the children are just two years old, with the more mature members of the cohort being as old as four! The session started with children identifying pictures of garden birds and listening to their different songs. The great spotted woodpecker was a big favourite and everyone knew the barn owl. With their new bird identification skills it was time to wrap up warm with hats and scarves to head outside on a birdwatching walk. Everyone was equipped with a pair of binoculars and listened intently to the safety … Click here for more information…..