ALEXANDRA Park in Oldham has been named the borough’s ‘most luxurious’ birdwatching site by James Walsh aka the Mancunian Birder.

James, who has been watching birds in Greater Manchester for more than 30 years, said: “Alexandra Park is the Oldham borough’s most luxurious birdwatching site.

“With many birding sites, including some of the top nature reserves, the views of birds can be very distant.

"However, in Alexandra Park all the birds are very close, so you get excellent views and superb photographic opportunities.

“Alexandra Park is a great base for a day’s birding, with Snipe Clough, Park Bridge and Daisy Nook Country Park all easily accessible on foot or on bike.”

James is also a fan of The Boathouse Cafe where he says you can "get warm, take shelter and have a brew and a nice slice of cake or a cooked meal - no matter how rainy or cold the weather is” adding: “This is luxury compared with some of the other Oldham birding sites.”

The Oldham Times:

A Drake North American Wood Duck, photo by Paul Whiting.

The avid bird watcher has made 65 visits to the site since 2018 and has recorded 10 species of wildfowl in the park.

He said: “I’ve now recorded 10 species of wildfowl in the park – Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Mandarin Duck and North American Wood Duck.”