The “Big Five” bird species on the boating lake are Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose and Great Crested Grebe.

Kingfisher, Cormorant, Goosander and Little Grebe are occasional visitors, whilst Goldeneye, Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mandarin and Pink-footed Goose have all been recorded on the lake.

A female Ring-necked Duck was a rare visitor from North America on 17th February 2013 and on 10th June 2019 a stunning summer plumage adult Mediterranean Gull was present.

Boats are £8:50 for a maximum of 4 people for 45 minutes and the Lakeside Café is the perfect place to get a brew and chill and watch the birds.

In the woodland there are two colourful and exotic looking birds - the Jay and the Rose-ringed Parakeet! Great Spotted Woodpecker is a resident bird in the woodland, as are Treecreeper and Nuthatch; keep your eyes wide open for Green Woodpecker and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but you would be amazingly lucky to see these species!

The Song Thrush has, as the name suggests, the most beautiful song! Warblers such as Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap can be heard melodically singing, and you might be lucky and identify a Garden Warbler!

Swifts and hirundines - House Martin, Swallow, Sand Martin - can be seen feeding low over the park, especially on the overcast days, and make sure you scan these birds as they zoom around; 2 Red-rumped Swallows, rare visitors from Southern Europe, were present on 17th April 2015.

Spring migrants include Whinchat, Cuckoo, Redstart, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail, whilst in the Autumn Heaton Park is a site for visible migration watching! Most birders know that golf courses can be great for migrant birds and there are two in the park - a full course and a pitch and putt course.

Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are resident in the park, Hobby is an occasional visitor in the summer and there have been sightings of Osprey, Merlin and Red Kite.

Heaton Park is situated to the north of Manchester city centre, there are several entrances and several car parks, and also a Metrolink station – there is a special Bee Tram on the day! Or you could get the 135 buzz from Dale Street, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester city centre!

If you are staying in the Manchester area there is Alkrington Nature Reserve, Boggart Hole Clough, Moston Fairway Lancashire Wildlife Trust nature reserve, the Irwell Valley, including Elton Reservoir, and Manchester city centre where you can see Peregrine and Black Redstart if you are lucky!