I notice that the forum has recently attracted its 1000th member.
I did suggest that perhaps the 1000th through the door should get a special prize - a bit like a supermarket trolley dash - but I'm not sure it's going to happen
Well done Ian on the continued popularity of the website and forum - you must be doing something right.
Cheers, John
Dennis atherton said
Fri Oct 29 11:31 AM, 2010
Oh yee of little faith
Phil Owen said
Tue Oct 26 9:45 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Oh Phil!
Or was I thinking of something else Ian??
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 26 8:57 PM, 2010
Oh Phil!
Phil Owen said
Tue Oct 26 9:23 AM, 2010
Mark Rigby wrote:
Dennis atherton wrote:
Did anyone else notice the online stats have been smashed, they now stand at 53 member(s) and 203 guest(s) at Tue Sep 7 1:11 PM, 2010, online at once,
superb, congratulations to Ian, onwards and upwards for Gmbirding
I seem to recall the website did had a problem around this time showing members logged on who weren't etc, so might not necessarily be accurate!!
I do hope I'm wrong though!!
Dennis atherton said
Mon Oct 25 11:34 PM, 2010
I know, i was just surprised it had not been commented on, ill try harder with the bird info
Mark Rigby said
Mon Oct 25 9:24 PM, 2010
Dennis atherton wrote:
Did anyone else notice the online stats have been smashed, they now stand at 53 member(s) and 203 guest(s) at Tue Sep 7 1:11 PM, 2010, online at once,
superb, congratulations to Ian, onwards and upwards for Gmbirding
Dennis,
Thanks for sharing that with us
47 days 5 hours and 56 minutes after the event. I hope you pass on your bird gen a little more quickly
Dennis atherton said
Sun Oct 24 7:04 PM, 2010
Did anyone else notice the online stats have been smashed, they now stand at 53 member(s) and 203 guest(s) at Tue Sep 7 1:11 PM, 2010, online at once,
superb, congratulations to Ian, onwards and upwards for Gmbirding
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 26 10:55 PM, 2010
Oh, and a big thank you to all those many people who took the time and trouble to get in touch with me to let me know the website was down. I knew almost immediately as it happened (as I was actually on as it went down!) but it's nice to know that folk care enough about it to go out of their way and I really appreciate it
Dennis atherton said
Thu Aug 26 5:25 PM, 2010
Good news, 653 people can now breathe again
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Aug 26 3:44 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
At last it's back
Seems a more 'demanding' email may have done the trick
Well done young man at least paul will be able to sleep at night now
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 26 2:38 PM, 2010
At last it's back
Seems a more 'demanding' email may have done the trick
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 25 10:57 PM, 2010
The website and forum are totally seperate, hence one is fine whilst the other isn't! The website is hosted by a company in the UK and the forum by one in Canada.
Dennis atherton said
Wed Aug 25 10:39 PM, 2010
As far as i can see it the whole forum under the activeboard.com part of the site is fine, its the manchesterbirding.com with all the other parts of the site, links, site guides, galleries and all the other stuff that are unreachable with the same 503 server error, we will just have to wait till the server work is finished to see if Ian has got any more pictues of the illusive Winchat, i am sure John Tymon hasent really put a virus on the server to sabotage the bird comp, he might have joined the darkside by using Nikon but he does take some good pictures with it so all is forgiven
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 25 10:36 PM, 2010
I can only apologise folks as it's out of my hands and I assure you all, I'm more frustrated by it that you are
I only hope they resolve the fault quickly!
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Aug 25 10:02 PM, 2010
Still having trouble getting on, but found a way through Google! I've used the same method when having trouble before.
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Aug 25 5:18 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
I'm back! Strange how you can get on from your mobile? Have you refreshed the page to see if you can still get one as no one else seems to be able?
browneys havin' kittens on north ron,because he can't get on he was worried some leyther had sabotaged his connection ,so the said leyther could win the mystery bird comp
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 25 5:13 PM, 2010
I'm back! Strange how you can get on from your mobile? Have you refreshed the page to see if you can still get one as no one else seems to be able?
Simon Warford said
Wed Aug 25 4:43 PM, 2010
I can only get on website from my mobile. Come on pal get off them moors!
Rob Thorpe said
Wed Aug 25 3:59 PM, 2010
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Rob Thorpe wrote:
Is anybody else having problems accessing the Manchester Birding website? I keep getting "Service Unavailable" "HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable."
Rob the server is having some work done to it,Ian is aware-should be back soon John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 25th of August 2010 03:42:19 PM
Good, I'm having withdrawal symptoms here!
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 25 3:50 PM, 2010
As soon as I get down off these moors above Horwich I'll get right onto it and check how long they're going to be
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Aug 25 3:41 PM, 2010
Rob Thorpe wrote:
Is anybody else having problems accessing the Manchester Birding website? I keep getting "Service Unavailable" "HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable."
Rob the server is having some work done to it,Ian is aware-should be back soon John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 25th of August 2010 03:42:19 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Wed Aug 25 3:37 PM, 2010
Is anybody else having problems accessing the Manchester Birding website? I keep getting "Service Unavailable" "HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable."
Mark Rigby said
Sat Aug 14 12:27 AM, 2010
Ian has come up with the goods again. Another excellent article, this time on the ID of Tree Pipits. You never know, in 20 years time we might be waiting with bated breath for the McKerchar 2nd edition. Eat you heart out Collins
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Saturday 14th of August 2010 12:31:18 AM
Mark Rigby said
Tue May 11 4:13 PM, 2010
For all those people wondering where the main website is, copy the following link into your browser and save it as a favorite. The next time you log on, click on this link and you will be on the Manchester Birding Homepage. Then you can click to your hearts content and access the Forum from here, which is a very small part of the bigger picture.
http://manchesterbirding.com
Paul Heaton said
Tue May 11 3:40 PM, 2010
Mr Rowley, dont upset the webmaster.
The forum is only a tiny part of the huge website that is THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE.
So click on the top right hand heading back to the manchester birding website, whats new! or Articles issues and Reviews, click on the heading next to the big picture of a pager, then click on the heading next to the big picture of the scope.
The website if full of excellent articles helpful hints photos, its brill, take a tour round its free.
Have fun reading all of it and
Keep Birding.
Looks like you beat me to it John
-- Edited by Paul Heaton on Tuesday 11th of May 2010 03:40:44 PM
John Rayner said
Tue May 11 3:39 PM, 2010
Hi Phil,
As you are a newish poster I guess you haven't seen the many references to the larger part of this website (this forum is only a bit of it). Elsewhere there are maps and guides to various sites, identification articles, competitions, items for sale and, of course, review articles (and much more!)
Try clicking on
1/ BACK TO MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE (At top of this page) 2/ ARTICLES, IDENTIFICATION ISSUES AND REVIEWS 3/ REVIEWS
You will find a review of the new Leica in there.
Cheers, John
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 11 3:26 PM, 2010
Phil Rowley said
Tue May 11 12:55 PM, 2010
Hi Paul / Dennis
Where is this scope reveiw you mention??
Thanks Phil
Paul Wilson said
Mon May 10 7:08 PM, 2010
Paul Heaton wrote:
Very nice scope review Ian, I was also allowed a test view at Elton, it is a nice scope, but beyond my pocket money.
Keep birding
I too managed to get a look through this wonderful scope - viewing RB Mergansers at Elton. Don't think Sue will be upgrading her Leica 77 APO though - it was bought to last a lifetime and probably will!
Paul Heaton said
Mon May 10 5:21 PM, 2010
Very nice scope review Ian, I was also allowed a test view at Elton, it is a nice scope, but beyond my pocket money.
Keep birding
Dennis atherton said
Sat Mar 20 5:34 PM, 2010
yep, Ian be ready with the all powerfull moderators finger to quickly delete any posts of breeding birds anyone is silly enough to put up on here
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 20th of March 2010 05:35:19 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 18 11:46 PM, 2010
I dunno Dave. All I do know is that at the time of me looking there were 29 members and 10 visitors on line at that particular time. It's really not something I'm likely to loose sleep over though . Posting breeding birds this coming spring/summer however...
David Winnard said
Thu Mar 18 11:38 PM, 2010
I think it goes off the most members on at one time Ian, on the Wildlife one its says most is 6 members 0 visitors but i regular see 12+ visitors but only 2/3 members at that time.
Dave
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 18 10:38 PM, 2010
It was beaten the other evening (might have been the 16th I think) as there were 39 users on line at one moment when I looked but for some reason it has not been logged on the forum statistics
Dennis atherton said
Thu Mar 18 8:15 PM, 2010
i was watching those figures to, we now beat the last high with
The most users ever online was 20 member(s) and 10 guest(s) at Sun Feb 28 8:31 PM, 2010
Rob Thorpe wrote:
We've just set the record for "most ever users online"!
19 member(s) and 12 guest(s) at Mon Jan 4 9:33 PM, 2010
History in the making...
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 4th of January 2010 09:35:02 PM
Paul Heaton said
Wed Mar 17 9:15 PM, 2010
Many thanks gentleman, my budget does not allow for a new lens yet, so look forward to your images and advice.
keep clicking away
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Mar 17 6:43 PM, 2010
Paul Heaton wrote:
Dave,s excellent article on bird photography and images are brill, may I suggest that a follow up piece on how you took them, also can we achieve reasonable shots with a 300m lens or do we have to have a mega one.
keep Birding
I would say anyone serious about bird photography need a minimum of 500mm,to get the better shots,I did 3 years with a 300mm,and was always feeling i didn't have enough reach.now I use a sigma 150-500mm,which is great for both flight shots,and anything else i encounter,The only place a 300mm is enough really ,is a place like bunting hide at penny,but after the 200th shot of a bullfinch there,you'll be wanting more reach. Its like anything,its how serious you want to be about it,if its just record shots of the odd rarity,300mm would be ok,but there is definately a reason most bird photographers have massive lenses,they are powerful,and fast,which means they are good in lower light.just wish i could afford a 500mm,2.8,but a new car is cheaper,so the sigma doas me fine.
David Winnard said
Wed Mar 17 6:25 PM, 2010
Cheers Paul,
300mm is more than enough - the key with all wildlife photography is getting close enough to your subject (Ethically). I am just finishing the next article which i feel is more important than ever with recent developments in Wildlife Photographer of the Year and National Geographic.....Ethics.
Then the one after that i aim to cover the differences on settings like ISO, exposure, f number, composition etc.
But if people do want advice on any aspect of bird/wildlife photography then let me know and i can make or incorporate it into an article.
Cheers
Dave
Paul Heaton said
Wed Mar 17 5:34 PM, 2010
Dave,s excellent article on bird photography and images are brill, may I suggest that a follow up piece on how you took them, also can we achieve reasonable shots with a 300m lens or do we have to have a mega one.
keep Birding
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Jan 4 9:32 PM, 2010
We've just set the record for "most ever users online"!
19 member(s) and 12 guest(s) at Mon Jan 4 9:33 PM, 2010
History in the making...
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 4th of January 2010 09:35:02 PM
Ian Campbell said
Mon Dec 14 4:16 PM, 2009
A great web site just keeps on getting better, thanks in the main to all the hard work but into it by Ian. Like Paul, I'd like to wish Ian and his family a very Happy Christmas, thanks once again. Cheers Ian
Paul Heaton said
Mon Dec 14 7:20 AM, 2009
Like the yuletide message on the notice board, posters great laugh, my favourite is Attitude and Birdwatching,
Cheers Ian, festive wishes to you and your family.
Keep Birding.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 4 3:20 PM, 2009
My head is sore through banging it the wall Mark so feel free
The regular visitors to the website make it more than enough of a good reason to keep banging away on this keyboard though. Plenty more new stuff in the pipeline.
Mark Rigby said
Fri Dec 4 3:02 PM, 2009
A GENTLE REMINDER (Hope I'm not stepping on your toes Ian?)
I have spoken to several birders recently who use the Forum, but are still blissfully un-aware of the Manchester Birding Website.
If you read the Forum pages, take a look at the Website. There is a wealth of information available from ID papers, GM Birding sites and directions, Photo Gallery, Mystery Bird Competition, Systematic lists etc, etc, etc, etc.
There is also a Who's-Who's of GM birders (who's photo's look nothing like the real article-with the exception of a certain Mr.Woosey!!!)
This Website is only succesfull due to the hard work and time put in by the owner (who ever he is?) and the people who use and contribute on a regular basis.
So if you are reading this and never visited the Website take a look.
WARNING- Looking at the Website will seriously damage your sleep time, once you start, you just cant stop
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 3 11:25 PM, 2009
Tony Coatsworth wrote:
6th October I believe !
The photo was taken 28th September, so close Tony but no cigar
Paul Heaton said
Thu Dec 3 10:33 PM, 2009
Thanks for the driving lesson, cleared out my caches, messy job!
found the answers to Novembers mystery, however when I click on December nothing, dont you just hate computers, I am giving them up for new year, and just going birding instead.
keep birding.
Tony Coatsworth said
Thu Dec 3 10:26 PM, 2009
For those on Firefox the magic F5 button reloads the page and clears the cache.
BTW - I didn't have clairvoyant powers to 'spot' the Redshank - I have an almost identical photo and must have been stood next to the photographer - it was a very packed hide that day - 6th October I believe !
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Thursday 3rd of December 2009 10:28:59 PM
David Winnard said
Thu Dec 3 10:01 PM, 2009
If your using Safari Paul try clicking when the window is open, Safari>Preferences>Empty Cache, then refresh it.
If your using Firefox the go to Tools>Clear Private Data>Clear Cache, then refresh.
Hope it helps
Dave
Paul Heaton said
Thu Dec 3 9:56 PM, 2009
Cheers Gentlemen,
Just got new computer two weeks ago, big bugger off Apple mac thingy, not certain how to drive it yet!
I did suggest that perhaps the 1000th through the door should get a special prize - a bit like a supermarket trolley dash - but I'm not sure it's going to happen
Well done Ian on the continued popularity of the website and forum - you must be doing something right.
Cheers, John
Or was I thinking of something else Ian??
Dennis,
Thanks for sharing that with us
47 days 5 hours and 56 minutes after the event. I hope you pass on your bird gen a little more quickly
superb, congratulations to Ian, onwards and upwards for Gmbirding
Well done young man
Seems a more 'demanding' email may have done the trick
i am sure John Tymon hasent really put a virus on the server to sabotage the bird comp, he might have joined the darkside by using Nikon but he does take some good pictures with it so all is forgiven
I only hope they resolve the fault quickly!
browneys havin' kittens on north ron,because he can't get on he was worried some leyther had sabotaged his connection
Good, I'm having withdrawal symptoms here!
Rob
the server is having some work done to it,Ian is aware-should be back soon
John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 25th of August 2010 03:42:19 PM
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Saturday 14th of August 2010 12:31:18 AM
http://manchesterbirding.com
The forum is only a tiny part of the huge website that is THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE.
So click on the top right hand heading back to the manchester birding website, whats new! or Articles issues and Reviews, click on the heading next to the big picture of a pager, then click on the heading next to the big picture of the scope.
The website if full of excellent articles helpful hints photos, its brill, take a tour round its free.
Have fun reading all of it and
Keep Birding.
Looks like you beat me to it John
-- Edited by Paul Heaton on Tuesday 11th of May 2010 03:40:44 PM
As you are a newish poster I guess you haven't seen the many references to the larger part of this website (this forum is only a bit of it). Elsewhere there are maps and guides to various sites, identification articles, competitions, items for sale and, of course, review articles (and much more!)
Try clicking on
1/ BACK TO MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE (At top of this page)
2/ ARTICLES, IDENTIFICATION ISSUES AND REVIEWS
3/ REVIEWS
You will find a review of the new Leica in there.
Cheers, John
Where is this scope reveiw you mention??
Thanks Phil
I too managed to get a look through this wonderful scope - viewing RB Mergansers at Elton. Don't think Sue will be upgrading her Leica 77 APO though - it was bought to last a lifetime and probably will!
Keep birding
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 20th of March 2010 05:35:19 PM
Dave
The most users ever online was 20 member(s) and 10 guest(s) at Sun Feb 28 8:31 PM, 2010
keep clicking away
I would say anyone serious about bird photography need a minimum of 500mm,to get the better shots,I did 3 years with a 300mm,and was always feeling i didn't have enough reach.now I use a sigma 150-500mm,which is great for both flight shots,and anything else i encounter,The only place a 300mm is enough really ,is a place like bunting hide at penny,but after the 200th shot of a bullfinch there,you'll be wanting more reach.
Its like anything,its how serious you want to be about it,if its just record shots of the odd rarity,300mm would be ok,but there is definately a reason most bird photographers have massive lenses,they are powerful,and fast,which means they are good in lower light.just wish i could afford a 500mm,2.8,but a new car is cheaper,so the sigma doas me fine.
300mm is more than enough - the key with all wildlife photography is getting close enough to your subject (Ethically). I am just finishing the next article which i feel is more important than ever with recent developments in Wildlife Photographer of the Year and National Geographic.....Ethics.
Then the one after that i aim to cover the differences on settings like ISO, exposure, f number, composition etc.
But if people do want advice on any aspect of bird/wildlife photography then let me know and i can make or incorporate it into an article.
Cheers
Dave
keep Birding
19 member(s) and 12 guest(s) at Mon Jan 4 9:33 PM, 2010
History in the making...
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 4th of January 2010 09:35:02 PM
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian, festive wishes to you and your family.
Keep Birding.
The regular visitors to the website make it more than enough of a good reason to keep banging away on this keyboard though. Plenty more new stuff in the pipeline.
I have spoken to several birders recently who use the Forum, but are still blissfully un-aware of the Manchester Birding Website.
If you read the Forum pages, take a look at the Website. There is a wealth of information available from ID papers, GM Birding sites and directions, Photo Gallery, Mystery Bird Competition, Systematic lists etc, etc, etc, etc.
There is also a Who's-Who's of GM birders (who's photo's look nothing like the real article-with the exception of a certain Mr.Woosey!!!)
This Website is only succesfull due to the hard work and time put in by the owner (who ever he is?
So if you are reading this and never visited the Website take a look.
WARNING- Looking at the Website will seriously damage your sleep time, once you start, you just cant stop
The photo was taken 28th September, so close Tony but no cigar
found the answers to Novembers mystery, however when I click on December nothing, dont you just hate computers, I am giving them up for new year, and just going birding instead.
keep birding.
BTW - I didn't have clairvoyant powers to 'spot' the Redshank - I have an almost identical photo and must have been stood next to the photographer - it was a very packed hide that day - 6th October I believe !
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Thursday 3rd of December 2009 10:28:59 PM
If your using Firefox the go to Tools>Clear Private Data>Clear Cache, then refresh.
Hope it helps
Dave
Just got new computer two weeks ago, big bugger off Apple mac thingy, not certain how to drive it yet!
will wait and see, many thanks