As the strap on my Swarovsk binoculars is now half way worn through were it passes through the attachment on the bins themselves, it's probably time to get a new one! The Swarovski replacement seems expensive for what it is and I've previously used OpTec straps for my tripods many years ago and was impr...
For the Birdfair weekend one of the UK's premier bird information services are offering access to their superb twitter service for free over the weekend and anyone subscribing to it can pay half price for the year- only £20!! As the service I use I can vouch for just how good the Bird Information Ltd's s...
Had my first visit here yesterday, and couldn't find reference on the pages, so thought I'd start a thread and spread the word on what I thought was a great site. Around the stepping stones were 3 Redstart, Wood warbler, Marsh Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Green and GS Woodpeckers. Also probabl...
Welcome to the Focalpoint Optics Forum on the Manchester Birding Forum. As a long established (over 20 years) local optics company Focalpoint is very proud to be supporting these Forums and to be here to help Greater Manchester Birders and those from further afield who use this excellent resource....
Yesterday, around 4-30 pm I saw a sparrowhawk which had a parakeet covered under its wings. I live in retirement flats in Didsbury and we have very large grounds. The two birds were screeching and under a hedge. I didn,t know what to do, whether to try and rescue the parakeet or not, I left them. Does anyo...
Read this today with sadness. The fact there are only two breeding hen harriers in england and that they are in the north east (none at all in the north west) is shocking. I have sen Hen Harriers on Newton Park (many moons ago) and at Risley Moss. In fact there was a Male Hen Harrier on Risley Moss last winte...
came across a spider today at work. very small body about the size of a pea in red , long legs in black. but huge, 7 inches. also they were in a group of 5 . i always thouht spiders were solitry. any ideas what they are, cheers simon
Late afternoon visit 7 Wheatear in horse fields 11 Rooks 3 Swallow Meadow Pipit Skylark Pied Wagtail -- Edited by Mark Rigby on Wednesday 20th of April 2011 10:51:51 PM
Walk from Hyde to Ashton Along the canal more LONDON BUR MARIGOLD, ORANGE BALSAM in several isolated spots Skullcap Gypsywort, Water Forgetmenot, Broad Leaved Heleborine, Dogs Mercury, Hemp Agrimony, Bittersweet, Cut Leaved Bramble, Chinese Bramble Yellow Loostrife, Hedge and Marsh Woundwo...
A visit to this National Trust property just outside Congleton 1 Buzzard 1m Bullfinch Chaffinches Goldfinches 1 Song thrush Robins Blue tits Great tits Coal tits Moorhen Mallard Nuthatch
Just returned from a 2 week holday, 23 July-6th August, staying at Skala in hotel Paspalis, not the best place for birding I've ever been too but here is a list of what I saw from early morning walks around Skala, 1 day out with a hire car and a boat trip too Ithacus. 24 July, hotel area; Collared Dove, Barn S...
hi i am pretty new at this, does any one know if the olivon t90 is any good.As i will be getting a scope around £300 ish or is there any thing better in this price range.Any advice will be very welcome
Had a run out to try and see the Two-barred Crossbill today. It hadn't been reported since 7am this morning and seeing perhaps 100 people stood around 12-15 yds from the farm house feeder on arrival at 11am, I could understand why. I turned around and went back home. -- Edited by John Barber on Sunday 4th...
Hi I normally go to Mere Sands Wood in Rufford and know what to look for as well as the Kingfisher's distinct call. On Wednesday I was down the river Tawd with my dog Woody, and I heard the distinct call of a Kingfisher. It was dark were I was next to the river and I got a glimpse of a fast moving bird just above t...
Sun 4-Aug-13 Slightly more succesful visit as far as 'other wildlife' is concerned, with numerous butterflies small and large and some Dragonflies present. - 4+ Brown Hawker -26 Small White - 4 Large White - 1 Peacock - 1 Red Admiral - c10 Meadow Brown - 2 Large Skipper - 4 Small Skipper
Around Agecroft section still in water in parts sites included speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Peacock, Common Dater, Eyebright, Yellow Loosestrife, White Campion, BLADDER CAMPION, Canadian Goldenrod, White and Ribbed Melliot Enchanter Nightshade and Tree Bumble Bee...
The prolonged spell of dry and warm weather has done wonders for the local butterfly population. On a walk round this morning with Deon Meadowcroft we saw the following: Green-veined White - good numbers Large White - 5 on bramble flower at one spot Meadow Brown - numerous. Didn't have time to count th...
Visited the above area on the 04-06-13 and saw a group of 5 x Grey or Golden Plover feeding, which from the photos looked like 1 x adult & 4 x juveniles could anyone help me identify these as the pictures are not great, I think they are Grey Plover, but someone with more experience than me would be able t...
Thornton Reservoir. 01/08/2013 - evening 7.30pm- 9pm Fabulous views through the 'scope last night for myself and Alex Jones at Thornton Reservoir, Leicestershire of the reported Night Heron. Initially the bird was roosting in a Willow tree on the opposite side of the Reservoir where dist...
Afternoon everyone, I currently have one of those Aldi spotting scopes which has lasted me well over the 3 years I have had it, but upon arriving at Lapwing lane last week, realised I need to upgrade my scope if I am to get back into my birding seriously. If anyone knows of one, or has one they are selling, I...
Peregrine, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Linnets, Meadow Pipits Pyramidal Orchid, Common Twayblade, Common Spotted Orchid Greater and Lesser Knapweed, Leadwort also known as SpringSandwort,, Grass of Parnassus, Ladies Bedstraw, Wild Strawberry, Wild Thyme Wild Marjoram, Mountain Pansy, Fa...
Forgive me for being pedantic as I'm not an expert, but I couldn't help being amused by a reference in another post to a wader's knees. It's very rare to see a bird's "knees" as they are hidden by its plumage. The joint visible on a wader's leg is the "tibio-tarsal articulation" wh...
I read in the Stockport Times about plans to build on part of the green belt at Reddish Vale Country Park. Labour seem to be supporting 'limited use of the greenbelt' to achieve this. Two petitions have beenset up, one at the Vale, the other in Brinnington, to oppose this. I wonder who we can write to to ob...
New adopted patch for me. 10 - 11am. 28 species. Highlights as follows: Tawny Owl 1 perched in usual place. Nest present. Site undisclosed as prone to disturbance. Whitethroat 2 singing -- Edited by Antony Wainwright on Sunday 28th of April 2013 11:40:42 AM
Varied area Few things in the Unsworth Lodges Brown Hawker, 4 Spotted Chaser, Southern Hawker, Azure and blue Tailed Damsels Unbranched Bur-reed, Valerian, Water Plantain, Broad Leaved Pondweed, Marsh Woundwort, Marsh Bedstraw, Water Mint, Meadow sweet Small TT Shell, Common whites, Large an...
Hi, am looking to get a new tripod, as the one I've got isn't the greatest. Not looking at spending hundreds, but could anybody recommend me any good mid-range makes I can trust? Thanks a lot!
Photos for illustration purposes of items being sold on this section of the forum are now permitted. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 26th of July 2013 03:09:58 PM
