Anyone else fascinated by collective nouns for birds? This came up last night at a conference (Proofreaders') and we were racking our brains for certain species. This makes for great reading: http://collectivenoun.co.uk/- general list of collective nouns, but lots of birds'. A 'scold' of Jays i...
I was in Dubai last week, and while my husband was working, I had a few days holiday. Avoiding the shopping malls was a priority. I had no transport apart from taxis and the Metro, so most of the exciting but less accessible birding venues were out. Fortunately, our hotel was just across from the Media Ci...
My much loved 300mm f2.8 is shortly to be put up for sale as I've been lucky enough to upgrade to a VR version of the same lens. This is the AF-S Mk II D i.e. the last version before they added VR [which I believe is the only difference - glass etc being the same according to what I've read]. Condition is excell...
Late posting: 6th-20th August 2012: A family holiday in Cala En Porter and not really any specific birding time but a few interesting general sightings which may be of interest to future visitors. Generally the island seemed disappointingly rather quiet bird-wise presumably due to the end of the m...
For sale - 2 pairs of bins, new, pristine. Unused, original boxes, with accessories, manufacturers warranty. Opticron Aurora 8 x 42 BGA black/gunmetal, nitrogen waterproof roof prism binoculars, (ex-demo). £685 £700 on many sites. Will sell for £500 ONO Opticron Verano BGA PC Oasis 8 x 42 roof pri...
Visited 5-12th September 2012 Holiday with some birding! (As much as I could get away with!) Very hot 32-36c All but the largest rivers & Streams were bone dry Around Trujillo: Spotless Starling - Very Common and VERY vocal Lesser Kestrel - only the odd one this time of year Short Toed Eagle - occas...
my son who has recently started college and has picked graphic design as one of his subjects is on the look out for a camera, over the last couple of weeks he has decided to go for the canon eos 1000 d. we may be looking at buying new but i wondered if any body on mb forum was about to sell such model we might be be...
I've had several discussions with fellow birders recently on this subject, so thought I'd post on the discussion forum to get some general opinions. Just wondered what are your views on birds trapped and ringed? Would you actually count them on your own personal BOU list? Personally, I see no proble...
A report by my friend & reliable Birder, David Wells: A Red Kite NE over Mossfield Close Bury at 5.45pm today then over the M66 towards the Cheeseden Valley
Hi All, Did any body else see about 14 raptors today circling over civic centre, I live about 5 minutes away and at about 12:30 saw what I thought was 3 buzzards and a sparrowhawk fly over my house, circling and moving towards civic, I thought then thay they might not be buzzards as the call the were making...
Hello I'm trying to learn as much as I can about birds but I'm still a novice. Tonight about half an hour ago I was out walking and saw an owl. It was larger than a tawny owl. It was screeching really loudly. I've been listening to different owl sounds on the RSPB website and none of them sound anything l...
Leigh Ornithological Society will be holding it's first meeting and presentation this year on Friday 7 September in the Derby Room at Leigh Library from 7:15pm onwards. Entrance on the door is just £2 for non-members or a measly £10 for a full year's membership! Come and join us! Full details...
In good condition both body and glass. Has had a filter on since new. Is in original box and has case and hood. Instruction leaflet also in the box. Selling due to upgrade so offering to GM birders before putting on eBay. Looking for around £475. Any questions please ask. John T -- Edited by Ian McKerchar...
After heaving a huge sigh of relief that the petrel was still on show as I 'scoped it up at 16.20 on Thursday, soon after my arrival, I spent the next 2 hours 20 mins watching it intermittently until its departure high to the east at 18.40. (I checked its exit direction with my compass yesterday morning; -...
Shell Nature Reserve is one of the most important sites within Greater Manchester and now desperately seeks the assistance of county birders. Three very recent break-ins on the reserve have left the wooden equipment sheds, used for storing equipment and the like required to maintain this excelle...
Obviously, conditions were less than ideal to see anything slightly out of the ordinary, but, the RSPB guys did a great job all the same. The following were seen: Peregrine (perched atop the Hamilton Station tower on the Wirral side) Shag (unusual here apparently) Oystercatcher Grey Plover (lots o...
This is the import of the thread mysteriously entitled 'Say No to the World Logistics Hub'. Many of you, like me, may have missed the import of this thread which is the massive concreting over of 39 hectares of all land from the A538 at Oak Farm to the very border of Sunbank Wood and Cotteril Clough: nothi...
I'm sure there's a thread for this site already, but I can't find it. I had a pleasant stroll down the Ladybrook in warm sunshine this morning. Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail were along the river, several Nuthatches and a Chiffchaff in the woods by Bramhall High School, and a Buzzard in the trees near the B...
As we are currently working on the 2011 Greater Manchester County Bird Report, I am looking for bird images for possible inclusion in it. Images can be of any species (common, scarce or rare) as long as they were taken in the county during 2011 but must be of the highest quality for consideration. Image...
While working in the Aircraft Hangar today,a very young Pigeon came ambling up to me,as though it was requesting help. It was very tame,I put it in a box and gave it a Drink with the help of a sychring and some bread,but it only ate 2 small pieces. It has on one leg a very small bead bracelet,not a ring,Any id...
If you've never seen this video, it's well worth a look. Check it out here: Leigh Ornithological Society Website -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 4th of September 2012 11:15:03 AM
I'm looking for bird nest boxes, any shape, size or species, old or new I'm not fussy. They're for a breeding birds project starting up in South Manchester details of which will be divulged in future. Given the amount needed I can't afford to pay over the odds for them, but am willing to pay. Ideally look...
Hi all I have for sale an Visionary v80 with 20 - 60 zoom eye piece, along with an opticron bird watchers tripod and head. Both these are in top condition, no marks on the scope or glass but the tripod has a few small scratches. The scope also has a stay on case, I have used this for the last 12 mths and have just...
Clifton Country Park is the next county site to host yet another excellent Bioblitz, this coming Sunday 9th September. Please try to support these extremely valuable events, with full details of the event, its location and all the other necessary details on the County Notice Board page of the Manch...
This is my patch. Live off Castle Mill Lane Ashley 2 hours out tonight. 2 Red Legged Partridge 25 Meadow Pipit 2 Grey Wagtail on Bollin 1 LBB Gull 1 Blackcap (m) 15 Chiffchaff 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel + regular tits and finches.
Tonight about half an hour ago I was out walking and saw an owl. It was larger than a tawny owl. It was screeching really loudly. I've been listening to different owl sounds on the RSPB website and none of them sound anything l...