I'm going to walk the Manchester Ringway (no, not the airport runways) but this 200 mile trail once in each season (twice clockwise, twice anti-clockwise) and see how many species I can see. The route takes in a plethora and many Meccas of Manchester birding sites plus every environment apart from co...
Just got back last night from a four day stint at Spurn Bird Observatory. No great rarities, although I did miss Bee Eater which was present before we arrived, and Spoonbill on Sunday morning (due to spending too much time in the pub on Saturday evening).
The weather looked promising on Thursday w...
Marsh Cinquefoil now established at Etherow CP. In pond opposite the entrance to the hide. One of the Broad-leaved Helloborine sites had 5 plants showing -not in flower yet- 2 further plants broken off as part of area has been trampled. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 16th of June 2012 04:22:34...
Seeing as the only posts for Dorset include other areas and are linked to individual trips to Dorset and other counties I think this County deserves its own thread. I spent a week in Dorset (arriving on the evening of Fri July 29th and departed for Norfolk on Sun Aug 7th). THe weather overall was fine, wi...
Having business in Preston and a visit to Grimsargh wetlands (maintenance work had flushed a lot of species) yesterday I took a slight divert to go and see the Hoopoe at Lower Foulridge Reservoir. Cracking little bird (always smaller than I expect them to be). One of those strange "twitches" where ob...
Great White Egret been present since last Sunday on Holden Wood Red, will fly to Ogden which is next res on north side. Was away on Wednesday and Thursday but came back. Gets a lot of grief from Herons. Bigger than Heron's when standing close. Quite a few Whinchat around at least 10 seen on o e day by 2 diffe...
Always an excellent site, this produced 14 Whitethroats, 12 Sedge Warblers, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 7 Reed Buntings, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 displaying Buzzards this morning. 15 years ago this site - essentially the same - had several Cuckoos but not today (though one again at Amberswood). Surprising...
Spotted Flycatcher 2 together this morning, conducting fly-catching sallies and chasing each other. At the south end from the bark path at 53.435940, -2.177163
3pm Merlin- A crackin adult female landed on a gate at bold heath between rivendell and wyvale garden centre -from the road looking east at the metal gate half way between the 2 garden centres-I stopped the car within 10 feet ,and no camera but it flew soon as I stopped anyway. not sure if...
I'm revamping a slide show I made in 2011 as a record of the flashes development I would like pictures of the Black-faced Bunting or pics of the Iron Man race or park runs that I can use in a show about the development of the Flash with permission to use them. (credited in the show)if you can help send them to...
Sunday 16/12 1.15PM
Sleeping Tawny Owl in Weaste Cemetery with also a male Bullfinch seen in the trees near the VC Grave at the end of the road.
Today
Peregrine on the Gasometer on Liverpool street at 9.20 am.
At least 25 Redwing either on the gasometer or eating the berries in the trees opposite at...
On the way to work this morning at c.9am a Grey Wagtail flew over the A559 Marston Lane/Hall Lane near to the junction with B5391Church Street/Wincham Lane, not a million miles away from Neumann's and Ashton's Flashes as well as other water bodies and floods so worth keeping an eye open. Albeit the bir...
I have for a good few years now operated a rarity text alert system for county rarities within Greater Manchester. The system was originally offered to those birders who contributed with the Manchester Birding website in some way, usually those who sent in images, bird sightings and the likes. With...
Having completed a days survey work at East Heslerton, near Filey, on Thursday I drove the short trip down to Bempton Cliffs.
What a great idea , not been on cliffs like that for a year or so, 1000's of Auks, Kittiwakes and Gannets all screaming in what appeared a chaotic mess on the cliffs, over the sea...
Couldn't find a thread for non-avian wildlife at this site, so here we go! I think worth having one as the site has reptiles and amphibians, and (probably) some interesting invertebrates. Visit this afternoon to check survey mats for Lancashire Amphibian and Reptile Group: 7 viviparous lizards an...
A great walk from dunsop bridge to whitendale farm lots of willow warblers,chiff chaff,chaffinch,coal tits.Also had 4 grey wagtail and 4 pied wagtails.Lots of pheasant about the place they realy look comical chasing each other about like wind up toys. Big thanks to the nice couple from Preston who...
A red letter day today.
A Great White Egret flew through north at approx 1.30. Probably the bird that seems to have vacated Holmes Chapel this morning (info thanks to Geoff Lightfoot).
I was searching the area at approx 3.00 when another text arrived from Geoff to say was watching a Little Egret in...
Naden Brook Black Pits - Chiffchaff x 1 Coal Bank Wood - Chiffchaff x 1 + Nuthatch Bullfinch calling at Carr Wood road bridge. Green Woodpecker calling from Carr Wood area. Noticeable abscence of treecreepers in these parts on my Spring walks
For sale, vanguard veo 264 carbon fibre travel tripod twist lock legs ,4 sections, used condition ,ball head with quick release plate ,bag and accessories £80 if interested pm me. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 14th of September 2024 08:44:22 PM
Signs of migration seen from the Aviation Viewing Park at Manchester Airport, Wednesday, 3rd October. 5 Swallows heading the correct way viz. south. Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails about. 3 Redwings. 1 Wheatear. Also a Sparrowhawk upsetting the Starlings. A group of 15 LT Tits. Phil Greenwood. --...
This weekend was the first of Oldham birders' regular bi-annual visits to the Three Swallows. A good weekend with about 110 species between the five of us (self, Riggers and 3 other,non-computer -owning, survivors of Oldham RSPB). Highlights included Riggers emergency stop on the A149 for a mixed...
Thursday - 15.35 - 14.40 Redwing 10+ Fieldfare 40+ Lesser black back & Black headed gulls 300+ mixed Canada geese 122 Greylag with white aroud beak Teal 4 Jay Cormorant 2 Pheasant greenfinch carrion crow starling lots of small groups around Just spent one hour up there and i am sure i missed loads b...
Friday 25 July Brown Hawker Emperor 50+ Common Blue Damselflies Common Blue 2 Speckled Wood 4 Large White Large numbers of Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Small Skipper Cinnabar caterpillars on the Ragwort Some rather nice Teasels too
I've recently returned from a classic week on the Scillies, 14th-19th October, 2011. This year was probably my best in the five years i've been going. Upon arrival I didn't know what direction to go and what to see first such was the cast of long-staying rarities present. There were good numbers of sca...
A short holiday to France with my good friend Ethan and his partner. For a bit of context, Ethan and I both studied Zoology with Herpetology and met at university; neither him nor his partner are particularly interested in birds but I hope to see some interesting continental species along with the rep...
3pm Merlin- A crackin adult female landed on a gate at bold heath between rivendell and wyvale garden centre -from the road looking east at the metal gate half way between the 2 garden centres-I stopped the car within 10 feet ,and no camera but it flew soon as I stopped anyway.