First Crankwood Swallow this evening, on the telephone wires leading to my house.
Plus quite a few House Martins Sunday (27th) along the canal nr Lightshaw.
A post in the Astley area forum regarding the Zest curry house made me think what a fine combination this is... One of my best memories is of sitting in an armchair on a rice boat in Kerala with my bins and a curry, collecting "armchair ticks" as we drifted down the waterways. On of my "wor...
Just got back from two days down here. Though I never made it as far as the sea itself, I had a fabulous birding trip, mainly focusing on the Plym estuary, where a lifer for me was to be had (see list below) The haul on the Plym included: 20+ Shelduck 3 Little Egrets (a first sighting for me) Waders thin on the...
3 peregrines over hope carr end of warrington rd at 9.30 am. soaring high on the thermals. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of July 2011 10:17:56 AM
Apologies to post here but does anyone know if the peregrines in the quarry have bred successfully this year. Heavy work commitments have meant I haven't been able to go birding much this year. King thanks Mark
Brand new Opticron HR 80 ED in excellent condition. Virtually unused. Comes with SDLv2 Zoom, Stay on Khaki coloured case, Velbon Delta V tripod with hide clamp. Bought in April 2011 for £1226. Still has receipt and warranty. Need to raise cash for a new canon camera lens. Will sell for £950. May sell se...
Hi, Lancashire County Museum Service are looking for images for their new wildlife gallery. They have a specific list, and are looking for photographers willing to allow their images to be used without charge in a free public space. The images they need are: Birds: Collared dove Nightjar Bl...
Hi Been meaning to ask this for a couple of weeks since I returned from a holiday in Portugal. We didn't take a bird book with us (foolish error!) and I resorted to scribbling down notes on bits of paper to ID when I got home. Think I've worked out all but one and I could do with some help if possible. The bird I...
A unique opportunity for anyone who loves birds has arisen to secure the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) upto a massive $1,000,000 for conservation efforts to save this species from a rapidly approaching extinction. To help, it's free and quick. All you n...
Saturday 1st August, 7.30-8.30am
Couldn't find any recent info on storm petrels off Workington lighthouse, so went more in hope than certainty. I also thought I might be a bit late as most old reports came from late June/July. Wind wasn't ideal either - blowing enough, but SSE unfortunately!
I n...
This tripod is in good working condition,and is suitable for anyone up to 6 feet tall. £25. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 8th of August 2011 03:34:07 PM
JUST WHILE WE ARE IN WHAT ME AND BROWNEY USED TO CALL THE DEAD ZONE-JUNE TO AUGUST,WHEN THINGS TEND TO STAY MUCH THE SAME ON A LOCAL PATCH. OBVIOUSLY MOST BIRDERS WOULD SAY BIRDING WAS THIER HOBBY!BUT WE USED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN THE DISTANT PAST ME AND BROWNY,WE OFTEN WONDERED WHAT OTHER HOBBIES P...
I have 5 pairs of Kestrel in nest boxes this year producing 26 young, which is an average of 5.2 per pair. Turned out to be a very successful season. Steve Christmas (a ringer) accompanied me this year and rung 21 of the 26 young.
Opticron ES 80 GA ED / 45 V1 MK11, excellent cond. (rrp was £479). Selling with stay-on case (Ive removed the elastic that connects the eyepiece cover to the case so the cover can be totally removed to avoid it flapping about in strong wind - can still be attached though with the press-stud) plus HDF 52xW...
I noticed that some people were a bit concerned as to whether or not the recent number of Quail sightings are genuine wild birds.Most years the main arrival of Quail in the UK isn't till June. The reason for the lateness of their arrival is that these are birds(and/or their offspring)that have already...
Was out jogging on the canal from Castlefield to Salford Quays last night when I was staggered to see a skylark singing away. Looks like the waste/derelict ground across from the tramline is perfect habitat. Plus whitethroat + willow warbler singing away in the scrub along the canal. Have the skylar...
Opticron IS50 Scope and HDF Zoom Lens giving 12x-36x. Extremely bright and clear up to 25x begins to dim gradually after that. All boxed and in mint condition. £100. Phone or text 07790 868 320 -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 8th of August 2011 03:33:25 PM
im new to site,but have enjoyed birdwatching for years,most people around this area dont really care about our feathered friends ,and most people on this site will probably just roll their eyes ,but i just want to share my excitement and joy at having goldfinches and greenfinches regularly feeding...
Hi all, I appreciate that some of you may not check out the actual Manchester Birding website too frequently but I would ask that if you are a Greater Manchester county birder you check out the website 'County Notice Board' over the coming weeks. Changes are a foot in the county and many of you out there w...
1 swift today back on breeding territory
first time ive ever known swifts back before house martins
any ideas whats happened to the house martins this spring
Regarding Doc Brewsters report from Chat Moss this morning of seeing a car hit a Blackbird and he had to put the poor thing out of its misery. I and many others have probably been in this situation,but for me I could not do it,I know they say its kind,But I could not kill anything.
As I was watching my son in the nets at Bowdon Vale CC this evening I saw a falcon flying in from the south. Ther flight and general shape made me think Hobby rather than the usual Kestrel that I would expect to see there, but as it approached it banked a quickly flew out of sight. I was never closer than abot 2...
Ringed a female in a nest box in Mobberley yesterday, the third new bird recently in the area. The sterling efforts of the local Barn Owl groups are certainly paying off; where are all these unringed birds coming from? The weight 355 gms was that of a bird in breeding condition; expect Barn Owls near you...
28th July -mid morning.
A juv. Whiskered Tern was confirmed this morning on Saltholme Pools (west); - suspected late last evening, though not i/d'd for certain due to fading light.
Although on the RSPB reserve and also seen from the Saltholme Pools (circular) hide today, it was this morning far c...
Tonight in the fenced off area that is a joke
4 Calling Water Rails
1 Wheatear
Pr Mute Swans on little pond
3 Singing Chiff chaffs
also near by
pr Mute Swans on river
pr Kestrels at JJB Stadium
Common Gull over canal
Cheers Jimmy
Hindley Deep Pits SBI (Site of Biological Importance) was surveyed by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) in 2010. Part of the SBI was originally designated for its bird interest, the area of woodland south of Highfield / Hemfield Roads. Unfortunately there are no recent records from the ar...
As there doesn't seem to be one, I thought I'd start a thread on NestCams for anyone who would like to include links to theirs if they are in Greater Manchester gardens. Please note I checked this out with Ian first who is happy for this to be done. I have a pair of Blue Tits who are looking promising...
Just got back from a month long trek in Nepal, billed as Makalu /Everest it was a month long trek from Tumlingtar to Makalu base camp over the Sherpani Pass, West Coll and Amphu Labtsa high passes and through the Solo Khumbu onto the Everest trail to finish in Lukla. Not a birding trip by any means but here...
