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while travelling to work to Bolton from Westhoughton down the main road at Hunger hill just before the Tavern there was a flock of about 8-10 Magpie's flitting in and out of gardens on both sides of the road one poor bird while flying out of the garden and flying across the road was hit by a van and flew to th...

A walk this afternoon down Coppull Lane and into the Plantations just before the paths are closed in the valley bottom for 18 months while work takes place on the dam/weir system at the bottom of the Lane. Nothing on the river, which was high after overnight rain, but a Dipper on the Yellow Brook - just in...

My binos wheel has become a little tight. I think its just dust etc would a squirt of WD40 loosen it up or is that not recommended. If not any ideas.

Saw and heard a Tawny Owl on the field behind St Paul's Vicarage in Goose Green, Wigan on Wednesday, 20th January 2010.

Reported in today's Tameside Advertiser that the local Muscovy duck was found by readers, missing its head. They were hoping this was done by a fox- I can't see that some how. Park used to have a pets corner- suffered regular horrific attacks. It was on the duck pond in Stamford Park, Ashton u Lyne. I ac...

Oil spill reported on Manchester ship canal at Eccles, quite a few canada's and ducks affected by all accounts. Possibly more on tonights local news. Mike

Today I saved a life - I was sitting looking out at the garden when I heard a bird strike our kitchen window - it's quite a big window and we do have a couple of those cut out silhouette RSPB bird "scarers" that are supposed to help keep the birds from hitting the glass. They don't always work. Thi...

Hi all, Just picked up my first pair of the above, went out this afternoon, in not all that good light, and they where still changing colour. The UV index is only 1 today, so in good sunlight, I would need a white stick!! This of course affects the colour of everything. Anyone here use them generally an...

One at Buile Hill Park in Salford this afternoon with a flock of c100 Redwing and 1 Fieldfare A strikingly pale bird, mainly white but with some buff markings, has anyone else seen this bird ? -- Edited by James Walsh on Wednesday 20th of January 2010 12:56:09 AM

I took my little lad for a walk through the woods yesterday afternoon to feed the ducks. Saw 6 Jays flying down the centre of the dam then land in the bushes, never seen so many togerher all at once. I thought they were quiet shy and solitary.

Pair of Carrion Crows collecting sticks in my garden today. Also plenty of singing Robins, Blue Tits and Blackbirds. Amazing what a bit of mild weather does.

Following on from the "Greater Manchester Bird of the Year 2008" topic, what were your favourites of 2009? My favourite has to be the Green-winged Teal, found while doing my December WeBS count with a stinking hangover (that's me not the teal!) the morning after my works Xmas pa...

Today Peel Holdings' plan for its Forest Park and Racecourse in Worsely was finally rejected by the Government - full story, plus the Mary Burns Awards (final day tomorrow!) here... www.salfordstar.com Great news!

Am I missing something here, I dont recall deleting my avatar, and it also appears others have gone missing to, do they migrate? Confused. keep birding -- Edited by Paul Heaton on Thursday 30th of July 2009 09:58:40 PM

just come across this when looking at new DVD releases... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305816/ stuck it on my list... will let you know if it's any good.

Reading this forum I get the strong impression that many birders don't know about the rest of this fabulous website (it's far more than just a forum, you know) To those people I recommend you make http://www.manchesterbirding.com/ your home page and click at regular intervals on "What's Ne...

A GOOD 20 TO 30 FLOCK OF THE ABOVE ROOSTING AND FEEDING IN THE TREES AT THE GARAGE END OF TIMPERLEY LANE LEIGH . THATS LEIGH SIDE 200 MTS FROM THE GREYHOUND ISLAND. THEY ARE FEEDING ON A TREE WITH ORANGE BERRIES WHICH I HAVNT IDENTIFIED. THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 3 DAYS NOW BUT THERE ARE STILL PLENTY BERRIE...

Not a new hunting technique for Perergine but interesting to see nevertheless. Prepare to feel sorry for the poor Woodcock! There is better footage directly on Youtube but that's for you to find, I'm not a fan of Youtube links on this forum I'm afraid. I've checked this particular link and it's fine...

Hi All, I met Judith at the locks on Sunday,i am the man with the Airedale,just to confirm there were 8/10 Shovler in two groups,i checked today before heading back up the motorway and counted six. Best regards Brian

just thought you maybe interested in a ringed knot i photographed on the ribble and sent off to the netherlands ringing group-it ended up being 10 years old ,which is a goodly number for a knot info below Overview of the sightings of colour-ringed Knots of: John Tymon Period: 01-Jan-98 till...

Please could all forum users please note the following notice posted on the BTO website (for more details see www.bto.org) "Britain is currently undergoing its most prolonged period of cold weather for over a decade. In such circumstances, it is important to be especially careful in minim...

Hi All, First post here having browsed the forums for a while. I am looking to get back in to bird watching, kind of a new years resolution to get out of the house for some 'me time'. As a kid I was a member of the YOC/RSPB and used to get out alot with my late Grandfather. Always had an interest since then,...

Sunday 10th Dipper on River Beal. Also Collared Doves already nest building in my garden. Cheers Dave Phillips

had a great walk today on thurwell as they say round these parts out for about 5 hours just me and her that is normally in doors . About 20 teal. 15 gooseanders snipe flying up and down river . Moorhen .waterail. Mixed with a lot of malard was a gadwall that everyone seemed to miss, a pair of goldeneye were ve...

A careful check of the full stretch of Irwell and Ship Canal by Pete Berry, myself and 'our Jack' today for any open water resulted in the following: River Irwell off Woden Street, Salford, upstream of Pomona Dock (unfrozen): Goosander- 12 Gadwall- 2 Kingfisher- 1 Cormorant- 6 Mallard- 16 Great Cres...

I'm new on here and i guess you may not be interested in garden birds but i had 4 new species today in the garden[that is new to my garden!]----Fieldfare, redwing,meadow pipit and male reed bunting.----I live Knutsford and i suppose this brass monkey weather is driving them in to more urban settings.

I keep wondering in this type of weather ,where do all the wildfowl go,as far as im aware there are no open still waters at the moment apart from small pockets,so where have all the tufted duck,great crested grebe,little grebe,pochard, coot.i know grebes will go on the sea,but what happens to tufted e...

This is not a statement its a question. I wonder whether I am being over cautious or not. After a walk out recently I posted one of my sightings of grey partridges amongst the rest of the birds I spotted. Later I edited out as the thought occurred to me if I was an illegal falconer or illegal person with a g...

This isn't intended as an incredibly serious thread, but I'm sure we've all had encounters that defy convential wisdom. For starters: 1. Willow Tits don't come to feeders, Marsh Tits do. Tell this to the pair of WTs in my garden.

Hi all I've booked a holiday to Delny near Inverness at the end of May and am hoping for some tips on where is good to go in this area? The ospreys at Loch Garten are a definite (and the main reason I'm going), but I've never been to Scotland before. Would love to see eagles, crested tit, crossbills and a...