Gran Canaria. End of October- family holiday, south of the island not far from Maspalomas, 30 deg c every day. Large hotel with lush vegetation within the grounds, a short walk from the beach, some birding done in the hotel grounds where I got 3 Lifers, and a very productive area on one of the sho...
Explored some of the farmland around the Mottram/ Broadbottom area this morning, starting at Mottram Moor and taking a circular walk via Broadbottom. The highlights were: 1 sparrowhawk 1 willow warbler 1 chiffchaff (both the warblers were feeding in the same well stocked garden at different time...
BBC's NW Tonight yesterday featured a Tawny Owl box with a camera, which held: 1 adlut Tawny, 2 owlets and 2 Mandarin ducklings - all just hatched. The ducklings were desperately trying to get out of the box. An update tonight said the ducklings had managed to get out. Am trying to contact the owner Mary...
Not actually a birding post but may be of interest to scope owners. Just had a look at the sky after a call from Ms O, the "Manx Birder" who pointed me in the direction of Jupiter. It is a very bright star just now to the right of our Moon and three of Jupiters moons can be seen clearly with the help of my scope. A...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
Just got back from my annual pilgrimage to the Mecca of seawatching,and although it was poor by Cornish standards I still managed to see:-
Great Shearwater (1)
Cory's (1)
Balearic Shearwater(20+)
Sooty Shearwater(15+)
Storm Petrel(40+)
Bonxie(12)
Arctic Skua(3)
Plus all the usual sus...
1 Green Woodpecker showing well 1 Pochard Shoveler Shelduck Teal Reed Bunting Great Crested Grebe -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 3rd of January 2018 03:16:05 PM
Xmas Day morning - driving through Deeside Industrial Estate on approach to the Dee Bridge:
2 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 little egret
1 fieldfare
flock of approx 20 redwing
lots of lapwing (couldn't count)
Not a bad start to the day!
Spent Sunday wandering round the Fylde area. Nice views of the Ross's Gooose with approx 2500 Pink-feet. Picked up a Purple Sandpiper with the Turnstones and Redshank on Fleetwood boating lake Spent high tide watching the waders at Fluke Hall - Oystercatchers, Grey Plovers, Sanderling, Dunlin et...
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.