My office is on the third floor of an old mill just of Deane Rd, Bolton near town centre.Over looks Rivington , Bolton School and cemetry good view in Summer if we ever have one , sit here most days with a small pair of bins on my desk just in case.Today 3 Pied Wagtails on the roof, 1x Grey Wagtail and 1x Peregr...
Always excited to see large numbers of birds together, memories of the great starling roosts in Piccadilly gardens in manchester as a kids were an everlasting imprint on the mind.
Anway had 60+ Starling on the B of the Bang sculpture yesterday on Ashton new road.
which combined a good roost in a str...
Quite a spectacle now as all 3 chicks are out of the tray and today 2 were running about on a ledge with gargoyles below the balustrade, whilst the 3rd was being fed on the balustrade rail by one of the adults. Also quite noisy. None are fledged, though all are well on the way. Town Hall staff are checking th...
loving your drawings ian - really excellent stuff.
the dotted ones especially. have you seen the janapese movie hana bi? one of the characters painted with dots in it and they were equally lovely.
looking forward to seeing more from yourself and anybody else thinking of submitting. a great thin...
My computer's passed away. Terminal blue screens every time I switch on. If anyone knows what's best to do please PM.
So, I'm writing this in the library and it's my 2nd time down here today. Walking back from the library this morning I was 100m from home when a Hobby flew by. I sprinted back to the house...
Never been before so decided to try my luck for Red Kites this a.m. Searched around Eccup res with no result and surrounding fields. Drove North past Harewood House entrance then turned left onto A659, after 1/2 mile saw 2 Kites soaring but could not stop to park, 1st available place was the left turn fo...
The regions of Varangerfjord and the Pasvik Valley need no introduction. Both are well known birding areas with many visiting birders, especially during late May and June. These are the prime times to visit these areas, and the times of the year when I usually head north beyond the Arctic Circle. But...
Don't know if anyone else has joined the swifts group, but among the first e.mails from them was a very disturbing one with a link to a report on a Belgian forum of the destruction of a large colony somewhere in that country. Can't make out much of the text but the pictures, plus intro from Geoff B. gives th...
Shag; am I the only one who does not understand why the Elton Shag was caught today?. It appeared healthy and apparently was a good weight, so why was it captured depriving other birders of the chance to see it. Just thought I'd pose the question !
Cheers Ian
Good numbers of Gulls on flooded fields in Atherton this evening.
The fields between Millars Lane and Bee Fold Lane had 363 Black Headed Gulls, 2 Common Gull and 8 Lesser Black Backed Gull. A flock of starlings around the 70 mark also on the field.
Kane
Here's a copy of a letter which appeared i today's Bolton News....
FALCONS DON'T BELONG IN TOWN CENTRE...
This year, as many will be aware, peregrine falcons(falco peregrinus) bred on Bolton town hall.
Has the council encouraged this by installing man-made nests at sites in the borough,
i...
Hi all
I`m selling a Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod (it`s about 4 years old and there`s no product description number on it) with a Manfrotto 701RC2 head and scope footplate.
£90 ono.
I`ve just upgraded to a bigger tripod for me monster camera lens.
If you`re interested, call me on 07760 34377...
Phil Rhodes is currently looking for a lift or places to fill his vehicle to the Audouins Gull in Lincolnshire tomorrow. Anyone interested should phone Phil asap tonight on 07514 288843.
Hello,
I am moving from SE Texas to Manchester in a few weeks. Here, I spend my mornings with a cup of coffee while watching the hummingbirds fight over control of the feeder on the back porch. I have done some on-line research as to whether there are hummingbirds in the UK and didn't find much. I did see...
The Bedside Book of Birds an Avian Miscellany by Graeme Gibson.
Found this book on the bookshelf in the cottage on holliday. It's basically a collection of myths, legends, stories and letters with a bird connection. Loads of ancient tales from all over the world. Audobon, Darwin, Coleridge amon...
does anyone know the reason why penny water levels come up so quick and high these days ,ive never seen it as high in summer, in 30 years,the points almost under water,i think its all the drainage put in for new flats,leigh sporting village,etc that must drain off into the river that enters both ends of t...
A Hobby flew west over Great Howarth at 08:30 hrs today. It was seen from my kitchen window as it flew over the roof tops. Probably the best bird I've ever seen from my house/garden! This is the 3rd year running that I've seen Hobby in the Rochdale area between late July and mid September.
Logie, the Osprey with the tracking device being followed from Africa to Morayshire, should pass over us tomorrow if she continues on the same route. Tonight, she is roosting at Redditch, having flown there from Sonning on the R Thames today and is following a NNW course. To see the website which show...
A trip to the Wirral yesterday (IMF - f Marsh Harrier and Greenshank the main events) and then S. Dee estuary coast ending at Point of Ayr where I met with some disappointment. Still 1,000s of Oystercatchers, Curlews, Redshank on the high tide roost along with 13 Little Egrets providing a great specta...
Just got back from a few days seawatching in Cornwall,plenty of strong winds(great for me but crap for the holiday makers).At least a dozen Corys seen,4 Great Shearwaters,over a 100 Balearic Shearwaters,lots of Storm Petrels,few Arctic,Great and Pom Skuas plus lots of Manxies etc.Cetecean high...
Whilst at the Birdfair last weekend, I bought a copy of Roy Dennis's new book entitled ''A life of Osprey'' its about Ospreys in the UK + worldwide and a lot of it covers Roy's work with Ospreys since a young age. I've read it in 2days! I would really recommend it, very interesting and a good read.
Whilst...
"What's a Wigan Bird?"
No... you know what I mean.
Howdo from me - Neil - was told about this site by a member of another forum I go on - belting - it'll do for me, as I'm keen on mooching around Pennington Flash and 3 Sisters... also, it's not been all that long I've been into 'Birding' specif...
Just had a great week in the Isle Of Withorn(not actually an island). Cottage overlooking the Solway firth.
A family holiday but managed to squeeze a bit of birding in, well you have too haven't you
From the cottage... Sea watching from the conservatory
100s Manx Shearwaters passing daily
Com...
Plenty around this afternoon apart from the normal,
2 cormorants near jacksons boat bridge also
greenfinches and goldfinches in the orchard.
still a few reed buntings and warblers in the field by meadow pond and theres been a pair of pheasants there also for the last few months. Jays can be seen...
Had an excellent day at the bird fair today (Friday 15th) - tip - anyone going who has Zeiss bins - you can have them cleaned and serviced free of charge in the Optics marquee. Even in 6 hours we couldn't get round all the marquees properly. Lectures excellent, too - air conditioning in one of the marquees...
Up here in Mull for two weeks (long awaited annual visit),staying in Tobermory,the weather has been very changeable as anyone who has visited will know.
Already seen 'the barn door' aka The White-tailed Eagle and two Golden Eagles which were at Ben More.l went along with a wildlife guide who l've be...
For those going to the BirdFair this year you should be able to pick up WeBS Report and be given a demonstration of WeBS online.
Will those who will be using WeBS online please let me know by contacting me on a.dancy@ntlworld.com
I hope you enjoy the BirdFair.
Many thanks
Adrian
Today is the last day of the recording period for the Atlas's first breeding season. Many thanks to all who have contributed - you can have a rest now until the second winter's recording period starts in November!
Please can all surveyors enter up their records as soon as possible, either online or o...
