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just heard on the news bird flu again on a turkey farm on norfolk/suffolk border so watch out for all the garbage churned out by the media about migrating birds being the cause of it and not the poultry farmers cutting corners and costs to produce these birds just wish the media would look at the fact...

With some nice birds around on the east coast at the moment and things looking perhaps set to increase (not as much as up on Shetland though I don't suppose), anybody thinking of a day out up Spurn or Flamborough way in the week coming up? Basically I'm flippin' desperate to get out there but have transpo...

I'm sure you are all aware - any sightings now should be reported for the BTO bird atlas and the Manchester Bird Atlas ! I suggest you include the Tetrad alongside any sightings. Nothing of note in SJ89N at the moment apart from Feral Pigeons

No, no, it's not your monitor packing up I have indeed been fiddling again and changed the colour scheme of the forum, you know what they say about change... (well I certainly don't ). Manchester Birding eh, what other forum changes it's colour scheme to keep it's users 'on their toes' and so we don't...

First time, Got to make more of an effort !! Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom, 1300hrs today, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Dipper on Irwell below metal bridge into park MIKE

Pager Services report a HAWFINCH at Pickley Green, Westleigh, near Leigh, this morning at 08.36. (As yet, this is unconfirmed.) The FIRECREST at Wigan Flashes has been confirmed as being present this morning at the end of Welham Rd. -- Edited by Ian Woosey at 10:51, 2007-11-11

Watergrove 08:20 to 10:15 hrs. A male Ring Ouzel gave cracking views perched in the open on a Hawthorn bush on the edge of Million Tree Wood, before flying off south towards Wardle. The first ever November record here. A Kingfisher was also a first for November. It looks as if these birds are determined...

Tim Wilcox found a Woodcock in Smithy Lane, a back street off King St W in the city centre tonight following information - it has been there for 3 days near a heating duct. Paul Heaton from the RSPCA will arrange for it to be picked up and if necessary taken into care. Woodcocks in this area of the city cent...

I have just noticed (as a result of another enquiry) that I accidently copied the figures for Blue Tit in the table for Great Tit! The correct figures should be as follows: 2006 - 4.93 y 48 pairs 2005 - 4.76 y 52 pairs 2004 - 5.09 y 53 pairs 2003 - 4.6 y 55 pairs 2002 - 5.81y 75 pairs 2000 - 6.5 y 74 pairs 19...

How can any Manchester birder get stuck for something to do or somewhere to go,this excellent section of the forum has had a major new piece added the long awaited Elton res guide, by the one and only warfy, well done mate. now to upset all those compass toting grid reference boys(and girls) it access i...

The Leigh Ornithological Society have started putting out grain at the Rindle Road Astley feeding station.

www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/vetsurveillance/species/wildlife/index.htm

YbW back at WIgan Flashes according to Birdguides.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER - our morning brightened up considerably when I found this bird at the junction of Cow Lane and Hobson Moor Rd this morning. The bird showed well on 3 occasions just after 10am returning to feed in a single bush at the top of Cow Lane, I last saw it very briefly at 10.50am further alo...

good day at spurn today, sea watch produced 20 pomarine and 1 great squa, 4 little auks, 1 sooty shearwater and 10 red throated divers. also saw little bunting on beacon lane and yellow browed warbler at crown and anchor.

Went to Stocks res. this a.m. to try to see the great grey shrike thats been around all week with Peter&Norma Johnson. Needless to say we didnt spot it, although it had been seen this morning. Ive never been before and its an impressive place, lots of siskin and redpoll about and large numbers of tea...

Another cracking morning, sunny with a light North-westerly. A family party of 3 juv.'s and one adult Whooper Swan was on Blackstone Edge Resr until at least midday. The birds are in a gully on the north side of the resr, and were not visible from the top of the dam when I was there at 09:20 hrs. Alan Nuttal...

5-10-07 7-10am Lapwing 9 sw Redwing 28 south Mistle thrush 6 north Blackbird 3 west + 10 in garden below Song thrush 2 west Woodpigeon 36 South greenfinch 24 east Jay 4 south Mpipit 15 south GSW 2, Spahawk and kestrel.

Hundreds of woodpigeon, fieldfare 1 goldcest 5+ coal tits lots, and loads and loads of cones,,lovely cones just waiting for crossbills to feed on them .....but guess what they are all at watergrove.

I noticed today that Sorrowcow Pond, on the S side of Pennington Flash near the yacht club, is full of Floating Pennywort, a highly invasive alien plant, probably unwittingly introduced by anglers. Haven't seen this particular nasty in this area before though I believe it's around Etherow.

Visit this morning. An adult winter-plumaged Kittiwake was a surprising but very pleasant find on Ogden Reservoir this morning. It showed well, when not being pestered by Black-headed Gulls! This is my first record of this species here and the first record at Piethorne since 10th April 1999...

Andy Makin had a Firecrest (probably female) in his garden at Long Lane, Hindley Green today. Maybe ex-Pickley Green? Andy's not online, but was going to ring Phil Rhodes to compare notes. It went towards Ruabon Crescent, so I have asked another birdwatcher living there to keep an eye open for it!.

By amazing coincidence after saying to Bill Myerscough this morning that it had been 11 years since seeing my last Whoopers at Watergrove, a party of 5 birds was on the resr this afternoon at 16:30 hrs. They took flight south at 16:55 hrs and may have gone to roost either on Clegg Hall Pools or Hollingwor...

I picked up a substantial rubber foot, looked like it's off a tripod and a good quality one at that. Contact me to collect it.

Although probably old news does anybody know what Trafford Council's future plans are for the management of Broad Ees Dole? Presumably as they're withdrawing their financial support for the Mersey Valley Warden Service they have a plan B? - If not, I think some awkward questions need to be asked....

dover basin/pub 31/10/07 11.30 am 2 whinchat feeding on the dead silver birch. cheers geoffcounty lifer

14 Whooper Swans east at 9.16 flew right over my flat whilst doing a vis watch. 100 Fieldfare, 51 Redwing, Song Thrush, 101 Starling, 2 Jay and 10 Chaffinch all west between 8.20 -9.30am -- Edited by Simon Johnson at 18:08, 2007-10-31

A nice set of stamps has just been issued called "UK species in recovery" and featuring 10 different birds. Too nice to put on letters!

1st winter female Scaup was the highlight. Other than that THE PLACE was dead! Just 22 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Buzzard and a Green Sandpiper. -- Edited by Simon Johnson at 10:43, 2007-10-31 -- Edited by Simon Johnson at 10:44, 2007-10-31 -- Edited by Simon Johnson at 10:46, 2007-...

3 Crossbills were calling as they flew NE over the moors by Norman Hill Resr at approx. 12:30 hrs yesterday. The first record of this species here since 2005 and the third record in the Rochdale area this October. Also present 2 Goosander and 2 Great Crested Grebes. Apologies for the delay in posting th...