Went up to Watergrove this afternoon to look for Hen Harrier without success. However at approx. 15:00hrs I heard Ravens calling and a pair appeared high up WSW, flying towards my viewpoint. They were followed by a single and another pair. Within less than a minute further birds appeared from the sam...
Arrived at Watergrove at 07:45 hrs this morning and was only 100 yards from the car park when I heard the chip-chip-chip call of Crossbills overhead. Scanning the sky frantically I picked up the bulky silhouettes of 6 birds, quite high up, flying South-east. This is only the 3rd record of this species...
numbers of Goosander peaked at 87 towards end of Sept, numbers have been around 50-60 since but there were 72 tonight including 2 males (1st male back yesterday).
2 Little Owl
100+ Lapwing
2 Kestrel
30+ Meadow Pipit
2 Stonechat
David
10.00am. 4.10.07. Barn Owl Moss Lane 10am 4.10.07 flew towards the first farm on Moss Lane, and pair of Stonechat at the beginning of Rindle Road Astley.
2 buzzards on telegraph pole before I flushed em. - and possibly one or two more circling high on a thermal with the gulls. but cant be sure. near railway bridge.
nothing else special really. flock of goldfinches (viridor wood), 2 goldcrest heard, jays, long tailed tits etc.
The 2006 report is nearing completion and just waiting for some drawings to be finished, and the police to supply a list of WLOs! We shall be able to have 2 colour insets this year, so that means 16 colour photos, plus the usual set of 12 photos, one for each month, on the inside and back covers. The front co...
Brian Fielding has two places spare in his car heading for the Brown Flycatcher at Flamborough Head tomorrow (the 4th October), also possibly taking in the Turkestan Shrike nearby. He is intending to leave at 9:30am which leaves enough time to check that the bird is still present, if anyone is intere...
Judith Smith (County Bird Recorder) rang me yesterday afternoon to say that one of our peregrine chicks (darvic ring No B3) had been found in Manchester having sustained concussion. It was taken to the Three Owls Bird Sanctuary and Reserve in Rochdale where it was given treatment and a good feed by Ni...
i fancy having a go at seawatching this sunday, maybe formby point or north wirral. i know the winds are far from perfect but with migration underway its got to be worth a dabble, or am i wasting precious time that could be spent elsewhere? any tips would be greatly appreciated
I know this is well out of county birding but thought i would share some of the sightings with you all as stuck in doors at the moment after catching a cold and getting sunstroke at the same time!
Cocoi Heron, Black-necked swans, Great, White-tufted and Pied-billed grebe´s, Silver Teal, Speckled Te...
Scaup on Pearson's Flash this a.m., probably a first-winter. Just been informed it has flown on to Scotman's.
Also 100+ redwing west to north-west over Wigan Flashes this morning in several flocks
When browsing the web site "northwalesbirding.co.uk" came across the best photograph of a Firecrest i've ever seen, just thought it was amazing and i'd like to share it with you, follow the link below and you'll see what I mean. BTW its the 4th photograph down, (some of the others good too)...
Heading north on Saturday on our first trip to Scotland. Taking in several places including a night in the Outer Hebrides. Will (hopefully) add a few Scottish specialities to our list (got a target list of 20 or so new ticks!) Then it'll be back to Elton Res and the mud. See you all soon.
Another excellent photographic article (on the main web-site). John, those flight shots are tremendous - magazine quality !
In Mr Tymon & Mr Dancy I think this county has its very own Young & Galvin !
A juvenile Common Tern was found by Graham Beverley foraging over Ogden Reservoir on 20th Sept and has been seen by several local birders over the last week.
The numbers of this species increased to 2 birds here this morning and a noteworthy 4 this afternoon. (N.B. These records are apparently the f...
In trees opposite our front room, adjacent to 16th green
1 x flock 25ish Greenfinches 1300
1 x flock 30ish Chaffinches 1200
1 x flock 10ish Goldfinches 1310
Plus 0700 this morning our garden feeders
9 x Long Tailed Tits
1 x Nuthatch
8 x Greenfinches
5 x Goldfinches seem to be in our garden all...
18/9/07 The Pennington juv RED-NECKED PHALAROPE has been re-found at Hope Carr NR @ 15.00ish, present on the first tank on the right, off the main path. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 17:45, 2007-09-18
A visit this morning to Piethorne noted that the bloom of blue-green algae appears to be going from strength to strength in the warm, dry weather. Was a little concerned to see some juvenile Tufted Ducks foraging and a Kingfisher diving in heavily discoloured waters. I wondered would this affect the...
For those of you not aware , you can go to the RSPB web-site and sign a petetion to oppose the proposal by the Catalan government to allow the trapping of song birds by glue. In my view the practice is cruel and indiscriminate and should be vigorously condemned. I hope you sign the petition on line. Adrian...
24/9/07
Did it - 3 Phalaropes in a week !
Went down to Upton Warren this morning for the juvenile bird. Cracking views down to 30 yds from the hide. At one point I had it in the scope with a Curlew Sand, Dunlin and two Snipe !
Pity is wasn`t in God`s County though !
7.30 -13.45
Pinkfeet on the move with loads of skiens going south today counted 825 and picked up a white phase Snow Goose which had been tracked down the coast from Filey. Also over 2000 Mpipits South.
Sea Watching was fantastic Juv Long-tailed Skua sat on sea between blue bell and sea watching hi...
There are at least 4, probably 5 Ring-necked Parakeets trequenting Birchfields Park near Rusholme.
I suspect ity to be a famly party and that breeding took place nearby.
On Sunday afternoon they were giving great views - I've sent some pics for inclusion in the gallery
After PaulH mentioned this book in the girlie tick thread i decided to dig it out and read it again.
It sems not much has changed in the birding world since it was written. Apart from quality scopes and digital photography. Still a good and funny read.
This extract on sea watching had me in stitches....
Nothing outstanding the last week or two but things picking up in last few days, highlights include;
SISKIN - 1 north west this morning - patch tick
HOUSE SPARROW - 1 male on the 21st - patch tick
Yellow Wagtail - 1 south on the 21st
Meadow Pipit - 200 on south dam wall on the 21st with 50+ today and simi...
