Following the three singing male Redstarts earlier in the year, I saw a male and recently fledged young bird, the first confirmed breeding record for the valley, though 2 juveniles in the same area last year probably indicate they bred then too. Also recently was the first confirmed breeding record...
Swifts have nested in my next door neighbours house for the last 11 years,at least. This year the Swifts returned but didn't appear to nest. I watched them flying around the neighbourhood but they didn't take up there usual nest site. However in the last few days they have started flying into the usua...
I'm off to Ely next week and hope to visit Lakenheath (anyone know if the Cranes are still there ?), Weeting Heath, Wicken Fen and Welney - and Ely cathedral, some tea rooms and other such non-birding activitties to keep the missus quiet.
Anyone know if they have had flooding down there or any other...
29/07/07
1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Muscovy Duck, 2 GC Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck on the lake
also a juv Mute Swan with one - birth defect ? - leg pointing up at about 75 degrees from its' body
Glossy Ibis, 2 Little Egret, 516+ Blacktailed Godwit, 130 Curlew other than that poor for waders with only couple of Oyc's, Redshank and single Dunlin. Lots of Swallow's moving south tho about 200+
Rhodes sewage farm, Hobby flew south at 8am, also 2 Gadwall, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, 4 Kestrel,Green Sandpiper,2 Stock Dove, Kingfisher, + Dipper on River Irwell near by. Clifton Marina, 32 Tufted Duck,4 Great crested Grebe. Croal-Irwell Confluence, 8 Goosander, Great spot...
After techcical advice a clicked on the relevent ariticle and i read an extremley interesting piece by ian, bringing back fond memories of long days ogling over the bird collection, again well done ian for taking us up a level on the birding skills.
Has any one got the collins e-guide for a pocket PC.
Never seen one or heard if its any good , the book is the birding bible as far as i am concerned,
anyway getting some new equipment at work and the e-guide is compatable but is it worth getting one.
would appreciate any feedback
cheers paulh
A female Shoveler at Dover Basin with 6 well-grown young - I think the first brood in the county this year?
At Lightshaw Hall Flash, a Black-tailed Godwit, and immature Redshank, 2 Snipe.
Had a small heron fly over the flat tonight at 10.10pm. was sat watching TV when saw it fly across the patio windows, (which i shot too to try get a better look) was too dark to get anything on it, but noted it it was smaller than a Bittern. It headed towards Ringley. Dont know if anyone is free tomo to have a lo...
Went down to Abbotsbury Swannery on Friday night to help out with a swan catch early on Saturday morning (806 swans caught!). However I did get chance to do some birding, had some good birds. Saturday afternoon we went to Portland Bill - we had 13 Common Scoter, Manx Shearwaters, Willow Warbs, Sanderl...
Chat Moss, Tuseday 24th July, mid-afternoon.
A nice few hours in the sun (where did that come from )...
Hobby- a cracking adult flew just 30 ft past us (me and my son) on Astley Road heading north by New Farm and field 19.
Yellow Wagtail- an quite huge (from a county perspective) 17 birds (at...
This evening Pete Berry and I had 2 Arctic Terns over Astley Moss heading low west, 2 Ravens heading south together and a very nice adult Peregrine that even perched up for a short while
A Hobby chasing hirundines at Compstall ETW (courtesy of Richard Else) and an Osprey over Keg Pool Etherow CP(Birdguides - nayone know anything about this?)
Just spent the day in the Lakes. Glorious sunshine
Not much birding done but did get a couple of Buzzards, Kestrel a Cormorant on Windermere and 8 female Goosander on Brothers Water. Lots of Mute Swans harassing small children. One woman described them as "evil" after one nicked the k...
A Grasshopper Warbler reeling away in the overgrown field with scattered Hawthorns opposite the junction of Rindle Road and Moss Lane, Astley this evening (18th July), no sign of the Stonechats that have also been around there but I'm sure they're still about.
Sunday 22nd July
Male Blue-headed Wagtail on Irlam Moss with atleast 6 Yellow Wagtails at the potato piles which is at the junction of fields 1, 2, 44 and 51, also Raven flying over south.
Info thanks to Steve Nelson (and Judith Smith for passing on to me)
Having a mass clear out and have a large collection of the IBIS journal the quarterly journal of the British Ornithologists union
they date back to 1957 right up to the 1990,s heavy duty stuff , anyway it seems a shame to send them to the tip.
anyone interested in them or can think of a good use for...
Common tern, 2 Common Sand, 4 GCG, 4 Dunlin West @ 15.45 55 Lapwing and a Whimbrel heard over @ 17.15. Groups of hirundines and swifts moving through too
Heavy rain so empty hides, never saw another soul all afternoon.
4 Green Sandpipers right in front of Swan Link hide along with a Common Sandpiper. When you see them together they are unmistakable. The Green's are a stunning bird close up.
A few Black Tailed Godwits in all their summer splendou...
King George V Pool - Sunday 03/06/07 early am
Female Pochard & 2 small ducklings, also, drake Mandarin, pair of Tufted Duck, 1 GC Grebe, Jay, singing Chiffchaff, family parties Blue & Great Tit, 2 broods of Mallard (2 & 12), pair of Grey Wagtail, 3 Blackcap (2 male), 2 broods of Canada...
Ok I have to admit that Mr McKerchar has got me.
Ian are you absolutely sure its 8 species and not 7. I can see seven species but then the last one is eluding me. I think I've found the one we're not supposed to be able to find, but then it could just be one of the 8 if you get my meaning. If it is, I've no chance...
5 Black tern at the private site i watch this eve. Flew off at 18.45.
My site list was only added today saying i had missed Black Tern on there!!
Also on way home at the Esso garage on Bury Old Road at Besses of the Barn a Hobby headed east/south east.
about a week in the urban jungle,20/07/07
4 coot and young plenty gulls
12 sand martins unidentiifed wader
2 moorhen
30+canada 2 cormarant fishing more over
2 grey wagtail 2 wren
6 goldfinch 20 mallard
12 greenfich to many piegeons
and at long last the swallows have fledged, 2 juv...
a bit bored in the wet weather the other day and watching moorhens!i can't ever remember seeing this in 30 years ,but i noticed juv moorhens from obviously the 1st brood this year say april,helping the perent birds feeding the newly hatched second brood?the elder young were actively searcing for foo...
18/07/2007 2 Green Sandpiper 3 Oystercatcher 2 Little Ringed Plover 1 Common Sandpiper (over head) Kestrel & Sparrowhawk 2 Mute Swans on the Glaze with 2 cygnets, one of the adults was green ringed CB51, I've been following this pairs nesting attempt for the BTO's Nest Record Scheme. They laid 8...
Adult Mediterranean Gull on Scotman's Flash 1215-1220pm today, as approx 1500 Black-Headed Gulls and 50+ Swifts fed on flying insects across the Flashes and surrounding area, drifting in from the north. The Med then took flight but the gulls in general were still aerial feeding so may still be pres...
