15.45-17.00 The mossland NR was largely birdless apart from the odd Woodpigeon, a few passing gulls, single Buzzard and a lonesome Blue Tit. A stunning display of Scarlet Elf Cup fungi though. Just North of the M62 though a field alongside the River Glaze (Cheshire Side) held a tremendous flock of mi...
Just within the boundaries I think? Sunday afternoon visit in warm sunshine - large numbers of emerald damselfly and black darter particularly around the large pool nearest the footpath / train lines. Singles of small tortoiseshell and peacock on the heather. A baby common lizard was a slight su...
Couldn't find a thread on the canal and I intend to bird it regularly, so here goes: I don't have access to transport so literally, today, I must have covered near 20 miles - I walked from my house in the Collyhurst area all the way to Ashton and back via Drolysden and the Medlock Valley. I saw: A ringed teal...
A cracking Little Tern today on Winsford Bottom Flash, settling close to shore in a small bay with sand banks, along with 3 Common Sands on the same banks. Cracking photographic opportunities. Park in the car park along Rilshaw Lane, Winsford & walk down to the nearest shore line of the flash. Che...
28/2.
Visited this area of Oldham this afternoon primarily for a walk but was pleased that I had my binoculars when I unexpectedly disturbed 2 Crossbills from a conifer near Grains Bar. I suppose these birds might be from those seen at Dovestones earlier in the winter? - which isn't too far away as th...
The following books are going cheap and are in tip top condition: Raptors of Europe and The Middle East, A Handbook of Field Identification by Dick Forman; simply the raptor bible, a must have! Flight Identification of European Seabirds by Anders Blomdahl, Bertil Breife and Niklas Holmstrom; grou...
Well, today I was finally getting fed up with Netflix, Killer Sudokus, and above all else, the ongoing depressing News, so instead I indulged in daydreams mulling over happy birding in bygone days. One instance came to mind from early October of 1999. Barb and I were on a month long trip with a certain M...
With a drake ruddy shelduck currently at Hope Carr, I just wondered what the latest thinking is regarding this species. My understanding is that the species is not on the British list and therefore obviously can't be a Manchester tick or any other tick! All records are usually considered to be escape...
Near the Veledrome Prickly Lettuce, Common Mallow, Common Centuary, Dyers Rocket, Gypsywort, Skullcap, Water Mint Water Dock, Water forgetmenot, Yellow and Purple Loosestrife, Petty Spurge, Common Fumitary, Field Bindweed, Yarrow, Marsh Woundwort, Shepherds Purse, ORANGE BALSAM Wall Rue...
Blackley Forest, the remnant of a Norman Deer Park (alas now little more than a wood) stands on the east bank of the Irk opposite Heaton Park. Directly to the north the Irk flows past Rhodes Lodges and Alkrington woods, whilst to the south and east it bends round and runs parralel to Blackley New Road. Th...
Late am/pm with Simon Ghilks Speckled Wood abundant Red Admiral An impressive showing of Fly Agaric on Hobson Moor Road, we were disappointed to discover that it appeared someone had taken the best specimen when we passed on our way back
Just back from a few very enjoyable days birding at Lakenheath. Highlights were the Golden Oriole 2m 1f, Bittern, Crane, Little Egret, Cuckoos everywhere, numerous Marsh Harrier, Cettis Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and of course the primary reason for my visit, the Hobby, although most of the 70...
Broad-leaved Helleborine - I do a yearly count of this plant growing on the old railway line between Godley and Apethorn Lane, Hyde. Best counts up to and inc. 2011 have been 52 flowering spikes. This year has been exceptional with 107 flowering spikes counted yesterday and a considerable extension...
Late report from 16/6/21 of a Curlew seen from the Runway Viewing Park and heard calling south of main runway. Has also been seen and/or heard on 2 previous visits in May. Possible nesting?
Was way up in the North of Scotland this week and took half a days leave to get some birding in on the way back to the airport. Didn't quite go to plan as there was a whiteout and some scary driving conditions which meant I had to stick to the coast rather than go eagle spotting...
Highlights:
Perfect gr...
I have 40 ish copies of Birdwatch Magazine that I am about to throw into the recycling. Just wondering if anyone wants them first. Collection only. Replies asap as her indoors doesn't like the pile lying around.
Originally posted today by Ed Gradwell: 1 Great Grey Shrike watched by me for an hour or so as it perched low down in solitary hawthorn in the sloping field behind Buckingham Avenue, Horwich. Sighting date was 06/12/14 (Saturday afternoon before dusk). Not seen since, but a Barn Owl seen hunting over...
Some of you will already be aware of the controversial moves to "tidy" the coastline around Hoylake, specifically to remove or bury plant life that's helping to create the embryo dune system on North Wirral Local wildlife experts including birders are furious that this is continuing There's an exc...
I've got an old pair of Zeiss dialyt 7x42 which I love, and which actually I think are at least as good as my more modern Swarovski's. They're a bit battered, they need new rubber eye pieces and rubber armour and may need realigning. I'd like to get them sorted so that I can use them more often. Can anybody r...
A breeding male Peregrine born in 2018 bred this year in Manchester City Centre before sustaining a small break in his upper wing which resulted in him being taken into care at Wild Wings at Risley 9th April (information on this incident posted in the City Centre Perergrines thread on this forum). H...
A regular on my fat ball over the past 3 to 4 weeks - a cock Blackcap. Very aggressive, dominates everything except the GSWs and the Rosellas. Have posted Ian a pic.
Seeing the Edge from Ludworth I've been meaning to frequent the area a bit more, managed to get over their yesterday afternoon and walked a small circular. Parked up on Gun Road and headed up the picking Rod path over the edge, came back along the bottom past Coombes farm and then over the fields back to F...
12:30 - 15:00 sunny clear 1c c30 Fieldfare in fields above Arnfield 3 Coots on Res 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker m 4 Great tit in Swallow Wood 2 Blue tit 1 Robin 1 Dunnock c50 Redwing on Cow Lane 4 Crow Hobson Moor Road Bob -- Edited by Bob Barratt on Saturday 29th of January 2011 07:34:24 PM
A Sanderling here this evening - also 10 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sand & 5 LRPs. I know that this site is technically in West Yorkshire but you could see the birds from Greater Manchester with a decent scope! Simon -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 14th of September 2017 10:12:30 AM
