I saw what I can only think was a Downy Emerald in my Swinton garden today. It was a brief view of a darter with rusty coloured wings but I only saw it from underneath and didn't get a good view of the abdomen, although it seemed a bit wider at the tip and not tapering. Do any dragonfly experts know of any recen...
I'm normally pretty good at reporting any gull ring numbers I manage to get. I've manged to collect a few helpful people to assist me via email etc. However I'm struggling to find any scheme that rings common Terns with metal rings with no additional coloured ring ( unless it has fell off) or even work ou...
3 grasshopper warblers reeling below bottom sholver on the edge of the beal valley tip yesterday at 8 pm -- Edited by stuartherring on Friday 8th of May 2015 05:29:11 PM
Tried somewhere abit different this afternoon, Buzzard, Kestrel 2 LRP Lapwing 110 Snipe 6 House Martin 40 Swift 50 Sedge Warbler 6 Whitethroat 10 Gropper Redpoll 5 inc 2 male on territory Water Rail 2 heard Loads of Reed Buntings and Mpipits Si -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 18th of January 2013 1...
We have on commission sale an Opticron MM4 77 scope with an SDL v.2 Zoom eyepiece and a green Stay-on Case. This is boxed and is in excellent condition. The kit would retail at well over £1000 and is on sale at ONLY £750. To test this kit out make an appointment by calling 01925730399. To see pictures check...
Didsbury area of: Fletcher Moss Gardens, Stenner Woods, Millgate Fields, Mersey between Kingsway and Simon's Bridge and Loonts Lake. NB the latter is a private site. This area mostly hosts common species but odd rarities have been found.
Stenner Woods:
Treecreeper 1
Siskin 19 - a good count i...
Filtration pools & Bridgewater Canal Grey Wagtail pair nesting along the canal bank 6 Reed Warbler in song 5 Blackcap in song Song Thrush feeding chicks in the nest Sparrowhawk male with prey 2 Swiift 1 greenfinch in song
Had a fine day out with the Leigh asda gang plenty walking but not many birds about.
2 stonechat
6 wheatear
4 willow warblers
2 chiffchaff
3 swift
6 swallows
and all the common species
no dotterels seen or reported from other birders
We have a pair of Pre-loved Leica 8x42 Noctivid Binoculars for sale. These are new in, come boxed with all accessories and are in excellent condition. They are the top Leica model as used by Iolo Williams and are on sale for ONLY £1499. To test these please ring 01925730399 for an appointment. For pict...
We have just taken in on commission a pair of 8x30 Swarovski CL Companion Binoculars. These are in excellent condition and come with the box, carry case and all accessories. As with all Swarovski I predict a quick sale so don't delay if you are interested. The customer is asking ONLY £699for these, cur...
A very interesting article today on the BBC website regarding how climate change is affecting Great Tit nesting habits. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61314226I think the link only works if you have the BBC App installed but the story can easily be found on the BBC News websit...
Managed a couple of hours in between jobs this afternoon so I dropped in on the Woodlark that had been showing near to Brereton Country Park. With the help of the other birders present I soon managed to get my lens on the bird but it was really difficult to focus on as it was 150 yards away in a stubble field a...
went with the wigan rspb group on the midweek trip to marshside and then to formby
organised by tom morton at marshside all the usual stuff plos a juv marsh harrier
from the car park then to formby birds seen at least 7 arctic skuas 3 light phase 4 dark phase
4 arctic terns loads of sandwich and common ,7...
Morning walk along the edge of Cut Thorn Hill to Three Shires Head & return via path along the edge of the moor. 2 Ring Ouzels (m+f) seen on Cut Thorn, but then flew across the river into Staffs. 2m+2f Stonechats were also along the edge of Cut Thorn, plus 2m Reed Buntings. 5 Curlews were engaged in dis...
We have just taken in on commission a really nice kit, complete and ready to use. It is the Zeiss 85mm Diascope with 20-60x Zoom eyepiece, a Skua stay-on case, a carbon fibre tripod with Manfrotto head and a mulepack carry system. This is a top end package in every sense of the word. It is in good condition...
Had a flirt today here 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (views never decent, stuck to the trees bordering the Medlock) 2 x Nuthatch, usual tits and finches, fair few Magpies, Robins, Wrens, Mistle Thrush etc etc. Also, 2 Lesser-black Backed Gulls taking turns to share a streetlight vantage point on the f...
To celebrate being an optics retailer in Cheshire for 40 Years this year Focalpoint Optics if hosting a weekend event to which everyone will be warmly welcomed. The evnt will be based around Birding, Nature and Astronomy and experts will be on hand to help with all queries. It will take place on a weeke...
Quick visit on the way to work this morning and not disappointed with 4 Whimbrel on the field beyond the play shed. They should hang around for a while so will continue to visit to see the best of these great birds.
Walking along the canal near Strines near Marple , spotted a Common Sandpiper , really bizarre as it was very busy with boats, walkers and cyclists -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 18th of April 2022 09:08:48 AM
Written by and posted own behalf of Paul Hackett: Justin Carr and myself (Paul Hackett) are working at the Focalpoint Bird Optics Fair at Antrobus Village Hall, Knutsford Road, Antrobus, Cheshire. CW9 6LB on 23rd and 24th April giving talks on Digiscoping/Phonescoping, you get two of the best UK D...
Had a great day at Caelaverock WWT today. Thousands of Barnacle Geese, stunning geese, especially in such large numbers and no doubt about their origin other birds... Whooper Swans Pink footed Geese Teal Wigeon Shoveler Stock dove Golden Plover Hen Harrier Buzzards Tree sparrow Yellowhammers, l...
Just spent the easter break up in the highlands and had a fantastic trip! Stayed in the Aviemore area and caught up with Ospreys, Black Grouse, Caper, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and breeding plumage Slav Grebe. A trip to Gruniard Bay on the Saturday added Great Northen & Red Thrt Divers, Wil...
We have just received for commission sale a Manfrotto tripod kit. It is labelled up as 'Swarovski' but is the 055 Aluminium tripod (MN055) and has the 128RC head much favoured by birders (including myself). It is in good condition and is on sale for ONLY £110. Please call 01925730399 for an appointmen...
We have on commission sale a set of mint MT055XPRO3 Manfrotto Tripod legs for sale, this item is not boxed and will need a tripod head. It is the tripod I use as it is ultra-stable for digiscoping and seawatching. The seller is asking ONLY £125 for these legs. To check availability or book an appointmen...
We have received on commission sale a pair of the original Swarovski 8x30 SLC WB Binoculars. These are in green with a carry case and strap and have been recently serviced by Swarovski so are in good condition. The seller wants ONLY £600for these. The details are on our website: https://www.focalpo...
We have on commission sale a nice item, a Swarovski STX95 Scope, consisting of the objective 95 end, the straight 'Ocular' ('eyepiece') end and the full Swarovski stay-on case, worth over £230 on its own! It is in excellent condition but isn't boxed. This kit would cost c.£3650 currently and the sell...
We have received on commission sale a pair of Swarovski 8.5x42 EL Binoculars. These have just been back to Swarovski to be refurbished and haven't been used since. They come with strap and rainguard and are one of the original ELs with the better close focussing. The seller wants ONLY £979for these bi...
7.15am - 9.00am Scrubby area between Stoney Brow and Beacon Country Park (my patch) Seems to have been a big arrival overnight - Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, Song Thrushes, Robins (slightly dissapointingly nothing unusual) Goldcrest- there seemed to be a continual chorus of Goldcrest calls (where...
