With the excellent increase in visible migration watching over the skies of Greater Manchester, this thread has been started to discuss all aspects of VisMig in GM. It is not however for the posting of actual sightings as they should be placed in the relevant site thread as usual. Instead fee...
Just curious is anyone is considering this beast?! I remember back in the mid/late 1990's (I think) Optolyth released its TBS 100 and, despite seeing many Optolyth scopes back then, I don't think I ever saw one of those monsters, although the few reviews I saw were always positive. Similarly Pentax r...
First bird for 2010, and a lifer, a Water Rail on the dipping pond. Definitely a good start to the year! In the last few days Dippers have been showing well, managed to get within a few yards of them, and a remarkably confiding Kingfisher.
We have taken in on commission a scope kit that would be great for someone wanting a whole scope outfit for a pretty cheap price. It's an Opticron GS665 (non-ED) with 20x and 28x fixed magnification eyepieces, along with a Stay-on Case. The scope is in good optical condition and the customer only wants...
We have on commission sale a Celestron Hummingbird 56mm ED scope with the 9-27x Zoom eyepiece and carry case. This is a superb little travelscope, truly miniaturised and hand -holdable. The owner has a price of only £229 on it, it's £349 full price so a good bargain. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday...
Seen a very large bird of prey at the bottom of my garden in the trees wing span of say three to six foot it sometimes circles high in sky looks like a buzzard as anyone had any sighting of this bird ??
Is this Mag. worth subscribing to, or is it for "experts" and I am better of with either of the "peasants" mags? I could have a free year if I sign up for the year after. Geoff -- Edited by Geoff Walton on Saturday 19th of September 2009 07:16:10 PM
For sale. Can possibly deliver but prefer a pick up Birds of the World..as Painted by 19th Century Artists by Hiroshi Aramata £6 The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals bu Dr Philip Whitfield £8 Parrots of the World 3rd (revised) Edition by J Forshaw and W. Cooper £45 Parrots of the...
Several weeks ago I received two e-mails in quick succession from a couple of my NE birding pals, (headlined rather in the manner we might expect from the Daily Express) to the effect that Rufous Antpitta had been split into no less than 12 species! One of them (Neil) announced that this had given him an...
Arrived on the moors above Stocks reservoir with Mr Barber in lovely sunshine this morning and within minutes we had our first views of the Montagu's Harrier initially being given grief by a Crow. We watched it for a while before it settled in a walled off area after having a difference of opini...
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/tests-reveal-that-rare-bird-of-prey--was-shot-illegally-8397633.html-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 9th of December 2012 11:26:14 PM...
With National and Local Birdfairs Cancelled here at Focalpoint we realise that our customers still need to get 'Hands-on' with optics to make sure they are choosing the right one for them, before purchase. So withthis in mind we have set up a week when customers can pop along to our showroom and meet a r...
Been working ''Up North'' today doing a survey for work on wildfowl in the Cheshire area. Rostherne Mere - 3 Mute Swan, 3 Goldeneye, 70 Teal, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 30 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 18 Tufted Duck, Farmwood Pool (Private) - 58 Tufted Duck, 22 Goldeneye, 11 Coot, 6 Shoveler 123 Wigeon, 1...
My Hazel Grove garden lies right in the middle of a housing estate which, in turn, lies on the edge of green belt. Hazel Grove Golf Course is nearby but the view from my house is essentially a typical suburban garden - a 12x20 yard rectangle. I have mature conifers and shrubs around the perimeter to act as...
Advice required please. Stockport Council have designated Wright's Wood (near Adswood, I think) as a Local Nature Reserve and have asked me about the siting of a tawny owl nest box there as they have one spare (a box not an owl). What are the 'rules' for positioning of such a box. Also, am I being pessimi...
Monday 10th August. This bird gone missing (on Saturday) from Charlesworth, just over the border in Derbyshire ... flew in direction of central M/cr. In juvenile plumage. Fitted with jesses & bells plus telemetry equipment (so obviously out of range) ... problem being only a young bird, never...
Don't know about anyone else on the Forum, but I regularly dream of birds, especially as Spring arrives and I await the 1st migrants. First one last night involved House Martins buzzing around my house. Seen as I only moved here in Jan, it may be true. Only a few months until I find out. Anyone else care to...
I've been sent this by a colleague at work. Ian is happy for me to post on here. This is your chance to have your say on Parks in GM. Imagine a greener Greater Manchester. A place that works with nature and where the urban landscape is filled with rain gardens, street trees, green roofs, walls and spaces. T...
Tuesday 24 March 2020 Working from home, in the garden. Very quiet bird-wise today, a few Meadow Pipits making their way north, and one Pied Wagtail possibly doing the same.
My garden is a small south facing plot. It is quite messy but contains a small pond. The best bird that actually visited the garden was a Brambling, but a Grey Heron visited the pond once and a Grey Wagtail has visited the garden twice. There is a thriving Jackdaw colony on the house behind the garden.
Great idea this Ian in these crazy times we find ourselves in. Working from home for the forseeable, so plenty of time to do some watching in, around and from the garden. Our Bolton garden is fairly urban, though we have a good vista both from the front overlooking Darcy Lever and to the rear towards Brad...
As I travel about a lot with work, am often trekking out of County or am staring out of a window on a train here and there, as I am sure many of you are, I thought an Out of County "Bits, Bobs, Odds and Sods" might be an idea for those little sightings we all see, but maybe don't afford a thread/blog o...
Its only a smallish south facing garden, though with a large Sycamore, massive clumps of bamboo (now some 15 feet high!), the odd ornamental shrub and tree and couple of quite old buddleia. Behind the garden are patches of brambles and rough grass fields (cut in summer for livestock food) lined with s...
With lockdown now over as we knew it for the months from March 2020 onwards, and the ceasing of those shielding from 1st August, this thread has come to it natural end and will be closed from 8th August, allowing those who wish to add conclusions, comments and round-ups the chance to do so. It will rema...
With the recently imposed lockdown due to COVID-19, for those more responsible birders amongst us, travelling to anything other than closely walkable birding sites has become inadvisable and frankly, irresponsible. Of course, birding remains for many, more than just a hobby. It keeps us sane, r...
