The Blyth's Reed Warbler will soon be entering its third week and I expect nearly everyone who wanted to connect will have seen it by now. As has become apparent it has been remarkably elusive at times, even when the weather seems favourable. I wondered how many visits it had taken for some to get adequa...
I spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica on a holiday with my wife from 06.12.17 - 2120.12.17. While it wasn't a bird watching holiday I took the opportunity to get out each morning for around three hours and went on a number of tours to the cloud forest, Nicaragua and the Pallo Verde national park. I took the Helm gui...
This is a private reserve for which a permit & key are needed but I recommend it highly and it doesn't cost too much to become a member. You have the reserve virtually to your self and can pop in on Wales trips to use the 'bathroom' facilities and have a peek at the bird lfe on the reserve. Just recently a...
26/4/09 Spot of sea-watching with Jimmy Meadows : 2 f. Velvet Scoters were close in on the rising tide all morning, giving good views in flight and at rest, Red-throated Diver, Razorbill, 5+ Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Guillemot, Gannet, 20+Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 5 Knot, Sanderling, Whimbr...
In March 2016 I asked the question does anyone know anything about John Maclair Boraston, a bird book author from Stretford. Wrote Nature's Tones and Undertones 1921. Wrote about birds around Stetford and beyond. Well, if anyone is still interested I have found out. The 1911 census gives him as Buye...
As many of you already know just after Christmas we had news of the passing away of Tony Murphy, the founding father of Focalpoint, the original owner and the person who gave us our name. This is not long after his wife Enid died, and as they were inseparable in life, so now they are together again. Tony's...
Focalpoint in conjunction with Feldyfare Birdfoods have launched a photo competition to celebrate the Big Garden Birdwatch this coming weekend. Just like both the Focalpoint and Feldy Facebook pages, share both on your timeline and submit up to 5 photos to be in with a chance of winning a range of pr...
Bolton (20mile radius) is the main UK epicentre for this dog disease, which is nearly always quickly fatal. The latest case is at Lostock, and warning notices are at the Dam and St John's Wood. The 26 cases recorded, within the above radius, are more than large parts of the UK including London. P...
I've never been particularly comfortable when it comes to bird topography, I'm never 100% sure if I'm looking at median coverts or greater coverts, but I thought that I had primaries sorted at least. For example the patterns and shape of the mirrors on P9 & P10 can help with gull identification,...
We have, on commission sale, a great little pair of bins, ideal for a second pair or travel pair, but also perform excellently in their own right. They are the Nikon HG 8x32s and are in good condition. These come complete with strap and rainguard ready for use. So why not treat yourself and head down to o...
We have just had a visit from our Opticron Rep, Chris, and are pleased to be able to pass on news of Opticron's latest promotion. It is a £50 Cash Back offer on all purchases from now until New Years Eve 2018 on the current Countryman range of binoculars. All purchasers of the Countryman BGA HD+ range, 8x4...
A customer has brought in some lovely compact binoculars which have to be sold due to a bereavement. They are the highly regarded Swarovski Pockets in the 10x25 model. They are approximately 18 months old so still have a substantial warranty left on them (8.5 years). They are in excellent condition a...
we have on commission sale a ready made set-up for digiscoping. It is the Swarovski DCB II adapter (ATS type fit) and the Panasonic FS7 Compact Digital Camera. This was brought in not long ago, but for a quick sale has recently been reduced from £199 to ONLY £170. Please call 01925 730399 for availabili...
We have a one-off offer on a brand new Zeiss spotting scope, when it's gone then this will not be repeated. We are short of quality scopes in the used section, so we have reduced this one to as near cost as possible to bring it into a lower price bracket. It is the Zeiss 65mm Diascope T*FL, being sold as a kit w...
Goosander 4 Barnacle Goose 1 - presumably feral or captive-bred. Tame, grazing with c100 Canada geese. Yellow 'coil' on right leg (it looked full-winged so may turn up elsewhere)
The Watergrove Reservoir hide is well hidden amongst the trees to the west of the windsurfer's club house. Someone has been asking where it is earlier this week. So to get to it, you go through the gate next to the club house (by the feeding station) and turn immediately right across the open ground wher...
I've upgraded most of my 'stuff' recently, but before I condemn my previous tools to the back of a cupboard for emergency use only, I would like to give those particularly on a tight budget the chance to buy (I might then be able to afford another battery ) Canon Powershot SX510 HS c5 years old (4377 shot...
For sale the following as a single lot: British Birds and Birdlife - A unique guide to Britain's best-loved Birds (3 DVD set- boxed) VGC Collins - Garden bird songs and calls - Hard back book (includes audio CD ) VGC Collins Field Guide - Wildlife Sounds of Britain and Ireland. Hard back book (include...
Focalpoint recently had to choose between losing a facility we had on our old website or paying to have it transferred. Hoping to benefit birders we chose the latter. For folk who don't know we have a number of 'Bird Leagues' on the site where birders can keep track of their lists and (just for fun) compa...
Kowa Photo Attachment TSN-PZ for Kowa 880/770 series telescopes. For attachment of SLR cameras via a T2 mount (not included). This item is in excellent condition, in box, with instructions, end cap and pouch case. £200 no offers (10% off for 21 or under). Can deliver in GM for petrol cost. Advertised...
Sightings this morning at 9.0 and 10.15am Peregrine....1 Mistle Thrush...7 (6 in the tree nearest Samuel Crompton's Grave) Redwing...1 Greenfinch...6 Chaffinch...2 Blue Tits...3 Carrion Crow...3 Magpies...5 Robin...1 Blackbirds..6 Goldfinch..1 -- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 14th...
Yes, it is that time of year again. Do we have a standout bird of the year? The Rose-coloured Starling perhaps figures high on the list, though it surely would have been a more obvious front runner had it been in adult plumage; it was considerate enough to stick around a while, (though not long enough for...
Ok, the big question now is, who is planning to be in the field on New Years Day, Tuesday 1st January 2019 It would be interesting to hear where birders are planning to see in the New Year and how they get on - let's hope that someone strikes it lucky I'm planning to be birding around my new borough, Oldham
Still fuming having stood next to some w****r flying a large drone at Risley Moss. I didn't feel I could intervene because I didn't know the law. The warden was temporarily off-site, but I spoke to him later He had a PC console, with friends all watching the new toy. It had a visualisation headset. It fle...
