What a cracking bird this is and a candidate for GM bird of the year (with no disrespect intended for the Rose-coloured Starling) in view of the number of GM high listers who caught up with it. With some superb photos on the sightings threads, Im almost wishing that this would be a new GM species for me to j...
Sites of Biological Importance (SBIs), otherwise known as Local Wildlife Sites, are of vital importance in maintaining priority habitats and the species which depend upon them, especially in Greater Manchester where so much of the land area is already developed. There are over 530 SBIs across GM...
We have just taken in on a commission basis a pair of Kowa SV bins, 10x42 with strap, rainguard and carry case. They are nearly new and being sold because of a bereavement and were originally purchased from ourselves. Our usual price is £245 and these are on offer at only £150. As usual call 01925 730399 t...
We have taken in on commission a tripod that is a real birders piece of kit. I say this from experience as it is exactly what I use. It's the Manfrotto MT055 aluminium tripod legs with the 128RC head. This gives an incredibly stable platform, especially when digiscoping or phonescoping & I wholehe...
We have just taken in on commission a scope that would make a perfect starter scope for someone, at a really economical price. It is the Hawke Endurance 65 ED Scxope which comes with a zoom eyepiece and stay-on case. It does need a strap for the case but we have plenty of those here at the shop. The customer...
For sale. The above lens. £2500 - excellent condition at a real bargain price. Please email me jontaverner@tiscali.co.uk if interested. Buyer to collect from my home. I live near Pennington Park, Leigh. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 15th of December 2018 01:04:49 PM
Seven Waxwings were found today in Chester at the Greyhound Shopping Park. They were on rowan berries betweenAsda and John Lewis/Wrens. Several birders managed to catch up with them but reports are that there are not many berries left now.
A potentially very important message from Katie Aspin:Dear all,It has been brought to our attention that a twite that was caught at Rishworth earlier this year was possibly infected with a strain of avian pox. Jamie Dunning managed to take a blood sample from the bird, which had lesions on...
I thought this was worth a mention. Just recently myself and a few other observers have heard loud gunshot type bangs coming from the main yard. I managed to ask one of the yard lads during the week and he told me theyve just got a gas powered bird scarer. I asked him why would they want to scare the Gulls off...
We now have with us on commission an Olivon T-80 Scope Kit. This consists of an 80mm objective scoipe, a zoom eyepiece and a stay-on case. Given the objective size this would be great as a dual terrestrial and starter astro scope. With Christmas coming up this is a really economic choice for a starter ki...
A customer has just put on sale on commission a scope that I rate very highly, in fact it's the one I bought for my wife, Carys, in the past. It is the Opticron GS52, ED glass scope and angled. It has an SDL zoom eyepiece with it and the green, luxury stay-on case. It is boxed and I know the customer who has hard...
We have just taken in, on commission, a mint condition Swarovski ATX85 Scope outfit. The kit does not have a stay-on case but is boxed and comes with a free Lowepro Scope Porter 200AW bag. The owner reckons that it has around 4 years warranty left, but in the 6 years that he has had it he has hardly used it, h...
Could anyone who found a Barr & Stroud 20x50 monocular at the Pied Wheatear twitch at Meols please contact Dave 07922763415, thanks. -- Edited by Dave ONeill on Saturday 1st of December 2018 11:01:30 AM-- Edited by Dave ONeill on Saturday 1st of December 2018 06:12:04 PM
Inspired by Ian's road birding trip to Windsor I thought I'd start a little list of best birds seen from a moving vehicle so here goes with mine:
1. Roller
Somewhere in the Sierra Nevada on roadside wires screeching the hire car to a hault to the consternation of my Spanish and English friends some t...
We have an Astro scope it in for sale on commission, and it's dirt cheap so for anyone wanting to add to their optics kit for not very much outlay this would be ideal. The scope is the Celestron PS7/700 700mm Refractor Scope and comes with eyepiece and aluminium tripod plus accessory tray. The customer i...
Focalpoint are having a Blackbird Friday event seeing as how the rest of the World are having a Black Friday one! We have sorted out special discounts on a variety of products and these will be valid for the next week. Visit the website for details
I am aware that there are problems accessing some pages of the forum (seemingly random pages at that), as I am having the same difficulty myself. My forum hosting company have been made aware of it and are currently dealing with the problem so please bear with it
We are having an in-store day at Focalpoint Optics this coming Saturday, the 24th November. It is an Opticron Day with Chris Galvin our Opticron Rep being present all day to answer questions and help. We will still be selling all other brands and be here to take in repairs etc So why not call in to say hell...
Hi any ideas in keeping my binoculars and scope free from condensation when I keep them in my car overnight. As I often go birdwatching after work I leave in the car. I know I could wrap them up in a duvet, didnt know if there are any products out there. Thanks
We are selling, on commission, a zoom eyepiece that will fit most Opticron scopes from at least the past 15 years. It is the HDF Zoom Eyepiece, which as a 20x-60x magnification range with 80mm objective telescopes. This range then varies according to the different diameter objectives on other scope...
There is a great video doing the rounds on youtube at the moment. Simply type in Migrating Birds on Merchant Ships and its the first one to show up - has a picture of a Long-eared Owl on the menu page. Sit back and enjoy 10 mins or so of real entertainment.
Posted on behalf of Lucy Hall: Hi all, I have an event that you may find interesting. For social historians and nature lovers alike! Supported by the Council, this promises to be a fascinating illustrated talk by two fine authors (one, our very own Henry McGhie, Head of Collections and Curator of Zoo...
We have just taken in on commission a mint condition Swarovski scope. It is the very popular, especially due to its light weight, ATS 65m and is the v.2 version so has improved optics and coatings over the v.1. It comes with the wide angle 25-50x zoom eyepiece and a Swarovski stay-on case. This outfit no...
Is Manchester Airport Airside,The airfield itself,runways,taxiways etc in the Manchester boundry.?
I ask as I am returning to work in the Monarch Aircraft hangar from 16th August and I used to see quite a few interesting birds around the airfield,
We have a Swarovski DCB II Digiscoping Adapter on commission sale at a really fabulous price. It is in superb condition and is priced for a very quick sale. The customer only wants £75for it. Please call 01925 730399 for availability. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 14th of November 2018 02:46...
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/victorian-eco-activism-manchester-and-the-birth-of-the-rspb-tickets-51292552405For social historians and nature lovers alike! Supported by the Council, this promises to be a fascinating illustrated talk by two f...
I think i've found a way to prevent squirrels getting at my bird feeders(so far anyway).I've been using this method for several months now and not had a single incident of the tree rats getting to the feeders.I've tied strong string to the feeders and made a hole in the centre of a bucket lid and threaded...
I have been considering going for the Wheatear at Meols this weekend, but have to admit to being put off by reports of people feeding mealworms to a bird that is already showing down to a few feet so they can get a 'better' photo. Then I see the text below posted on the Abernethy RSPB page on Facebook, accom...
