I have just got back yesterday from a short trip to Arran, my first experience of birding in Scotland, and it was a great trip. Arran is in the Firth of Clyde, an island of about 50 square miles between the coast of Ayrshire and the Kintyre peninsula. It is an interesting place as it lies on the so-called Hi...
Thought I'd posted this but IOS 8.0.2 has been playing up. Best mate reported his first Hobby on Tuesday Sept 30th. It was on a post at the side of the railway line whilst on the train at Carstairs Junction. He's up there with work regularly and said there's been a lot of Hirundine activity in the area this...
We have just taken in on commission sale a pair of RSPB WPG binoculars, with case, strap, rainguard and objective covers but no box. They are 8.5x42 so ideal for birding and a great starter pair or second pair for the car at ONLY £140. As usual please call 01925 730399 to check availability. If you are tra...
10 complete volumes of British Birds Magazine for sale 1987 - 1996. They are in excellent condition and are in official British Birds binders - £55 -must collect personally. Also Vol 1 of The Birds of South America - The Oscine Passerines (Jays, Swallows, Wrens, Thrushes and Allies, Vireos ,Wood -w...
We have, on commission sale a non-APO Leica Televid scope for sale, it's the 77mm objective model with a 20-60x Zoom eyepiece and a 32x eyepiece. It also has the original Skua stay-on case but with no carrying strap. This is on sale for £399, and zoomable pictures are available at: https://www.focalp...
We are really lucky to have just taken in, on commission, a mint condition Swarovski ATM80 Scope with the more desirable 25-50x WA eyepiece and a stay-on case. This is so little used that the strap for the stay-on case hasn't even been unpacked! It comes complete with all lens covers, dust caps and orig...
The British Bird Fair 2018 at Rutland Water, Leicestershire, is happening from Friday 17th - Sunday 19th August 2018 This year the event celebrates the 30 Year Anniversary https://birdfair.org.uk/
We have on commission sale a fabulous pair of Zeiss Victory Binoculars, they are the 8x42 HTs, this model has a very high light gathering capacity, usually being marketed as a hunting binocular, particularly when used at dawn and dusk. But shouldn't we birders want high light gathering too?! They ar...
As a main sponsor of this website, a fantastic resource for GM Birders, we always like to reward those who stay faithful to us and then they also get our back-up on products bought from us. Many of you already know that we are not allowed to represent Focalpoint Optics at the UK Birdfair as it conflicts wi...
What a fantastic way to enter the GM250 (everyone else has got a club) Club, with Rob Adderley's find of Kentish Plover at Audenshaw Reservoirs this morning elevating him into this prestigious and extremely elite club. Well done Rob, fully deserved of the GM250 (everyone else has got a club) Club's m...
We have taken in for sale on a commission basis a mint condition Opticron GS52 Telescope. This is coupled with an SDL Zoom eyepiece and has a black stay-on case. The scope is a straight version and has its original box. Since Opticron do not deal with the company that made the GS range of scopes any more th...
Thurs. 6th August 2015 - Hartington - Beresford Dale - Wolfscote Dale - Biggin Dale - Hartington (circular walk) 8.00am - 3.00pm Despite the gloomy weather and heavy drizzle for the first hour or so, the walk turned out to be very productive: Beresford Dale: heavy drizzle to start so pretty quiet alon...
Small fenced off reservoir at NW end of Holford Moss - viewed (at 16:30) from the footpath close to the railway line. One side of the reservoir was not visible from the path. Green Sandpiper 1 The only other bird was a single Black-headed Gull!
All, there is an open meeting on 11 th August ,1000-1400, at the Devonshire institute in Grassington village. Several guest speakers have been arranged. It is not a protest day- no placards or banners- just some good solid info about the type of crimes that are being committed against birds of prey. T...
Inspired by Andy Bissitt's posts of finding Purple Hairstreaks in Romiley and tipped off to look at Chadkirk C.E. I went to both sites and found Purple Hairstreaks at virtually every Oak I scanned. Today I had no trouble finding them on Hazel Grove Golf Course. With next week promising another heat wa...
I have to pass on the sad news, that many will already know, that one of the original founders of Focalpoint Optics has sadly passed away. Enid Murphy, top birder and tour leader, and wife of Tony Murphy died suddenly last week. Her funeral is on Thursday 19th July and Focalpoint will be closed for that a...
There is a small falcon ,flying round the moor with jesses attached, It was over Robin hoods well side at about 5.20.you can get quite close to the bird.
2 male black-tailed skimmers, possibly (and I stress possibly) firsts for Stockport borough, this afternoon on the main water. Also at least 6 brown hawkers and 5 emperors, so what with 100's of common blue damsels plenty to see on the water. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 6th of July 2018 09:36:...
A great day out today with John Barber for company. We decided on Llandegla forest to see if we could see the Black Grouse. After getting there at about 10.30am we made our way through the forest from the mountain biking place to the bird hide that overlooks the moors. Unfortunately, the hide was locked...
I've been informed of this festival taking place in Buxton. I understand there will be three Authors present and giving talks on bird related topics.
Mark Cocker Our Place (Saturday 21 July) - Buxton-born naturalist on the places and people who have shaped the way we view nature, and how we need to r...
For anyone fancying a top quality pair of 10x42 binoculars we have the perfect pair at a very reasonable price. We have taken in a very well looked after pair of Leica Trinovid 10x42 BA Binoculars. They have the strap, carry case and rainguard and are optically perfect. We have these on commission sale...
I don't know if I'm allowed to post this in advance, but what the heck. Swarovski has announced a price rise that is due to take effect from July 1st, 2018. Obviously any stock that we have in which we ordered under the old pricing will remain unchanged in the price we sell at. However, any stock we order a...
Just an update on a pair of binoculars we have on Commission Sale that have recently been reduced and are a fabulous buy for anyone wanting a 10x42 Binocular. They are a pair od Eschenbach 10x42 Farlux SPS bins and come with the original box and wooden presentation case. They also have the carry case and...
We have just taken in, on a commission basis, a pair of the original 8x30 Swarovski CLs in green. They are in mint condition and come complete with strap, rainguard, objective covers, carry case and box. The owner of these only wants £599 for them and as the new ones are now £930 RRP this is a substantial s...
Hi all, I'm heading to California for a fortnight in September and wondering if anybody can recommend me a decent field guide to buy? And if anyone has been themselves, tips on must-visit locations would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!
Who wants to go to Rusholme to see Parakeets?, Ive a much better alternative. Just returned from 3 days in Barcelona , 18 th birthday treat for baby son. Monk Parakeets everywhere in the City and the weathers nicer than Rusholme!. Also 100+ Alpine Swifts flying above the Camp Nou stadium which by the wa...
18th June 2017 09:30 - 15:00 hrs. Hot and sunny. Crickhowell to Crug Hywel (Table Mountain) and return. Red Kite x 5 Buzzard x 3 Kestrel x 1 Whinchat x 2 Stonechat x 3 Wheatear x 7 Redstart x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Treecreeper x 1 Raven x 2 Skylark x 3 Meadow Pipit x 5 Pied Wagtail x 1 Dunnock x 1 Swift x 30 House Marti...
