Soon to hit our shelves here at Focalpoint Optics will be the newly announce Swarovski BTX Scope system. This is the same optics as the current ATX/STX Scope but with a binocular eyepiece module. So anyone with any Objective end module from the ATX/STX range could add just the BTX Eyepiece module to ha...
The other day I was looking through my collection of bird books and found the first bird book I owned, yes it was the Observers book of Birds. The plates are not up to todays standard but they hold that somthing special, may be as a young lad they burned the feeling of wonder and mystery of the wild into me. T...
Sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, my dad had the following stolen from his car boot in Dukinfield. Opticron telescope - very old model, at least 30 years old with grey/green body, sorry can't remember exact model. It was in a soft black case. Cullmann tripod in perfect working or...
This week's local paper contains an article that indicates that part of Moore Nature Reserve is being proposed for development. Previous items showed that the adjoining Arpley Meadows had been earmarked for a housing development, but the plans indicated that the reserve itself would be untouche...
Just to draw peoples attention to Roy Dennis's Highland Website (or something like that), really interesting work being done on Woodcock migration by satellite tracking birds.
Cheers Ian
Hello all,I'm a student doing my MSc on ecological release in chaffinches (specifically differences in their abundance/niche/spatial use between here and Madeira, looking at whether they could be a different species over there). I've done the Madeira part and I'm struggling a little now I'm b...
Hi all, I don't own any books with this sort of detail and I thought I would ask the forum members as well as hit google. My question is about a few Chiffchaffs I've seen lately [last fortnight] with scruffy heads, seeming to lack some feathers and therefore no easy to see supercilium. The effect is to mak...
Not sure if this type of general topic is allowable rather than the usual site records threads (but I'll soon find out ) Ludworth Moor: Can anyone identify this 'Grass Moth'? Cheers, John
I'm considering selling two pairs of my bins to re-invest in another pair. The ones I'm thinking of selling are a 8x32 Nikon HG. They show some signs of wear on the body (a bit of gold paint wearing off the badge and wrinkling on the rubber eyecups - these can be replaced quite cheaply) but optically they a...
Excellent condition, complete with lens hood and case. £550 please phone 07976 088730. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 20th of August 2017 10:07:04 AM
We are running a Free to enter competition on the Focalpoint Facebook Page at the moment. Once the Focalpoint Facebook Page hits 500 Likes we will be giving away a thankyou gift to 2 lucky likers. Just like our page & Share the Competition Post to be entered into a free draw to win a Kenko Real Pro Andr...
Watched a very informative repeat programme on Channel 4 yesterday evening called Britain at Low Tide - Merseyside's Coastal Archaeology. Not strictly about birds but it explains the steps taken in the past to try to prevent coastal erosion on Formby and surrounding beaches. The birding connect...
Visit to London at the weekend via harry potter studios tour where incidentally there was a pied wagtail family living in privet drive!red kite also seen over the adjacent grassland. Highlights at wwt included ring necked parakeet reed warbler reed bunting green woodpecker lr plover Egyptian goo...
Got to La Crau, Peau De Meau reserve around 07:30 and it was already 34C! On approach Road had Hoopoe and a dozen or so Short-toed Lark. Also had Stone Curlew in a field plus 15 White Stork. On reaching the car park, immediately clocked 4 Black Kite and more than a dozen Kestrel. Closer inspection reveal...
I am selling my excellent condition pro series Canon 1D Mk4 camera body. Also comes along with 2, as new, original Canon Batteries, Charger, Leads, Manual and all other bits and pieces in the retail box. Camera is very clean inside and out with only very minimal signs of use as it has had light amateur us...
Just booked a holiday here for the last 2 weeks in September, would really appreciate any information on any good birding sites on the Island. Cheers Ian
Yet another pointless developement threatens to destroy more of our green spaces and in this particular instance some very important wildlife habitat and wildlife corridor. The proposed 'North Leigh' development will consist of a new road (to run alongside a perfectly good old one), an industri...
A fox lopped past me at 1130 this morning, it was that close (and apparently unperturbed) for a split second a thought it was a dog ! Nice to see as they have been persecuted here in the past.
It seems to be all change at Birdguides. The new web site is now mobile friendly with all new Bird Map showing bird sightings. There's a new app coming soon too. Subscription rates have been simplified - there are now just two rates. You now get all the services previously offered for fifty quid a year (c...
This afternoon whilst watching the Ruff; Peacock 2 Comma 2 Small Tortoiseshell 4 Coltsfoot Common Field Speedwell Sticky Groundsel Hairy Bittercress Red-tailed Bumblebee White-tailed Bumblebee Dave
Hi everyone, I have been looking for various mammal species across Rochdale (specifically west Rochdale) this year and thought I would share some observations; I have been using camera traps as well as tracking and have had; Foxes (27 records), Roe Deer (7 records), Wood Mouse (23 records), Rabbit...
the scope has had very little use 18-48x 65 with cover and original box with velbon d 700 tripod I am selling this because I don't use it I'm looking for 160 pounds
6th May 2016 1 Osprey being mobbed by Lesser Black Gulls as it flew along the Avon valley at Clifton. Also, 1 Peregrine roosting on a newly built high rise building near Bristol Bridge, whilst lots of unwary town pigeons scrounge scraps off the public in the square below. 2 Yellow Legged Herring Gulls w...
I have been made aware that there are plans afoot to build Industrial Units / Warehousing on Stretford Meadows. This is a landscaped former tip now a great habitat for birds. Birds seen last year included Great Grey Shrike, Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat to name but a few. But mo...
In a little over three years, counting just from May 2015, Manchester has done really well for heron enthusiasts, with six species gracing the county. Of these Little Egret is firmly established as a species to be recorded as a matter of routine. One wonders if Cattle Egret will follow in its wake? - (I...
