The third spring Salford Quays birdwatching cruise takes place on Saturday 30th May (8am to 10am). In case the long awaited heatwave hasn't arrived by then there will be plenty of seats downstairs in the cabin for those who don't wish to brave the elements on the top deck! The boat will set off from the L...
Reading sightings of Mallards at Chorlton Water Park having Bolts through their neck My question is are Crossbow Bolts sold cheap,I thought they would be expensive to buy. as when fired,they most probably dont get the back,and dont you need a licence to buy them. as long as Idiots are allowed to buy th...
On my way to Dorset to visit my Mother In law I stopped off at the Cotswold Water Park, a place I have visited quite a few times. For those who have not visited before its a huge area of gravel pits and in the winter is noted for Smew and Red Crested Pochard. In summer it great for Nightingale, Cettis Warbler a...
I was out doing my garden yesterday in Longbarn where I was joined by a very friendly robin that was making the most of all the worms and insects I was digging up when I heard a very loud shrieking and a bird with pointy wings heading up the street coming from Woolston park direction. At first I thought it co...
Pro-Series spotting scope ST20-60x80A with 8-24mm zoom eyepiece. 12 months old VG condition. Ideal for novice birder £70-00 -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 23rd of May 2015 08:29:24 PM
Having only recently taken up birding, last night I took out a new pair of binoculars onto Worthington Lakes to see how they performed. The binoculars were fine but I was shocked to see that a Great Crested Grebe I photographed on the nest only 3 days earlier, was still on the nest but dead. I recall seein...
Common Birds of the Yucatan Peninsula £4 National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America £7.50 Collins Field Guide-Birds of East Africa £6 Birds of the Indian Subcontinent £5 Nests and Eggs by AH Blaikie £6 Buyer to collect. Would persons interested in buying any of these please PM me....
barr & Stroud Sahara 15-45x60mm Scope. With stay on case. VG condition suitable for beginner: Price £40 -00. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 21st of May 2015 06:46:13 PM
Hi all Just booked 2 weeks all inclusive at Agadir from 8th Aug, no nothing of birding potential in the area, sure someone out there will be able to advise Cheers in anticipation, Ian
Recently replaced through receiving a gift of the Scopac Plus. Used, but, still perfectly usable. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 18th of May 2015 02:27:09 PM
After distant views of both Temminck's Stint and Little Stint at Martin Mere, Tony and I wandered around the static collection listenening out for warblers. I remember Bill Oddie on Springwatch recommend the collection. I would too. Test your ID skills then marvel at plumage details close-up. The...
Some of us just cannot keep up with the pace of quality birds tripping through Greater Manchester this spring! - Well, it's not a bad complaint to have I suppose. After the recent run of goodies though, one could be forgiven for assuming that it can't go on like this, - but it can, and most likely will. Pos...
Since when did we have to start calling Whitethroats 'Common Whitethroats' and Buzzards 'Common Buzzards' etc. We don't need to. They are not so named in my Dad's copy of the Collins by Roger Peterson et. al. so they do not need to be over-described now. Confusion species are perfectly distinguished...
One Kingfisher seen along the Shropshire Union Canal near "Bridge 11", just passed the white sign for the Badger Inn (its the bridge along the track between Old Hoolgrave Farm and High Farm) Buzzards x3 pairs - two of these pairs were calling and displaying Numerous Whitethroat, Blackca...
The new Zeiss Terra 8x32 binoculars are now in stock. Having tested these bins I can vouch for how good they are for a budget pair, possible the best budget pair out there! The glass is german Schott glass but like the 8x42 Terras they are manufactured in China, hence the lower price tag. The RRP is £339 bu...
Whilst coming home yesterday from The Trough Of Bowland. l saw someone virtually hugging a tree, with a shotgun in his hand aimed at a Rookery
The bird were all circling and want to roost but unable as they knew the fatal consequenses
Why does the law allow this ?
We contacted Paul Heaton and were t...
Is it just me that thinks this is one of the most under 'appreciated' phenomena in GM. Don't get me wrong I appreciate its not like the big thrush or geese movements where flocks fill the sky. Nor is it as easy to see as it would be at, say, Spurn. But, for the past few mornings as I've been going to the car ther...
Had a request to have a topic to cover our allotments in Audenshaw, off Mount Pleasant Street plus also cover the field (lots of walkers out there). I know several plot holders feed the birds and have nest boxes. Be interesting to see what we do get in this patch. Regards Rachael
Hi. a non-birder friend was watching what she is sure was a pair of sparrowhawks apparently digging something out of a tree, possibly grubs. This was near the Mersey at Northenden. Anyone seen anything like this before? Mike
Hello all,
I'm doing a bit of UK year list and struggling to connect with Cuckoo (apart from turtle dove it is the only common migrant I haven't seen so far).
Has anyone got any tips on where cuckoo is almost guaranteed in GM at the moment?
Ta very much,
Graham
Fairly recent RSPB reserve with nice visitor centre and café. Reedbed, woodland and coast. Birds seen Mon 4th May: Cetti's Warbler (abundant, one glimpsed) Sedge Warbler (2) Reed Warbler (several) Bearded Tit (1) Several Curlew and Shelduck on mudflats.
Large ancient woodland in Monmouthshire. Visited Sunday 3rd May. Saw Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit and heard Cuckoo, plus expected common woodland species.
Millington Hall Lane, I,ve been stopping in a laybye here for over a year now and have only seen corvids,pigeons,gulls,buzzards and a very regular kestrel,today a red kite flew over heading towards dunham massey,eyes to skies
cheers geoff
I've moved this discussion over from 'sightings' From my own observations, the Parakeets will be egg laying around mid March and the young will be fully fledged by the end of May. Activity around the nest hole (excavating or just a bit of Spring cleaning) will typically start in January. From what I'v...
Hi all,
If anyone is interested I have a photograph exhibition on for the whole of the month of May at Harwood library, Bolton, BL2 3HN. It is titled 'The Wildlife of Bolton and the Surrounding Area'.
I know quite a few people who I have spoke to over the years are from this area and may be interested to se...
All boxed and in near mint condition, bar the case which has a popper missing. 500 pounds or a sensible close offer. -- Edited by SMcRoyall on Friday 1st of May 2015 11:57:08 AM
Bolton RSPB are running a coach trip to mid Wales on Sunday 10 May and we have a fair few places spare. The coach leaves from the Octagon theatre in Bolton town centre at 7am and we aim to return by 7pm. We will be visiting two places - Gilfach Farm in the morning and the Elan Valley in the afternoon. Price is £...
Cheers in anticipation, Ian