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 £...
A nine day holiday with wingspan bird tours split between coto donana and extremadura provided a brilliant birding experience for me and seven other birders in the more than capable hands of tour leader bob buckler. After being picked up at malaga we headed for the coto donana area and the small town o...
Having a clear out of the shelves got a couple of heavy tomes, to sell. The Migration Atlas Poyser 2002 published by the BTO £50 A Dictionary of Birds poyser Bruce Campbell Elizabeth Lack £20...SOLD.. Arctic Flight large format hardback James McCallum £20. Collins bird Guide Large format first edit...
Wood Stitchwort, Ground Ivy, Dogs Mercury, Lungwort, Wood Anemone, Opposite Leaved Golden Saxifrage, Glory of the Snows, Lesser Celandine, Bamboo, Salmon Berry, Dog Violet, Butterbur, and Toothwort all in flower. Also a Pill Millipede Glomeris marginata and is the first I've seen myself in GM b...
Shorebirds - A Complete Guide to Their Behaviour and Migration by Alan Richards The Atlas of British Birdlife by Bob Scott The Illustrated Birdwatcher's Calendar by Bob Scott A Celebration of Birds by Robert Dougall Around the World with 1000 Birds by Russell Boyman A Bird in the Bush - A Social Histo...
I have just come from the Sankey Valley and the kids / youths have burnt hundreds of yards of reed beds just as the reed warblers are looking to nest. I phoned the warden from Sankey Valley and he was sympathetic and aware of the problem. However his view was there is little you can do as warning signs are se...
Perhaps they haven't where you are,but here in Highfield, Wigan they seem to have vanished. There's been a nest under the porch of a house opposite the end of our close for at least 5 years now and always loads more Swallows and Martins overhead constantly at this time of year. The pair were back and nest...
I have just this morning taken delivery of a pair of Zeiss SF 8x42 Binoculars. I have kept them in the box, so untouched by human hands!! These are like hens teeth so if you fancy a pair act now, it will be first come, first served on these little beauties
There are reports of a Hoopoe at Thurstaston Common/Royden Park yesterday according to the rare bird alert. Does anyone know if the sighting has been verified? I always wanted to see a Hoopoe locally but so far didn't manage it and I've also never heard of this location (until I just googled it) so i'd b...
I commute from Mossley to Leeds Uni every day and thought I'd start a topic with my sightings, and hopefully others might alert me to interesting things to look out for too.
So far this week I've twice seen a kestrel from Huddersfield railway station (in the car park visible from the platform to Leeds...
Indian birder and photographer Padmanav Kundu is currently over in the UK and in the Cheetham Hill area for a short time. He visited Heaton Park last weekend but of course its a big place and you really need to know where to look. Could any county birder assist Padmanav with either showing him around Hea...
