Just found this link on a site used by hill walkers. As a hill walker myself i know the weather is just as important to them as it is to birders, and this site comes with good recommendations. Best bit is it covers all of Europe and has an excellent long range forecast - useful if you're planning a trip to the...
BBC Television's Country File programme is currently holding a competition to find the Nature Reserve Of The Year. Along with four other reserves, Chris Packham has nominated Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, Warrington as one of this years contenders. Described as a " Post Industrial Gem &quo...
I'm having a little trouble with taking shots with my Canon 50d. Quite often when I depress the button nothing happens and it can take a few presses before a shot is taken. I'm thinking (hoping) that this is only a minor problem and can be repaired quite easily. Can anyone recommend a good repair place in...
Visited Aldcliffe Marsh yesterday morning in the hope of finding the reported Woodchat Shrike. Given the stormy conditions it was not surprising that the bird did not show in the time there. Did however see my first Swifts of the year as well as Wheatear and Little Egret around the pool where the Shrik...
Sitting here in Madrid, I thought that I´d take a look at Manchester Birding after a break of ten days or so and was a little surprised that nobody has commented on what a super year 2014 has been in terms of the sheer quality of some of the finds. So may I nominate Elton as top site, not in terms of no. of speci...
Is it just me, or is anyone else no longer receiving email alerts to threads they have subscribed to? I missed a possible YL Gull at Elton yesterday because I got NO email alerts to any of the posts to the Elton thread.
Sunday 29 dec 2014 , 1.30 pm, cold and frosty rewarded with stone chats three in horse paddock, flock of 6 meadow pipits in stubble field, flock of 20 fieldfares with gulls.
After 11 years, including a rather exhausting spell as Atlas Organiser, I have decided to step down from the post of BTO Regional Representative for the Manchester region. My resignation will become effective in September when I have tidied up the loose ends of the 2014 surveys. My Assistant Region...
I hope to do more winter birding this season but at least need the right type of clothing. I was wondering if anyone can tell me any place in the North-west where I can buy a waterproof coat of any kind which is fully waterproof and cheap, with a hood of course.
Not to forget a strong umbrella. I want to bu...
A great mornings none stop parade of visitors this frosty morning in High Legh, 4 Red legged Partridges, 1 Great spotted woodpecker, Blue, Great, Longtailed,Coal, Willow tits, Lots of Dunnock,Chaffinch,Sparrows both types, plus all the everyday Blackbirds, Starlings, Wood pigeons, My feeder...
As this is my local stomping ground/dog walking area I thought that I'd start off a new thread. Some good birds crop up in the area and I'll keep you posted. An example being that a Bittern was seen on a small lake next to the river weaver between vale royal locks and newbridge and stayed for a few days.
£525 ono. May be prepared to split scope and eyepiece. This is a fantastic scope. Please see Tim Wilcox's review in the Focalpoint Optics forum -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 6th of November 2014 07:53:29 AM-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 11th of December 2014 12:11:19 PM
FS Canon 300mm f2.8 L IS USM MKI as before in near mint cond with flight case, keys and a WWS neoprene Oak camo cover. £2700. Also FS Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM MKII in near mint cond again and comes with case and box. £1200. Both these lenses are less than 5 years old at very fair prices so absolutely no offe...
Quick visit following advice from another birder at RSPB Conwy. Unfortunately no rafts of Common Scoters, no Red-breasted Mergansers or Divers of any kind that I saw, but obviously N.Wales is a good spot for these species, just none today for me. Of note: -Oystercatcher in high numbers -Redshank do...
Denzell Gardens is a park in Trafford. Formerly grounds and gardens to a Victorian pile it has other fields attached. The house is private but the grounds are a popular local park with a active local friends of group. The reason for the visit was passing I had noticed some big evergreen trees that warra...
One was apparently photographed last Wednesday near the Allen hide by two photographers, not birders. See detail on Lancaster and district BWS sightings page. If you know the photographer who still has a least one pic or even the one who deleted all his pics cos of the twig, please let Kevin Kelly know...
One red necked grebe in non breeding plumage at 1.30pm on the main lake at Doffcocker today. Was very flighty. Watched it fly half the length of the lake and was unsettled. Lost it as I watched 40+ Tufted ducks fly in and despite extensive searching could not find it again. Record shots were taken. Was al...
I've found a willing volunteer (and driver!) to use the free entry for a guest which came with my RSPB membership. I'm hoping to get out a little further afield than usual (we're Manchester based), perhaps 2 hours or thereabouts. What might be a good reserve to visit at this time of year? We would prefer...
Since I took out a new mobile phone contract with EE, eleven months ago, I have had this Forum content blocked 3 times. Tonight it took me 50 minutes to get through to EE and get this site unblocked. During this time, with my eardrums ringing from continuous pop music, plus spurious advice on how to use EE...
Hi all In my day-job with Red Rose Forest I am working with Trafford Council to improve the condition of the Transpennine Trail. The section running between the fences at Alty Sewage Works has been identified as being in need of scraping back and having vegetation controlled. We are liaising with UU a...
Am I alone in getting a little concerned about the increasing numbers of these alian birds being reported in our area?. Should we not be concerned about their impact on our native birdlife and I wonder if they should be controlled ( I mean killed obviously) now whilst their numbers are relatively smal...
Originally posted today by MJKeating: Really nice first visit to the woodland walk yesterday morning. Of interest: Nuthatch - 6 Blue Tit Possible Willow Warbler but only got a fleeting view as it went into the bank of the stream. Just the markings on the eye made me think it was this. Dead Buzzard on the...
