Yesterday morning at dawn, while sat in the car park known as the M56 (approx 1m west of Altrincham junction), I watched over 3000 Woodpigeons fly over heading north. All appeared to be coming out of some small woods just south of the motorway.
Hi all, My family are going for a short trip to Ambleside in the Lake District. I was wondering if anyone knew any good birding areas near there, and any species I'm likely to come across at this time of year? Also is this area close to Bassenthwaite lake (how close?) and will the ospreys still be around? T...
The latest BBS report has been published today, full of interesting information. Many species are showing declines including all three Wagtails and as to be expected, some of the farmland birds, Skylark numbers in particular continue to fall. It's not all doom and gloom, there are a few species doi...
The latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) annual report shows all three UK breeding wagtail species are in long-term decline. However, the reasons behind these trends are not clear. Our three wagtail species are: Yellow Wagtail, a farmland bird that migrates to sub-Saharan Africa; and two which larg...
As Bill Myerscough pointed out again today it is important to keep submitting bird records. Sending butterfly records to the county recorder are just as important. I sent my photo of the Dark Green Fritillary to Peter Hardy on Saturday to substantiate it, and to confirm this difficult species if the...
Myself and the two Steve`s decided on visiting a couple of new places of birding interest last Sunday. These sites often get mentioned on RBA, but, we have never visited them, they are Carr Lane Pools in Hale and Pickering`s Pasture in Hale Bank, near Widnes. The weather all day was showery with sunny p...
I have the following tripods for sale. Contact me if interested, viewing welcome. Manfrotto 055SSB Tripod and 501 video head; good condition, £100. Uni-Loc 1600 with a 25 ball head good for macro photography, see http://www.uniloctripod.com/ for further information. Good condition £60. Regar...
Since we cannot exhibit at the BirdFair due to it being sponsored by one of our main competitors & all other optics dealers are excluded we have come up with a special BirdFair Offer this year so that we can continue to serve the birders of the NorthWest in general and in Greater Manchester and Chesh...
A belated report of some of the interesting areas and birds seen during a three week camping holiday in the Vendee - not worth a trip report but since there's not much info on birding in France: Ile de Noirmoutier - Réserve Naturelle de Mullembourg - a short walk out of the main town on the island, along th...
On Sunday August 10th Birders Against Wildlife Crime, hosted by the extremely passionate and founder Terry Pickford was (one event) held at Dunsop Bridge to highlight the murderous acts towards Hen Harriers and other Raptors. The facts that Terry relayed regarding, Gamekeepers, raptor Politic...
I understand everyone has their own preferences but am thinking of purchasing one of the pagers available to all birdwatchers and was just wondering, which one people recommended.
I know that the Forum is sponsored by one of the available providers, but never having had one was just looking for y...
Highfield Moss is a SSSI site situated in the south western corner of our county and visitors to the site will be aware that it is bordered on its eastern side by an airstrip. This airstrip is used by Lancashire Aero Club and due to restrictions it can only be used for 28 days in a year. They have however rec...
Hi all, Looking for advice from the photographers out there. I'm new to the game, been using my kit: Canon EOS 1100D with a 70-300mm lens for around 2 years now. It's pretty good at certain distances and but I'd like to be able to get better shots of those birds which are just too far away for my current lens...
Do you know who we should report an escaped bird of prey to? Have just been looking at what looked to me like a very light coloured Saker type (hybrid?) Falcon. It had Jessie's and a bell on its legs and looked in good condition. (Can email a couple of photos if you are interested) It was sat on a roof on a hous...
Just GOOGLE Wading birds feeling the strain on UK estuaries Not sure you can put links on here ,so just Google the above and read the BTO report, Its sad reading ,but something I have noticed in the last 10 years in particular and on estuary's like the Dee last year was for me the worst ever for seeing large...
An almost full compliment of A-Teamers (communication/time zone problems?) left Rochdale at the later time of 7am for a day out in North Lancashire.First stop Conder Green with myself driving in my new car. The hoped for Spotted Redshank that is always reported could not be found anywhere. Lots of C...
In preparation for a trip to Bavaria in a few weeks I have been looking at sightings in the area I am going to.Mostly usually UK fare with the odd Nutcracker or Black Woodpecker to whet my appetite. But I have just seen a record from Monday of 5 Swan Geese.... I may not be a great birder but I thought I had hear...
Just sat in the garden and a dunnock landed on the lawn with a sore looking quite large red blister under each eye? Anyone know what this is? I have a regular pair that visit the garden so a little unsure if this is one of those or an interloper. Cheers
I was leading a walk at Urmston Meadows last night and towards the end we came across a large hawker dragonfly in the woods along the bridleway section. It wasn't a Brown Hawker, and having seen Emperor at Sale Water Park on Monday I told everyone that's what is was. But on reflection (and looking at some...
A recent news report stated a young boy was bitten by an adder in Bolton (Farnworth) In fact there have been several reports of snake bites in the Bolton area over recent years, including ones in Barrow Bridge and in the Haulgh. However I know of no sightings of adders around Bolton or other parts of GM fo...
I have been putting chunks of Water Melon (Without the rind) on my lawn recently as a treat for my tortoise. She rarely touches it, preferring Honeydew Melon instead, but a young Blackbird that is almost always in the garden truly relishes the fruit. Adult Blackbirds, that are appearing more frequen...
Old Hall Farm - Green Bridge Small Tortoishell 5 Gatekeeper 6 Comma 1 Meadow Brown 4 Green-veined White 2 White sp. 8 Brown Hawker 1 Heard report of Mink breeding near bridge (female and young seen) Cheers, John
Hi, I've read some lovely threads about what people have been sighting recently in the Pendlebury/Agecroft area going down towards the Cliffs/Salford. I live nearby but have never took a stroll down there and wondered if anybody has any good suggestions about time of day/where to head to get the mos...
It was a shame today to see the window gone at Horrocks hide,2 big holes gauged into the seats of both Pengys Hide and the Same in Ramsdales ,with what looked like knives or axes Also there was signs of someone trying to set fire to the seats in Pengys as well ,I think soon the local authority will regret mak...
Originally posted by Jim Caufield: Further to posting Fri 27 June Golden Orioles. A very enjoyable first week of gite holiday near Marmande has 43 birds on the list, mostly from either in,or from, our garden. The Golden Orioles has visited us daily, some days returning very couple of hours to collect...
In a meadow near Park Bridge 18 Ringlet, 5 Spot Burnet 6 Small Skipper, 4 Meadow Brown, Lattice Heath Moths, Red Admiral, Small TS,Purple Loosestrife, Meadow Cranesbill, Hedge Woundwort, Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil, Hard Fern and Ling. Further down the valley Giant Butterbur
