This Wednesday night at 8pm at The United Reform Church in Marple i am giving an Illustrated talk from my many adventures in Africa, The Gambia, the address is Hibbert lane Marple SK67NN, proceeds going towards Marple Naturalists Society, everyone is welcome, loads of my Photography work that you h...
Clifton Country Park has a old Arboretum attached to the old house. In part overgrown and fresh planting continues. Some really good trees are hidden in here including huge English Yews, Irish Yew, Cut Leaved Beech, Katsura Tree, another Dawn Redwood, Italian Popular, Norway Maple, Meddler, Sawa...
I am selling my trusty Canon 40D as I now have upgaded to a 60D so this body will now be spare to my needs and its shame for it sit around unused. It is BODY ONLY and is in original box with all the extras. There is a spare battery and I will also inckude a Hahnel battery grip. The camera is in VERY good condition a...
A family holiday spent at the Sahara Beach Hotel in Skanes, Monastir, Tunisia. It was our fifth visit to the area so I already knew where to go birding. Managed to do some birding every day, but mainly in the morning, usually around 6-15am as it became very warm around 9-30am. The area around this hotel i...
The Mosses Summer Of Love This summer, discover & explore the Mosses with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust & the Manchester Ship Canal World Heritage Group You are invited to Love YOUR Moss with a series of events walks, workshops, green safaris, volunteering events & surveys throughou...
RSPB are reporting that the first Black Winged Stilts have hatched in the UK for the first time in nearly 30 years. Presumably they've forgot about the two at Neumann's flash back in 2009?
Just a quickie to say that at the moment we have had a few sightings worth noting from the Shop window whilst showing Scopes & Bins to customers. Today I have been watching a Spotted Flycatcher (or perhaps a pair) collecting food and taking it back to a nest Always a brilliant species to see and to hav...
Day trip for Bolton RSPB Local Group on 10 May '09 Gilfach WTNR (3 miles north of Rhayader on A470) Cracking site in a superb location. Really well managed with a great visitor centre and the friendliest and most helpful warden we have ever met. Hen Harrier(1 male), Wood Warbler(1), Pied Flycatcher(a...
Hi all - massive long shot but does anyone have a scope they might be interested in selling? I have a £30 Lidl special offer that isn't bad at 20x but is pretty hopeless beyond that.... am looking to spend around £200 if I can, though can up that a bit.... Mike S
This is a good condition lens, it is the Sigma APO DG 70-300mm. It has not dust or marks on the optics, I have just upgraded to a nikon lens and also the sigma 500mm. £60.00 In box or reply with any questions Thank Kev
The classic field guide for this region covering no less than 950 species. This is the complete field guide to all the birds recorded from the Antarctic to the Zambezi, incorporating even the rarest vagrants to the region. With well over 200 colour plates by the reknown Kenneth Newman this is in lovel...
This came originally as an email from Dr. Mark Avery and was kindly passed to me by Ken Haydock: Thank you for expressing an interest in Hen Harrier Day - 10 August 2014. This email is about Hen Harrier Day events in the Peak District (Derbyshire). If you wish to attend a Hen Harrier Day event in Northumbe...
Sunday 8th June Was on a Bird of Prey photography course but got 30 mins before and 30 mins at lunch for a mooch. 3 grey wagtails on river, 1 pair and a single bird. Mallard (m&f) with 4 young Spooked a grey squirrel up a tree only for it to be physically attacked by 2 spotted flycatchers (which I managed...
I had the privilege of being a member of a successful landing trip from the North Berwick Seabird Centre on Monday June 2nd. Only about 50% of the trips succeed in landing, because there is no harbour, and the boat somply pulls alongside a steep, slippery set of steps! An awesome experience to visit the...
A local cat has taken to hiding at the bottom of a neighbours fence. It waits for birds to land on our fence then pounces. Its had quite a lot of success recently with all the young inexperienced birds about. After watching the distressing sight of it killing a Great Tit. I went round to the owners house to...
I can't find a comprehensive map online of where the border actually lies for GM. I am working in Handforth at the moment and I'm trying to work out if I'm in GM or Cheshire???
Thursday 22nd May saw me manning a polling station. In quieter moments during the fifteen hours I read through quite a lot of the systematic list on the website - a fascinating part of the site to dip in to for anybody who's not looked at it, plus a great guide to what records to submit. I read Ian's comment...
Situated on the Tameside Derbyshire border behind Arnfield Res. It used to be an old reservoir that has become woodland and wetland. The place is directlyin the line of the proposed Bypass. Some empty head has ordered the destruction of at least one third of the wood that has been totally felled on the...
so two fantastic weekend birding at Elton has me wondering what delights will I be notified of by text tomorrow? Any thoughts either based on probability, possibility or just wishful thinking ?
Llyn Celyn The moorland on the Southern side held 2prs of Stonechat, displaying Buzzards, plus a Raven in aerial combat with a pair of Carrion Crows. 1 Garden Warbler by the lake side picnic area. 2 prs of Wheatears and a pr of Redstarts carrying food by the old quarry. Along the old railway track headin...
I am pleased to announce the winners of the Mystery Bird Competition held in conjunction with Swarovski on the Swarovski In-Store Day and the following 4 weeks. The good news for this Forum is that the winner and runner-up are both Manchester Birders, both will be know in some context to most users of t...
My friend told me on Wednesday morning (10.30) about a Fox she'd seen in Heaton Moor, with no 'brush'....just a sorry looking stick like tail In the square where l live (Cheetham Hill), l've just seen a Fox with the same style tail tonight (8pm) l'm not suggesting it's the same Fox but could there b...
It is an absolute diabolical act whoever let their dogs attack and kill the Mute Swan Cygnets in Heywood, if indeed they ' let them' as such, or did they escape...probably not ! The point I wanted to raise is this, and it may be worth noting should any forum member reading this (or non-members too) witnes...
Originally posted by Paul Pennington today: Blue tits have been inspecting my bird box over the past few mornings. This is the nest boxes second year. Last year the blue tits occupied, and had 7/8 eggs. Two of the eggs didn't hatch. All the surviving chicks fledged. Also I have a pair of resident Coal Ti...
I made my first trip to Bickershaw Rucks on Saturday 17th May 2014 in search of Cuckoos. I dropped lucky and was delighted to hear and see one flying South quite nera to me. It was the first in the Wigan area for me since I was a child 40-odd years ago. We heard them regularly in those days near Bottling Wood e...
Would suit anyone wanting a starter scope on a budget or a spare lightweight travel scope. Reason for sale? See my review of the MM3 ED on the Focal Point thread but don't be put off - I'm comparing it to some high-end gear. But you can have this one for 10% of the price! Little used. Some marking on the rubbe...
In the square where l live (Cheetham Hill), l've just seen a Fox with the same style tail tonight (8pm) l'm not suggesting it's the same Fox but could there b...