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...
Olympus SP-810UZ bridge camera for sale. 36x optical zoom, 24mm wide-angle view and 14 megapixel resolution. Other features include a 3 inch LCD screen, 720p HD video, 3D shooting mode, SDXC card compatibility, AF Tracking, in-camera panorama stitching and a range of Magic Filter effects. Still...
Note Mr Tymon won this week, well done John, superb photograph; Steve Young comments: "The two White-winged Black Terns at Elton Reservoir were popular among BirdGuides contributors this week and we had quite a few images submitted, but this shot by John Tymon has that little something extra...
I was travelling up Beech Hill Avenue in Wigan on Saturday afternoon 17th May 2014. My wife was driving so I got a decent view when I saw soaring about 200 ft above me what initially looked like a heron. As I got closer, it looked bigger than a heron and clearly had black wings and a white breast with long leg...
I was lucky enough to share six days of Easter sunshine with Anglesey and its birds between the evening of Tuesday 15th April and the following Bank Holiday Monday. My base was Silver Bay, one of two south-facing bays at Rhoscolyn, on Holy Island. This is where I now do most of my birding. These notes wer...
Calling all Birders, Lovebird found in Carlton Road, Lowton, WA3. Does anyone know if anybody has lost one? It is in a temporary cardboard box. Any ideas what we should do with the bird?
Apologies if this description is a bit vague but I was on the verge of photographing my mystery bird and was interrupted by a cyclist so any help appreciated! This was a brown bird somewhere between blackbird and collared dove in size, it was seen by a stream in woodland on the Irwell and was darting rapi...
The following information has been passed onto me and was written by Dave Crawshaw of the Lancs Wildlife Trust. Its time once again to put the collective power of this forum and its users to good, positive use once again. Please read through and more importantly take the tiny amount of time it takes...
Peacock butterfly at the bus terminus this morning. Also seen not far away from here this morning were a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee at Walker Fold Farm & a Small Tortoiseshell along Moss Bank Way
I started thinking the other day about all the things I'd like to do in my 'birding career'. There are, unfortunately far far too many things I'd like to do that are extremely unlikely to happen due mainly to cost (and things like the fact I don't get on well with boats so an Antarctic voyage is a definite n...
The recently launched Opticron MM3 Trael Scope is proving to be very popular, and not just as a travel scope either. Weight conscious birders are choosing the lightweight scope as a first choice for everyday use. The ED glass and up to date coatings mean an increase in light transmission over the MM1 a...
Hi all :) I hope it's okay to post external links here - this is not for profit or commercial gain, simply a bird lover's personal initiative! A friend of mine has set up a website aimed at beginner and novice birdwatchers (though anybody might benefit!) centred around a downloadable list of 259 Britis...
Stunning views of a Pipistrelle down Two Brooks Lane at lunchtime. Fluttering about just above head height, close enough to even to see it have a c**p. Butterflies around at last, Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Orange Tips, and a Small White. A few Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a Common Carder-bee....
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...