I went to Martin Mere today, first time in ages. I have to say I'm not a member (I choose to support other organisations with my limited income) so went along ready to pay the entrance fee. What surprised me was being asked if I wanted to pay 'gift aid' or 'non gift aid' entry! The former being slightly more...
A quick update to situation outlined of the Surveys section of the main website. Thanks to all who have offered to help with the Heronries Census - now entering its 87th year! All known colonies now have a counter. I still have vacancies for the Waterways Breeding Bird Survey on the Rochdale Canal and t...
Originally posted by Tom Nightingale today: My wife and I are selling our collection of old Bird Books at auction - Bonham's Oxford - on March 25th. Not much on Lancashire I'm afraid (we are from Norfolk) but plenty on historical aspects of British Ornithology. Can be viewed now online Bonham's Oxfor...
After a wait of 2 hours plus this morning had great views of two juvenile, one female and the stunning male Two-barred Crossbills in the larches near the feeders From the waterside parking area at SK255959 follow the track into the wood and turn left after 25m, then after another 100m the feede...
I am a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and I am hoping to carry out some research into why individuals record and report on natural phenomena. I am interested in how we should account for biodiversity and have recently written a chapter in a book edited by Professor Mike Jones entitle...
Seen as though I regularly post sightings from here in the bits and bobs section, and that I go through here on the way to local patches, its own thread is in order: The Vale forms part of the Irk Valley and Queens Park was laid out in 1848 making it one of the oldest municipal parks in the country! This morni...
Have today received my newsletter, with the sad announcement that the group is closing after 40 years. Is this just a sign of things to come, such a shame. Keep Birding.
I have the complete set from Twitching (Volume 1) then Birding World (Volumes 1 - 25). All unbound but in good condition. Buyer to collect or could meet if in the local area. I would prefer not to split the set. Sensible offers please by Private Mail. Cheers, John
Pair of Leica Ultravid BL 8x42 complete with case, strap and eyecup guard. They do have some wear but Optically they perform as well as when I bought them 12 years ago. Reluctant sale £850 ovno.
There were three Goosander on the end water (behind the football ground) this evening. A pair of Great Crested Grebes has also returned.
At the other end, near the entrance to Alexandra Park, there was a flock of about 20 strangely confident Redwing feeding in the leaf litter between the feet of chi...
Hi All, Just for information, we have started a Community Wildlife Garden Project in Chorlton. See our website for more details: www.chorltoncommunitywildlifegarden.org.uk or follow us on Twitter: @WildlifeGarden2 We are looking for more volunteers to help with the project. Thanks Dave
A non birding friend of mine has tried to describe a bird to me. He described it as having:- 'A black cap/head with a white strip, rest of body was brown and grey.' I immediately thought, coal tit, until he said:- And the size of a starling, and was not as agile as the tits around the feeder! I tried to vision...
can anyone recommend a lightweight travel tripod. I've been looking on the web and the swaro version is expensive (~£500!), but I wondered about the velbon carbon fibre from in-focus. Both seem to reduce to 50cm or less in height. Any advise or user comments welcome! Ps I'm looking for 2Kg weight and u...
On Saturday 15th February, during Go Green Week 2014, the Manchester Ship Canal World Heritage Group presents... LOVE BIRDS, an event to encourage people to enjoy the wildlife of our local mosslands, and in particular, the birds The concept is see what you can see, find out for yourself the wonderfu...
This development (if it goes ahead) will see more green space disappear under Concrete for ever. There is a chance to protest to the planning Committe, which is due to meet at 5:45PM, Wed 12-Feb-14 at The Community Centre Rochdale Road Oldham Asusual, with developments like this, the information is...
From the tight bend on St John's road in Chew Moor a short track leads to Wicken Lee's Farm. Just past the farm, the track crosses a bridge over the Wigan/Bolton Railway,and paths run across to the Preston/Bolton railway. The land between the railways consists of a mixture of scrub land and farm land wi...
Cheshire Wildlife Trust are happy to announce that Iolo Williams will be attending a very special event in Chester in March. I was at a CWT strategy meeting yesterday and was shown this brilliant, inspirational and very hard hitting video >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnJQjtvn...
Leaflet dropped through the door today stating that Coronation Power are putting together a proposal for a 17 mast wind farm to straddle either side of Rooley Moor Road - for those that view from a distance, that's just east of the existing Scout Moor wind farm. Public exhibitions shortly in a number o...
We had family staying with us this last weekend who are keen birders. In view of the stormy weather coming in from the west, we took a trip over to Fairburn Ings near Leeds (RSPB reserve) and had a great few hours in very pleasant scenery, with a good tally of 40 species. That said, it was Sunday afternoon a...
Yesterday at Moelfre I watched a small black and white diving bird with bright red legs. All I can think is that it was a Black Guillemot, but the markings were not what I'd expect - more black than a juvenile, but more white than on an adult... Is there another diver I'm not aware of with that colouring and...
I've just come across this great site by artist and professor Dennis Hlynsky. This particular film features the flight patterns of a flock of starlings on and around a wire. Copy and paste this link. http://vimeo.com/32363204
I will soon be doing a talk at the primary school near where I work. I am looking for fairly basic identification handouts of urban and garden birds. If anyone has anything they deem might be suitable for this and are willing to donate it, can they please pm me. Cheers
This is currently proving to be the most popular telescope of the winter, with several folk coming in and choosing it in comparison to all others. The large 80mm objective with ED glass elements means high light transmissioneven on recent dull winters days. The scope is reasonably priced too with th...
Some of you may have signed this ,some may not- I think it is a great idea to issues licences to grouse moors with the option of revoking it if any laws are broken. If you care about the raptors that get killed on a regular basis please click/paste the link and sign your support. Pass it onto your friends as w...
