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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GENERAL BIRDING DISCUSSION -> Birdwatching Magazine
Post Info TOPIC: Birdwatching Magazine
Craig Higson


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RE: Birdwatching Magazine
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Ray Eden wrote:

Does it really matter if the NW doesn't feature much. I know a lot of sites in the area and don't forget Google. I would rather read about birding places in other areas that make a good day/weekend out. Or is it that some people just want their local site mentioned, bit of a snob thing. I don't. Don't want the crowds, not personnel mind you. I always find Birdwatching to be a good read. Just been reading the May issue how the Wheatear got its name, didn't know that.




Does it matter? Depends on your point of view. Most of my birding is in NW, so I do get value from site guides in mags like this. As for whether I'd want my local patch mentioned -well it couldn't get any more popular so I'm not really fussed either way. It just struck me as odd that an area with so many really good birding sites should get so little coverage.

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Ray Eden


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Does it really matter if the NW doesn't feature much. I know a lot of sites in the area and don't forget Google. I would rather read about birding places in other areas that make a good day/weekend out. Or is it that some people just want their local site mentioned, bit of a snob thing. I don't. Don't want the crowds, not personnel mind you. I always find Birdwatching to be a good read. Just been reading the May issue how the Wheatear got its name, didn't know that.

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Ian Coote


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I do read Birdwatching regularly and did think it strange that the North West is hardly ever mentioned. I thought it was just me!

Then again, that is the rest of the countries loss!

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Kaz Horrocks


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Like many magazines, Birdwatching is one I'll pick up, browse through, and if there's anything of particular interest I'll buy it.

Kaz

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Mark Evans


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Try Birdwatch magazine, its miles better

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Craig Higson


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Think it's changed a bit since then Steve. I also remember several (10+) years ago when the NW used to feature regularly, but I haven't read it regularly for a long long time. I stopped buying it late 90s because it went very garden bird orientated - if you see what I mean.
The mag now seems to have changed editorial/writing staff since then, with lots of talk about birding round the east mids area.

Jamie - that's my point entirely. Lots for Yorks, mids and even more for southern counties. Think there are about 10-12 sites each issue and I've never seen more than one or two for the NW.

Like I said its a long long time since I bought a copy, and have no reason to buy it now as its not at all my cup of tea. But, given the wealth of birding sites in GM and the NW in general it wouldn't attract me as a NW birder, and it doesn't paint us in the most attractive picture as a birding destination.

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Craig Higson


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Used to read that too Mark, but not for a while. Like I mentioned I the first post, I don't actually buy Birdwatching, just get given it and have noticed the lack of NW stuff.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Thursday 22nd of March 2012 09:43:06 PM

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Steve Suttill


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You're probably right, Craig. I too stopped reading it years ago - and probably for the same reasons as you.

I can't understand why there are so many books and magazines with site guides though. There's so much more on the web (ManchesterBirding being an excellent example ) and books date so quickly.
Did I (a printer) just say that?

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Suttill on Thursday 22nd of March 2012 05:18:13 PM

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Steve Suttill


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Haven't read the mag for ages but, when I did, all the site guides were written by locals. I think Judith Smith did one for Wigan Flashes.

If you want a site featured, get in touch with editor and offer to write it for them. I'm sure they'll bite your hand off

Steve

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JamieDunning


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Weirdly enough, I scanned through the new issue in Sainsburys a few days ago & they recommend Kinder as a good spot. Thats just over the boarder?

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Craig Higson


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I stopped buying Birdwatching magazine a long long time ago, but over the last 18 months, a colleague at work has been 'recycling' his copies.

Apart from the optics reviews and the odd informative article I don't find the magazine particularly to my taste, but one thing I have noticed that has really started to wind me up is the birding sites guide. This is one bit of the magazine I canget some use from, with ideas for new places to go, but In the issues I have seen (ok not all but lots over 18months) I don't recall seeing one recommended site in GM and very few in NW England at all. In fact in the last few I have read, sites such as Buttermere and Loughrigg in the lakes have been mentioned. Sites I am familiar with from walking there, and not what I would ever have called a birding hotspot. Very beautiful places yes but not somewhere you would think to purposely go birding.

Does anyone on here read this magazine regularly? Is it just me that has missed the GM sites? Or, does the magazine have a particular dislike of this part of the country? Perhaps they see it as birdless and still a grimy smokey place filled with terraced houses and opencast coal fields with no bird related benefits?

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paul burke


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i know what your saying craig, i spend a fair amount of time of the year in snowdonia/lleyn peninsula/cardigan bay areas of north wales and also ashursts beacon/parbold hill which are all prime spots(to me anyway) and i never really see them sites in said magazine

-- Edited by paul burke on Wednesday 21st of March 2012 01:15:50 AM

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