The Great Outdoors: Photography, Birds & Bats (Bickershaw Country Park, Pennington Flash & Wigan Flashes) Camping, Astronomy, Aircraft and Amateur Radio.
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Study reveals decline of 16 birds species in the UK
Conservation charities have warned that numbers of 16 out of the 107 most common birds in Britain have declined because of habitat loss, while 32 species are facing extinction in overseas territories.
Read more....here
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Camera attached to a gannet captures bird's eye view
Miniature video cameras have revealed life from a gannet's perspective.
The lightweight cameras were fitted to the birds by scientists from the University of Exeter and the RSPB.Read more..... HERE
Related Links:
RSPB Ramsey Island and Grassholm
Monday, 11 November 2013
REDDISH VALE COUNTRY PARK - STOCKPORT
Saturday 9th November
Our 2nd outing with the RSPN Bird ID course leaders;
A great oasis near to Stockport town centre.
3 Goosander 2M and 1F
Little Grebe 2
Cormorant 2
Coal Tit 2
Sparrow 3
Nuthatch 1
Mallards Many
Canada Geese Many
Moorhen 2
Coot 3
Tufted Duck 4
BH Gulls Many
Mute Swan 2 + 3 cygnets
Mistle Thrush 1
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Highlights for today
a Buzzard and Great Spotted Woodpecker
Related link:
RSPB Stockport
Our 2nd outing with the RSPN Bird ID course leaders;
A great oasis near to Stockport town centre.
3 Goosander 2M and 1F
Little Grebe 2
Cormorant 2
Coal Tit 2
Sparrow 3
Nuthatch 1
Mallards Many
Canada Geese Many
Moorhen 2
Coot 3
Tufted Duck 4
BH Gulls Many
Mute Swan 2 + 3 cygnets
Mistle Thrush 1
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Highlights for today
a Buzzard and Great Spotted Woodpecker
Related link:
RSPB Stockport
Sunday, 3 November 2013
WOODBANK PARK - STOCKPORT (RSPB Bird ID Course)
Saturday 2nd November
After 4 weeks of inside theory on the RSPB Bird Identification course we set out eager to put those new skills into action.
Highlight of the day for Jackie and I was:
a Peregrine and halve a dozen Jays.
Flock of Long Tailed Tits
Blue Tits
Carrion Crow
Nuthatch
Mallards
and a superb grey wagtail
Related Link
RSPB Stockport
After 4 weeks of inside theory on the RSPB Bird Identification course we set out eager to put those new skills into action.
Highlight of the day for Jackie and I was:
a Peregrine and halve a dozen Jays.
Flock of Long Tailed Tits
Blue Tits
Carrion Crow
Nuthatch
Mallards
and a superb grey wagtail
Related Link
RSPB Stockport
Sunday, 29 September 2013
UK's only nesting "butcher birds" successful on Dartmoor
Conservationists announce the fledging of two youngsters from the UK’s only nesting pair of red-backed shrike in 2013.
The birds, at a secret location on Dartmoor, have been under close watch to guarantee their safety in a project managed by the RSPB with support from Dartmoor Study Group, Devon Birds, Devon & Cornwall Police, Forestry Commission, Dartmoor National Park Authority and Natural England.
Read more....HERE
RSPB
The birds, at a secret location on Dartmoor, have been under close watch to guarantee their safety in a project managed by the RSPB with support from Dartmoor Study Group, Devon Birds, Devon & Cornwall Police, Forestry Commission, Dartmoor National Park Authority and Natural England.
Read more....HERE
RSPB
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Good News for House Sparrows!!!
During the last few decades, the population of House Sparrows
has declined by roughly half, causing great alarm amongst both
scientists and the general public. However, the latest data from the
British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Garden BirdWatch, suggests that
the decline is levelling off in our gardens.
Read More........ HERE
Read More........ HERE
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Wedding delayed as ring-bearing owl goes for a sleep
A wedding service was delayed when an owl bearing rings fell asleep in the church roof.
Darcy the barn owl was meant to fly down the aisle at Holy
Cross Church in Sherston, Wiltshire, and deliver rings to Sonia Cadman
and Andrew Matley.Read more...HERE
Monday, 9 September 2013
Centre puts States on bird flu alert
The Centre has alerted States on post-monsoon outbreak of highly
contagious avian influenza or bird flu, which has the potential to be
transmitted from birds and poultry to human beings (zoonotic risk).
Read more....HERE
Read more....HERE
Monday, 2 September 2013
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Burton Mere Wetlands 30 Aug 2013
RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands (Also Inner Marsh Farm)
11:00 - 17:00 30/8/2013
Star species to be found here are Black Tailed Godwit, Buzzard, Little Egret, Linnet and Kingfisher.
This is our first visit to Burton, apparently all the local Little Egrets roost in a field next to the wetlands and we were lucky to see one today other recent sightings included Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Goldfinch and Stonechat unfortunately we didn't see everything but had a great day.
Here is what we did see:
Canada Geese by the hundreds
Black Tailed Godwit - lots of these
Graylag Geese - lots of these also
Lapwing - many
Wigeon - many
Ringed Plover 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Grey Heron 2
Coot (Adults and Juveniles)
Walking around the site there are plenty of feeders and trees for Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, (and the odd rat).
Over in the Marsh Hide we saw a very secretive Water Rail (brilliant colouring) twice I had the chance to photograph it as it came out of the reeds but it was too quick moving between reed beds and even though we waited it never came back out. Also a Hobby, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Moorhen (adult and chicks) and a potential Snipe.
Returning back to the Reception Hide for a short time before we left proved to be extremely rewarding: Little Egret 1, Snipe 3, Ruff 1 and to finish off the day a splendid Kingfisher. There was one more bird which tested everyone's ID skills and to be honest I couldn't be sure - the RSPB volunteers were sure and the birders were mixed but a Curlew Sandpiper was wading around the mud at the back of the central islands.
View from the reception hide to Marsh Hide (Inner Marsh Farm hide to the left)
Canada Geese, Black Tailed Godwits, Snipe, Ruff
Black Tailed Godwit's incoming....
At the feeders...
Over at Marsh Hide... Moorhen
Honestly a Water Rail (somewhere near the RH side,it was far too fast for my camera...maybe next time :o))
Back at Reception Hide - Little Egret
Kingfisher
Still no chance of digiscoping until I get a NEW compact camera. My favorite bird today was the Water Rail, this image is from WIKIPEDIA
11:00 - 17:00 30/8/2013
Star species to be found here are Black Tailed Godwit, Buzzard, Little Egret, Linnet and Kingfisher.
This is our first visit to Burton, apparently all the local Little Egrets roost in a field next to the wetlands and we were lucky to see one today other recent sightings included Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Goldfinch and Stonechat unfortunately we didn't see everything but had a great day.
Here is what we did see:
Canada Geese by the hundreds
Black Tailed Godwit - lots of these
Graylag Geese - lots of these also
Lapwing - many
Wigeon - many
Ringed Plover 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Grey Heron 2
Coot (Adults and Juveniles)
Walking around the site there are plenty of feeders and trees for Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, (and the odd rat).
Over in the Marsh Hide we saw a very secretive Water Rail (brilliant colouring) twice I had the chance to photograph it as it came out of the reeds but it was too quick moving between reed beds and even though we waited it never came back out. Also a Hobby, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Moorhen (adult and chicks) and a potential Snipe.
Returning back to the Reception Hide for a short time before we left proved to be extremely rewarding: Little Egret 1, Snipe 3, Ruff 1 and to finish off the day a splendid Kingfisher. There was one more bird which tested everyone's ID skills and to be honest I couldn't be sure - the RSPB volunteers were sure and the birders were mixed but a Curlew Sandpiper was wading around the mud at the back of the central islands.
View from the reception hide to Marsh Hide (Inner Marsh Farm hide to the left)
Canada Geese, Black Tailed Godwits, Snipe, Ruff
Black Tailed Godwit's incoming....
At the feeders...
Over at Marsh Hide... Moorhen
Honestly a Water Rail (somewhere near the RH side,it was far too fast for my camera...maybe next time :o))
Back at Reception Hide - Little Egret
Kingfisher
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Fifteen New Species of Amazonian Birds
An international team of researchers coordinated by ornithologist Bret
Whitney of the LSU Museum of Natural Science, or LSUMNS, recently
published 15 species of birds previously unknown to science. The formal
description of these birds has been printed in a special volume of the
"Handbook of the Birds of the World" series. Not since 1871 have so many
new species of birds been introduced under a single cover.
Read more...HERE
Read more...HERE
Broad Ees Dole 28/8/2013
Although a quiet morning, it was nice to be up and out and about early.
Time: 7.15am - 9.00am
Coot 4A +2J
Moorhen 3A +3J
Lapwing 2A+1J
BHGull 7
Canada Goose 1 (7 Flew over heading for the main lake)
Magpie 2
Little Grebe 1A+1J
Grey Heron 3
Mallard 2A+6J
Blue Tit 2
Robin 1
Teal 3
Long Tailed Tit 1
Carrion Crow 2
No photo's as the camera would not power up(even though batteries had been charged), shame as the Heron was very close today, it would have appeared very nice when digiscoping.
Time: 7.15am - 9.00am
Coot 4A +2J
Moorhen 3A +3J
Lapwing 2A+1J
BHGull 7
Canada Goose 1 (7 Flew over heading for the main lake)
Magpie 2
Little Grebe 1A+1J
Grey Heron 3
Mallard 2A+6J
Blue Tit 2
Robin 1
Teal 3
Long Tailed Tit 1
Carrion Crow 2
No photo's as the camera would not power up(even though batteries had been charged), shame as the Heron was very close today, it would have appeared very nice when digiscoping.
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Stop the Badger Cull
Another example of the ConDem government's attitude to animals.
Although aimed at stopping Bovine TB, there are areas of concern - no standard humane method of culling, no testing to see if the badger had TB, no way of stopping any further roll out.
Q&A Badger Cull HERE
Make you voice heard.... sign HERE
Click HERE to sign the Number 10 e-petition
Read more....BBC Coverage HERE
Although aimed at stopping Bovine TB, there are areas of concern - no standard humane method of culling, no testing to see if the badger had TB, no way of stopping any further roll out.
Q&A Badger Cull HERE
Make you voice heard.... sign HERE
Click HERE to sign the Number 10 e-petition
Read more....BBC Coverage HERE
Monday, 26 August 2013
Ducks were bird flu 'melting pot'
Ducks were the melting pot of viruses that led to the new bird flu
emerging in China early this year, according to Chinese scientists
tracking the evolution of the virus.
Read more...HERE
Related;
Bird Flu passed between humans
Read more...HERE
Related;
Bird Flu passed between humans
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Wildlife charities appeal for information as Red Kites found dead
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Stretford Meadows 21/8/2013
DATE: 21/8/2013
Time: 18:00 - 19:00
Sightings: Wood Pigeon, Magpies, Crows
Also two Kestrels tonight, on sat on the Motorway bridge the other on the meadows, it was also being harassed by three magpies when it came to ground.
Not great photo's but....
Also a view of the meadows towards Stretford House.
Time: 18:00 - 19:00
Sightings: Wood Pigeon, Magpies, Crows
Also two Kestrels tonight, on sat on the Motorway bridge the other on the meadows, it was also being harassed by three magpies when it came to ground.
Not great photo's but....
Also a view of the meadows towards Stretford House.
Digiscope Images of the Moon
First of all looking at stationary images while setting the adapter and camera up;
Some images of the full moon captured around 1am last night. I woke up and went for a drink and saw that the clouds had almost disappeared, the nice clear night I had been waiting for.
Date: Weds 21 August 2013
Time: 01.00 - 02.15am
Conditions: occasional partial cloud cover to clear sky.
Phase:
Low magnification:
Manual f11 1/50.
more to follow.......
from the scope x20-40
Tycho is the source of one of Luna's most easily identifiable features - the massive ray system that dominates the southern hemisphere.
Some images of the full moon captured around 1am last night. I woke up and went for a drink and saw that the clouds had almost disappeared, the nice clear night I had been waiting for.
Date: Weds 21 August 2013
Time: 01.00 - 02.15am
Conditions: occasional partial cloud cover to clear sky.
Phase:
Low magnification:
Manual f11 1/50.
from the scope x20-40
Tycho is the source of one of Luna's most easily identifiable features - the massive ray system that dominates the southern hemisphere.
Related:
MCA sea bird pollution investigation closed
Investigators have been unable to trace the vessel a contamination spill
came from which affected thousands of birds in the south west.
Read more...HERE
Related:
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Fans paying thousands of pounds for British PIGEONS
Asian fans paying thousands of pounds for British PIGEONS as bird
racing becomes new favourite hobby of China's growing middle class
- Pigeon racing is becoming a popular sport among China's middle class
- Bird races in the Far East is a million pound industry
- A winning pigeon can award its owner with £1m in some race
Monday, 19 August 2013
Digiscoping
Digiscope adapter arrived so if the weather bucks up I'll be out testing it.
Baader Digiscope adapter
Hopefully some good images to share soon.
Baader Digiscope adapter
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Twelve tagged Cuckoos in Africa
Twelve of the tagged Cuckoos are now in Africa and eleven of these are
south of the Sahara. Ryder, who had backtracked to Morocco after an
aborted attempt to cross the desert, is having a second go. Patch, the
last of the birds to leave the UK is in Italy. Find out more on the Cuckoo Blogs
Sew Comfy
Image: Janet Taylor
This time a remarkable news story....
Birds have long been cosying up their nests with all kinds of household goods, from string and foil, to cloths and pet fur.
But a family of goldcrests that tumbled out of their own nest have taken up residence in a unique new crocheted home
Read more....HERE
Related;
RSPB
Friday, 16 August 2013
Pennington Flash 16/8/2013
Time 13:30 to 17:00
In the main we stayed around Teal hide watching:
2 x Lapwing
27 x BH Gulls
32 x Mallard - Male/Female/Juveniles
7 Magpies - incl juveniles
1 Grey Heron
2 Moorhen
and the highlight 9 Green Sandpiper, over the last few days 4 or 5 have been recorded and a couple of weeks ago only 1 or 2 so slowly on the increase.
Around the Bunting Hide and Horrocks we saw the usual collection of birds, always a pleasure to watch them so close though.
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons, Magpies, Bullfinch, Greenfinch.
Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Heron, Mute Swans
Some photos from the trip:
Great day!!
In the main we stayed around Teal hide watching:
2 x Lapwing
27 x BH Gulls
32 x Mallard - Male/Female/Juveniles
7 Magpies - incl juveniles
1 Grey Heron
2 Moorhen
and the highlight 9 Green Sandpiper, over the last few days 4 or 5 have been recorded and a couple of weeks ago only 1 or 2 so slowly on the increase.
Around the Bunting Hide and Horrocks we saw the usual collection of birds, always a pleasure to watch them so close though.
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons, Magpies, Bullfinch, Greenfinch.
Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Heron, Mute Swans
Some photos from the trip:
Great day!!
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