Maltese Hunters Complain

Maltese bird hunters complain to police over Chris Packham 'defamation'

BBC wildlife presenter questioned by police in Malta over his documentary on 'senseless slaughter' of birds

Read more.....here

Ep7: Malta MMM

You can help make a difference by supporting BirdLife Malta's campaign to stop spring hunting via
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/st... Information about the project and a template letter to send to your MEP can be found at http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

Blackbird - Garden

A handsome blackbird in the garden today:

 

Common Blackbird

Ep6: Malta MMM

You can help make a difference by supporting BirdLife Malta's campaign to stop spring hunting via
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/st...
Information about the project and a template letter to send to your MEP can be found at http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

Nikon Prostaff 7 Bins

Just ordered

Arrived 30/4 - initial tests look great. Compared to old pair they are fantastic!!!

Recently compared (not a equal comparison however) to the Celestron Outland X series and the image proved to be a lot brighter, slightly clearer colours. The Celestron however were miles better than the old Olympus which have now been relegated to a spare pair for when we have the kids with us.
Eye relief for specs is ideal, they focused quickly on the subjects. So all in all very happy with these.
Unless you have an unlimited budget these are a good compromise. Waterproof, fog proof etc.

Product Highlights

• Eco-Glass: Lead and Arsenic-Free Optics
• Roof Prisms with Phase-Correction
• Fully Multicoated Optics
• Nitrogen-Filled Fogproof / Waterproof
• Turn-and-Slide Rubber Eyecups

• 19mm Eye Relief
• Rubber Armored Housing

BTO Bird Identifcation Workshops

Further videos providing info on identifying birds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHh1swq_BOs&list=PLE3B611F475AA00AF

Ep5: Malta MMM

You can help make a difference by supporting BirdLife Malta's campaign to stop spring hunting via
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/st...
Information about the project and a template letter to send to your MEP can be found at http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

Ep4: Malta MMM

You can help make a difference by supporting BirdLife Malta's campaign to stop spring hunting via
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/st...
Information about the project and a template letter to send to your MEP can be found at http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

Ep3: Malta MMM

You can help make a difference by supporting BirdLife Malta's campaign to stop spring hunting via
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/st...
Information about the project and a template letter to send to your MEP can be found at http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

BTO Bird ID - Grey & Golden Plovers

Found around our coasts, wetlands and uplands Golden Plover is a beautiful medium-sized wader. Its cousin, Grey Plover, can be found around our coasts in most months of the year,

Ep2: Malta Migration Massacre

You can help make a difference by supporting BirdLife Malta's campaign to stop spring hunting via
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/st...
Information about the project and a template letter to send to your MEP can be found at http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

Ep1: Migrant birds in Malta 'shot as trophies', says Chris Packham

Chris Packham is on a mission to raise awareness about the mass slaughter of migrant birds on Malta.



See what you can do ..... http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/

The birds of Shakespeare cause US trouble

It's William Shakespeare's 450th birthday - but in the US not everybody is celebrating his legacy.
Birds feature prominently in Shakespeare's plays and poetry. Choughs, wrens, cormorants, owls, nightingales, larks and some 60 other species all have their place in the canon.

Read more....HERE

BTO Bird ID - Goldcrest & Firecrest

The tiny Goldcrest, is a common year-round bird, found mainly in woodland and gardens. Its much rarer cousin, the Firecrest, is found in similar habitats. Can you tell the two species apart?

Latest Aviary Arrival

A pair of SPICE FINCHES Lonchura punctulata

BTO Bird ID - Redwing and Fieldfare

These two winter thrushes are easily told from each other. However, Redwing can be confused with Song Thrush, whilst Fieldfare is similar in size and appearance to Mistle Thrush. In this, the latest identification video from the BTO, we offer tips on how to confidently separate these engaging thrushes.

BTO - Know your thrushes - Song and Mistle

Listen to call and song of Song and Mistle Thrushes

 

 Related: Winter Thrushes Survey - key species

See the Manchester Peregrine chicks

Every week day 18 April to 20 July 2014 - look out for the RSPB green marquee in places like Albert Square, St Ann's Square and Piccadilly Gardens

http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/150761-manchester-peregrines-

Oldest Breeding Osprey

UK's oldest known breeding osprey lays her 70th egg at Perthshire nature reserve 

THE bird, known as Lady, produced the egg in the early hours of this morning at the reserve run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), which celebrates its 50th anniversary yesterday.

Read more..... here

Angry Bird on Loose

Angry bird on loose: Beast that can kill with a single blow running wild in countryside

Twitchers beware – a giant bird on the loose in the English countryside is not one to be messed with.
The South American rhea – which stands at 1.8m (6ft) tall and can run at 40mph – has startled bird spotters after escaping from its home last month.
And with 15cm (6in) long claws that it can use to disembowel humans, it is one bird you wouldn’t want to see when it’s angry, say animal experts.

Read more.....here

 

BTO Bird ID - Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Help Identifying them

New Arrivals - Aviary

Two new arrivals

Hecks Grassfinch / Long Tailed Finch

Star Finch

A day on the Wirral (RSPB)

RSPB Trip Thanks to Jean, Peter and Jane for a great day.

Starting at Leasowe Lighthouse

12/April 9.30am -12.30pm @ Leasowe Lighthouse

Walking from the carpark at the lighthouse towards Hoylake along the seafront and returning along the back, sand dunes and scrubland

Swallow 1

Blackbird 6

Robin 1

*Skylark 5 (rising vertically and calling)

Greenfinch 3

Cormorant 33 mainly on a sandbank nr to boats

*Redshank 30+ roosting on a rocky outcrop (noticed by orange legs)

Turnstones 7 amongst the Redshank

*Linnet 6 (bouncing flight)

Curlew largest flock I have seen nr Cormorants

*Great Black-Back Gull 2 (out at sea, through scope)

Mallard M+F in flight

Great Crested Grebe diving out at sea

*Collard Dove 2

Woodpigeon 1

Starling 3

Goldfinch 9

Long Tailed Tit 1

Chiffchaff 1

*Reed Bunting 1

Wren 1 Singing

Coot 1

Alerts re Ringed Ouzel in the area however none seen. Also breeding Blackcaps again none seen.

1pm - 2pm Wirral Country Park - Thurstaston

Short visit and lunch, great cafe.

Waders out on the estuary however to far out to actually make out what kinds.

Bullfinch M+F

Chiffchaff 3

Dove 3

Tree Sparrow many

2.30pm - 5pm RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands

Little Grebe 2

*Avocet 9 Island in front of main hide , some nesting with eggs

Black Headed Gulls many

Tufted Duck M+F

Black Tailed Godwits many
*Common Sandpiper

Canada Geese not as many as I have seen at other times

Coot 4

Lapwing 2

*Redshank 2 in with the Godwits

Swallow 5

Gadwall 2

Kestrel 1

Teal 1

*Pheasant 1

*Spotted Redshank 2

*Sand Martin 4

House Martin 5 (white markings could be well seen)

Avocets Nesting

Feeders;

Blue Tit 3

Great Tit 2

Goldfinch 3

*Siskin 1 (we think)

Cormorant 1

Starling 2

Chiffchaf calling

*Willow Warbler calling

Looking towards Inner Marsh farm from the hide;

Little Egrets

Little Egrets 7

Teal 2

Gadwall 3

*Shoveler 2

Black Headed Gulls many

Grey Heron 1 

BTO Bird ID - Knot and Dunlin

Telling winter waders apart can be daunting. Success in this is not difficult, provided you are familiar with two key species: Knot and Dunlin. This guide tackles these two 'confusing calidrids', once you have sorted out the size and look of these two grey waders you'll be able to tackle the full range of small waders on our coasts in autumn and winter.

BTO Bird ID - Kittiwake and Small Gulls

help with identifying small gulls

BTO Bird ID - Redstarts

In late summer and autumn Redstarts and Black Redstarts can turn up anywhere. The males are easy to identify but how do you separate females and young birds?
This video will help you to spot the subtle differences that will allow you confidently identify a bird that is not sporting the males