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Waxwings Galore..
(Preview)
Lots of these beauties about locally with up to 110 at Barrow/Whalley, 53 Burnley, 40+ Nelson, 60+ Blackburn and 101 in Todmorden. Just need some to arrive in Rossendale and stay put for a few days for everyone to see well. No sign of the 50+ at Reedsholme this afternoon despite lots of berries still bei...
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C Bel
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1
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201
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North Wales.
(Preview)
2 good trips to North Wales over Christmas and the New Year. 1st on 27th Dec for the Black-throated Thrush and Waxwings at St Asaph and again on the 2nd Jan `17 for the showy Snow Buntings at Deganwy, Rhos for Purple Sandpipiers and another go for some better pics the B T Thrush. After finding the BT Thrush...
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C Bel
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0
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217
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New Year`s Day in Merseyside & Wirral. 2017
(Preview)
Our annual blow away the cobwebs trip started with an early (6-30am) departure from Rochdale for four A team members. We decided on Merseyside initially and we headed for Marshside, Southport with myself at the wheel. After a tricky drive in the dark we soon reached Southport and it was still dark! A g...
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David Ousey
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0
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209
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Blue Rock Thrush, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire. 28/12/2016
(Preview)
When people tell you about an unusual bird that they have seen near where they live, what do you do? Get a description from them and then show them some pictures or better still go and have a look at it. It usually ends up as being a fairly common bird but, on this occasion, the bird turned out to be a Blue...
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David Ousey
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0
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193
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Dusky Thrush Revisited. 11/12/2016
(Preview)
The Dusky Thrush, that seems to have taken up residence in the small village of Beeley in Derbyshire, was still giving decent views in the orchard at Dukes Barn Recreation Centre, so, a trip with 2 of the A Team was organised. The two Steve`s B and K both needed to add this species to their lists, so a 7a...
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David Ousey
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0
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181
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Dusky Thrush in Beeley, Derbyshire. 6/12/2016
(Preview)
The news late on Sunday of a Dusky Thrush in the small village of Beeley, Derbyshire was kept a little hush hush until access etc could be arranged. A minor invasion of the village on Monday afternoon followed and the bird was seen by all who went to see this Siberian gem. Could I resist going to se...
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David Ousey
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0
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163
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Raptor Watch at Welwick, Yorkshire. 4/12/2016
(Preview)
With the lads from York needing the Pallid Harrier for a Yorkshire tick, it only seemed right to join them on their quest for the bird after many failures. The bird has been frequenting the area around Welwick since early November, apart from the odd trip across the water to see what Lincolnshir...
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David Ousey
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0
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193
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Dusky Thrush Beeley Derbyshire.. 7th Dec `16.
(Preview)
Made the trip to Derbyshire today to have a look at the 13th UK record of Dusky Thrush. Only fair as the bird had travelled 1000`s of miles from the Far East for us to see it.. Nice bird. 1st winter female is the general opinion as of today. A few distant record shots. -- Edited by C Bel on Thursday 8th of Decem...
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C Bel
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0
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211
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Waxwings - Blackburn
(Preview)
A flock have been present near The Griffin Pub area since Sunday 27th November and I nipped up to see them. Quite a few birders present. The Waxwings were a bit jittery but not surprised with some deciding to stand right under the tree.
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sarfraz
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1
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207
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Leighton Moss
(Preview)
On Sunday managed to visit the Moss with Paul Burke and met one of his friends there, who I also know of flickr. We arrived at Sunrise but the day was a bit cloudy so no spectacular Autumnal Golden Dawns. It was Paul's first visit and he commented that there were lots of small birds around. We headed...
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sarfraz
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1
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195
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RSPB Burton Mere & Denhall Lane, Wirral. 27/11/2016
(Preview)
A trip to a place that I always enjoy visiting was on the cards now that the major autumn rush has finally ended. It was to be a solo trip, as the rest of the A team seem to have mothballed their binoculars for the year. A late starting time of 8-30am on a cold, but pleasant (for late November) morning had m...
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David Ousey
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0
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163
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Hooded Merganser at Kilbirnie Loch, Ayrshire, Scotland. 20/11/2016
(Preview)
The controversy surrounding most unusual wildfowl arriving on our shores has always mystified me, the usual questions, is it wild, does it come to bread, has it got a ring, has it escaped from a wildfowl collection? All may have a bearing on a birds ability to get it self-accepted by the rarity committ...
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David Ousey
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0
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172
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Cliff Swallow at Minsmere. 5/11/2016
(Preview)
Late Friday afternoon, around 4-30pm, I got a call from Mark K, he said, There is a Cliff Swallow at Minsmere. Apart from being a bit shocked an Eyebrowed Thrush had also been discovered in Northumberland (it was never refound). Just as we all had thoughts of this bird rich autumn finally running down t...
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David Ousey
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2
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214
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Eastern Delight on the East Coast. 30/10/2016
(Preview)
After debating where to go at the weekend our minds were suddenly made up for us when a Pied Wheatear was re-identified late on Saturday evening. It was thought that it was originally a Desert or Black Eared type of Wheatear. An early start from Rochdale was required as I was meeting up with the York cr...
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David Ousey
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0
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175
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Point & Thorns at Spurn. Sunday 23rd October 2016
(Preview)
After last week`s full on encounters, thoughts of a nice leisurely bit of birding sprung to mind for the coming weekend. Then Spurn, true to form, produced more eastern bird specialities such as Isabelline Wheatear, two Siberian Stonechats 1-Maura and 1 possible Stejneger`s. With three of the A...
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David Ousey
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0
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167
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Siberian Rushing. 13/10 & 14/10/2016
(Preview)
The mobile phone really is a great invention, it has certainly speeded up the flow of information between people. My phone rung on Thursday afternoon around 3-10pm and it was Mark K from York he said, ?There is a Siberian Accentor near the old school in Easington just before Spurn?. He said other thin...
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David Ousey
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2
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204
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Spurn Rerun. Sunday 16th October 2016
(Preview)
As the easterly`s had continued to blow lots of birds towards the east coast, it was a good plan to go again and see what we could find. So three A teamers with Steve K at the wheel headed to the Spurn area. The headline bird was again the Siberian Accentor at Easington. We parked in the car park, well f...
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David Ousey
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0
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173
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Donna Nook, 15th Oct 2016
(Preview)
My first 'twitch' for many years and managed to get good views of the Red-flanked Bluetail that has been at Donna Nook for a couple of days now. Other birds seen included: Little Egret, c12 Brent Goose, c500, Hen Harrier, 1 ringtail, Buzzard, c6, Kestrel, c6, Grey Plover, c20, Golden Plover, c2000, Du...
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David Nuttall
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0
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226
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East is East!
(Preview)
 The Easterly winds had started over a week ago and focus was one question? - When will we be going to Spurn and environs?  After much dithering Sunday the 9th was the chosen day and I met Craggy (Mr C) at about 5am. We set off at a relaxed place and reached out first point just before 7.30am. This was...
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sarfraz
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2
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253
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Another Good Day at Spurn. Sunday 9th October 2016
(Preview)
The type of wind and weather fronts almost guaranteed a good weekend for migrant birds on the east coast. So, with 2 of the A team joining with 2 of the lads from York, who had been to Spurn the day before, we would almost certainly have a good day`s birding! I picked up Bob K in Milnrow, in the dark, the...
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David Ousey
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0
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180
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Flamborough Head. Sunday 2nd October 2016
(Preview)
The regular influx of birds being seen on the east coast was just about getting going, so it was time for a trip to Flamborough Head. Myself, Steve B and Chris B left Newhey in the hope that we might see the Taiga Bean Goose that had been seen a few times at North Marsh at Flamborough. This was also a new par...
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David Ousey
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0
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183
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Annual Spurn Trip 23/9 to 25/9/2016
(Preview)
Due to family commitments the date of our annual get together had to be brought forward a couple of weeks and with the lack of any rentable caravans in the area a change of accommodation also. A later start also with myself and Bob K going in the same car with Steve K joining us a little later. Our first s...
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David Ousey
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0
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186
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Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire
(Preview)
Had the birding itch last week because Spurn had been delayed and it was a choice between Leighton Moss and Environs, some of the sites in Yorkshire such as Old Moor, Hatfield and Swillington Ings and Alkborough Flats/Blacktoft Sands. Craggy, Craig and I were joined by a new addition - Paul Burke. ...
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sarfraz
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5
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229
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Northern France.
(Preview)
I don't normally bore you with my annual visit to my family in France, but sitting here beer in hand and a good internet connection and the grandchildren being quite for a change I thought I would check the club website for anything interesting at home. Looks like things are moving through and Craig's b...
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brian
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7
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257
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Spurn at its best. Sunday 18th September 2016
(Preview)
The east coast in migration time is very difficult to beat and with a nice forecast, myself and Bob K headed once more for the Spurn/ Kilnsea area. Upon arrival quite a few birders seemed to be leaving the Church Field ringing area, the reason, a Blyth`s Reed Warbler had been trapped, rung and released...
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David Ousey
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0
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162
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Burton Mere Wetlands, Ainsdale and Marshside
(Preview)
The answer to the legendary A Team, the B Team consisting of myself, Craggy and Craig Bell or should I say more likely Z Team managed to make a trip first to Burton Mere Wetlands in Cheshire and then onto Ainsdale. The temptation of 12 Spoonbills which have been present for a few weeks at Burton Mere an...
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sarfraz
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3
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254
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Swamphens and Peatbogs. Sunday 11th September 2016
(Preview)
The full A team assembled in Newhey (after brief introductions) and after a small discussion we decided to head for Alkborough, North Lincolnshire as the Western Purple Swamphen was still present. As two of the team still needed to see this species, we soon arrived on a beautiful Lincolnshire (8 mil...
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David Ousey
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0
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160
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Skua`rd at Spurn. Sunday 4th September 2016
(Preview)
A call on Saturday to one of my mates from York, Mark K, resulted in me asking him if he was going out birding on Sunday, he invited me along saying there was room. I met Mark K, Nigel S and Paz on the main street at North Cave (of Spotted Crake fame) on a mild morning in Yorkshire. We arrived at Spurn around 9-1...
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David Ousey
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1
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197
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White winged Black Tern. Rishton Res. 4th Sept '16.
(Preview)
There has been a White winged Black Tern on Rishton Res, Blackburn this afternoon. Mostly very distant spending most of the time near to the far banking and the left bay so scope needed really for decent views.. A decent local bird with only a few if any east lancs records. Craig. 3 heavy cropped distant...
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C Bel
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0
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173
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Mallorca, August 2016
(Preview)
21.08.16 - 28.08.16 Took a holiday to Mallorca this year and still as good as ever, five years since my last visit, with the following being noted: Dabchick, c6 at Albufereta, Cormorant, just a couple noted, Shag, c20, Little Bittern, single flew over 3 times at Albufera, Night Heron, 2 at Albufereta...
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David Nuttall
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0
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191
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