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Dip day at Dungeness. 23/9/2015
(Preview)
A possible first for Britain in the shape of an Acadian Flycatcher at Dungeness in Kent had a few pulses racing. Bit too far to go on the day it was found, due to traffic, work etc. So, a trip overnight was planned. Bob K driving, myself, Andy from Leigh and Steve from Hucknall all arranged to go to try to cat...
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David Ousey
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Spurn 13-09-15
(Preview)
Craig, Craggy and I managed to go to Spurn yesterday as there had been a few days of Easterlies. We met up just after 4am in Rawtenstall and the biggest surprise of the day was all the 18-30's walking around - Rawtenstall had a nightlife! I left I had stumbled into Manchester. Spurn is not close bu...
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sarfraz
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Spurn Area. Sunday 13th September.
(Preview)
All the A team met at 6am in Newhey for another east coast bash, with Bob at the wheel on a nice morning. With Steve K still needing to see the Black Stork in the Sunk Island area, we made it our first stop (it was not to be the last visit either) Still quite a few birders gathered around the usual general are...
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David Ousey
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121
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Fairhaven Lake 10th Aug `15.
(Preview)
An amazing find of 2 scarce british birds in the same smallish willow tree at Fairhaven Lake, Lytham on thursday had us heading to the coast. Difficult viewing at a fair distance into a compound but a Barred Warbler and a Wryneck were good records for the west coast. Makes you wonder just how many are in t...
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C Bel
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136
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Storking in East Yorkshire. Sunday 30th August 2015
(Preview)
After our "summer break" it was time to get back to a bit of serious birding, so a long staying Black Stork in the Sunk Island area on the way to Spurn seemed a good target to try to see. Nearly a full team, with just Steve K crying off late / early. Myself driving and a 6-15am departure from Newhey...
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David Ousey
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143
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Another Yankee Gull at Preston Docks, 8th Aug `15.
(Preview)
A nice showy "moulting" 1st summer/ 2nd winter Ring Billed Gull has been present for a few days at Preston Docks. Showed well today along with a juv Yellow-legged Gull. A good place to visit at the moment with the numerous breeding Common Terns on the wave breakers, lots having large, almos...
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C Bel
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163
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Sabine`s Gull at Pennington Flash. 4th Aug `15.
(Preview)
A nice breeding plumage Sabine`s Gull was showing quite well today at Pennington Flash, along with a juv Med Gull.
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C Bel
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3
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207
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Martin Down
(Preview)
An hour spent on Martin Down, Hampshire, produced the following: Buzzard, one circling overhead, Turtle Dove, pair plus a single, Yellowhammer, c8 with several singing birds, Corn Bunting, 3 singing birds. Small Skipper, c20, Dark Green Fritillary, c8, Gatekeeper, 4, Marbled White, c20, Mead...
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David Nuttall
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115
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Blacktoft Sands, 4th July 2015
(Preview)
18:15-19:00 Just called in briefly on our way back from Lincoln with the following seen: Dabchick, 2, Little Egret, 3, Teal, c12, Montagu's Harrier, female over reed beds twice and also tussling with Marsh Harrier, Marsh Harrier, 3 or 4 birds over reed beds, Kestrel, 1, Avocet, c6, Spotted Redshank...
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David Nuttall
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119
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WREA GREEN VILLAGE 27-06-2015
(Preview)
Was at Wrea Green today a spotted at the side of the pond (THE DUB) this pair of Mallard ducks with 14 ducklings and a red-eared slider terrapin Cheers Craggy
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Cretzschmar`s Bunting on Bardsey. Friday 19th June 2015.
(Preview)
Though we have not been known for going to difficult places to see rare birds, Three A Team members decided to give it a go. So when a Cretzschmar`s Bunting was found on Bardsey and a booking system was in place (kindly policed by Lee Evans) after sleeping under boats etc. We made the arrangements on Tue...
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David Ousey
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99
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Norfolk Trip. Saturday 6th June 2015.
(Preview)
We did our annual trip into Norfolk a little bit later than usual this year, but we still saw around 100 bird species. I left home at 10-30pm Friday and got home at 10-35pm Saturday night, a full 24 hours job, it was well worth it. My turn to drive and with nearly a full "A Team," we left Newhey ar...
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David Ousey
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3
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148
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A Damp day in Yorkshire. Sunday 14th June 2015
(Preview)
After the re-finding of a Wood Warbler on a local patch on Saturday, I thought my luck was in, it was to prove far from the truth! A very rare bird had been found off the Welsh coast and we had assembled a team who might have been tempted, but the bird was not seen on Saturday, so we decided to head out east. Mys...
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David Ousey
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85
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East Coast Birding
(Preview)
Managed to nip over to the East of England the other day with Craggy and first stop was Hatfield Moor National Nature Reserve near Doncaster, part of the Humberhead Peatlands. The reserve is a mix of birch forest, scrub and bare ground along with the more unusual heathland and peatlands. The reser...
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sarfraz
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6
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128
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Half Term in The East
(Preview)
I managed a few days in The East of the country with the family at half term where the following were seen: Gannet, c6 at Titchwell, Bittern, lots booming at Lakenheath Fen, Little Bittern, "barking" bird at Lakenheath Fen, Little Egret, lots everywhere, Barnacle Goose, 1 at Frampton Mar...
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David Nuttall
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132
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Anglesey. Saturday 23rd May 2015
(Preview)
Just myself and Bob K made the trip into Wales last Saturday due to poor weather forecast for Sunday etc. We left Shaw around 6am in my new (ish) Kia Rio Diesel. Decent conditions had been forecast. First stop was Holyhead Harbour and a couple of Black Guillemots were soon located, the weather was qui...
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David Ousey
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138
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It`s a cinch with a Citril Finch. 10/5/2015
(Preview)
A quiet weekend doing household chores had been carefully planned, after the birding excesses of recent times. A good lie in on Sunday morning until 9am and then even before I had chance to check out the bird news a phone call from Mark K, who was birding near Sutton Bank,Thirsk. His pager broadcast t...
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David Ousey
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113
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Bolton Abbey Woods & North Lancs. 2/5/2015.
(Preview)
As we usually follow a regular set of trip`s in spring, it`s always nice when the Bolton Abbey trip come`s along, it reminds us that its migration time. The early start from Rossendale at 5-30am, with me at the helm, Bob K & Chris B for company, is always good and it was to be again. Walking down into th...
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David Ousey
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109
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Hudsonian Godwit at Meare Heath, Somerset.25/4/2015
(Preview)
Getting up early has certainly paid off for me at weekends with regard to rare birds in the past so, at 7-30am, I settled down in the small room with brew & my mobile phone. I decided to check Rare Bird Alert and was very pleased to be sat down upon reading, Hudsonian Godwit in Somerset. A hastily prepa...
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David Ousey
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109
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Wirral Wandering
(Preview)
As you have gathered one of my favourite places to visit for a bit of bird and other wildlife watching is the Wirral. I do not go as much as I used to because t is time consuming but hope to make at least one trip per year during the spring migration to se what is passing through. Craggy also came. I did a br...
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sarfraz
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117
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Churchtown Botanic Gardens and Marshside
(Preview)
Called in the botanic gardens bits and bobs but was nice to see three pair of coots with chicks Then had a look at RSPB marshside Two pair of Avocets nesting, nest one had one egg and nest two had three eggs Birds seen Avocets 10 Pink-footed Geese large flocks up to 500 + Greylag Geese Black - headed Gulls l...
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Rain, rain go away. Sunday 12th April 2015.
(Preview)
The weather forecast seemed like we might be in for some rain last Sunday, but, we decided on a trip anyway. We met in Norden and with Chris B at the wheel we headed of to Sizergh Castle. Nearly a full A team arrived at a wet venue to see Hawfinch, a species we do not often miss here. We missed last time and afte...
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David Ousey
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96
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A Grand Day out in Lancashire. 7/12/2014.
(Preview)
Myself and Steve B just could not resist a Shore Lark at Rossall Point, Fleetwood, so off we went last Sunday. A cold, windy, grey morning greeted us both as Steve drove towards the coast, after leaving Rochdale at 8am. My last sighting of this species was in the Bolton area a few year`s ago, they are cert...
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David Ousey
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North Wales.22/3/2015
(Preview)
Another one of our, "looked forward to" trips, was last Sunday. With Bob K at the wheel nearly a full A Team left Rochdale on a cold spring like morning at 6am heading for World`s End in North Wales. Lots of frost around greeted us in the elevated area and even at the early hour quite a few birder...
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David Ousey
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86
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Boom Boom Shake the Room!
(Preview)
This Sundays plan was to cross the border into Yorkshire and visit two RSPB sites within the West of the County. The first would be Swillington Ings renamed as St Aidans by the RSPB and the last would be Fairburn Ings a more established reserve. Swillington Ings aka as St Aidans was opened officially to...
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sarfraz
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148
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Lancashire Day Out. 8/3/2015.
(Preview)
The birding scene has been fairly quiet this winter (lets hope for a biggy soon) so, we decided to try to see some of the birds that where in our county. Again almost a full A Team left Rochdale at 6am and with rain in the air, we headed north. I drove in my new Nissan Quashqai (think thats how you spell it) it...
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David Ousey
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110
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The Fylde Coast
(Preview)
Managed to make it to the Fylde Coast and back again with Craggy. Set off about 8am and managed to spot Buzzards and Sparrowhawks displaying over Grane. First stop after nearly running a Redwing over near Freckleton was Fairhaven Lake where a Red-throated Diver in winter plumage s taken up reside...
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sarfraz
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Leighton Moss Today
(Preview)
Just a quick write up about how the day went. Craggy and I went. Just arrived after sunrise. Big welcome by a Song Thrush singing away with other smaller birds - a mini dawn chorus already. We stopped off at the Lillian's hide for a few minutes and most of the pool was frozen. Next stop was the Public...
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sarfraz
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10
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254
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Whose Laughing Now?
(Preview)
Craig Bell, Craggy and I met up and decided to go to High Tide watch and the chosen destination was Parkgate Marsh on the Wirral. We arrived at about 9.30am and stayed until about 1.30-2pm. One of the first birds we spotted , still a rarity but always around, was a Great White Egret. Other species s...
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sarfraz
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Winter Birding. 14/2/2015.
(Preview)
We thought we would have a change and have a trip on a Saturday with myself, Bob K & Steve K for company, with Steve K driving. We quickly worked out a trip into Yorkshire with a couple of new sites on the agenda. We met at a time that had allowed more sleep and we set off into a dense fog patch from Rochdal...
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David Ousey
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