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High Tide February 21st
(Preview)
The RSPB had advertised a high tide event at Parkgate in the Wirral around the 21st of February. A 10.1m tide was forecast all it would need is a good wind. The last time I visited a spring high tide in this area may have been 6-7 years ago. I had visited the Wirral in October and we had luckily crossed p...
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sarfraz
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89
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Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire day out. Friday 3rd March 2023
(Preview)
Friday was unusual choice for a day out with Dave W, but we covered some miles and both enjoyed it. Drove over to Barnsley to pick Dave up and we were soon on our way, firstly to try to see a very strange occurrence of a Pallas`s Warbler. A species usually associated with our east coast at autumn time, it...
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David Ousey
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68
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Waxwing and Elton 4/03/2023
(Preview)
A trip over to see the long staying single Waxwing at Bolton having not seen one for quite some time and not to be disappointed as it was showing really well on arriving saying that because it has a tendency of disappearing for hours on end so my timing was very lucky it stayed around feeding for around t...
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craggy
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A Lancashire Day out (and a bit of Cumbria) 5th Feb 2023
(Preview)
A sharp frost overnight slightly held up mine and Bob K`s departure from Whitworth, picking up Craig B in Rawtenstall and heading over Grane. Our plan was to try to see the Hawfinches in the Eaves Wood area that had been seen the day before. We called at Conder Green, Pine Lake and headed for Gait Barr...
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David Ousey
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71
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A winter trip to Nottinghamshire. 8/1/23
(Preview)
After a chat with Dave W it seemed a good idea to visit some of the winter delights of Nottinghamshire. After picking up Kev C at 7am we headed to southern Yorkshire to get Dave W and at 8-15am made our way to the first stop at Thoresby. This area had been home to some Hawfinch this week, but after a good 40 m...
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David Ousey
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78
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RSPB Marshside and Lunt Meadows nature reserve 6/01/2023
(Preview)
RSPB Marshside and Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve With a weather forecast dry and sunny over at Southport sounded good for a trip over to the coast Thought Id start at the Old Sand Works, there was four local birders already looking out over the marsh pointing out raptors out on the marsh soon we was havi...
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craggy
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75
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Lancashire Day Out. 2/1/2023
(Preview)
First trip of the year in dry conditions after all the rain etc. Heading off into the Lancaster/Fylde area with Bob K & Kev C at the pleasant time of 8am. First stop at Darwen services to try to find a Yellow-legged Gull that seems to like the bins adjacent to MacDonalds takeaway, straight away the...
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David Ousey
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73
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Alkborough Flats and Potteric Carr Nature Reserves - July 2022
(Preview)
After a successful and enjoyable birding trip the week before to Bempton and Blacktoft Sands we decided to give Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve a try and then Potteric Carr. It was forecast to be a nice sunny day and Phillip was driving. I suggested we try Alkborough in the afternoon because a rare...
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sarfraz
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83
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Long-tailed Duck Elton Reservoir 6/11/2022
(Preview)
Long-tailed Duck reported on Elton thought Id fit it in with a walk around the area Feeding station Goldfinch Greenfinch Bullfinch Chaffinch 1 Jay Long-tailed Tit On Elton reservoir 1 Long-tailed Duck 18 Tufted Duck 12 Great Crested Grebe 30+ Teal 20+ Coot 1 Goldeneye 1 Wigeon Withins rese...
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craggy
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87
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Marshside and Lunt Meadows
(Preview)
Marshside has been on good form over the last 6 months in relation to rare birds. In Spring a Black Winged Stilt appeared and stayed a few days followed by a Broad Billed Sandpiper. I am sure other rarities would have been recorded. Autumn has been as interesting if not more. A Buff Breasted Sandp...
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sarfraz
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107
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Lesser Yellowlegs RSPB Marshside Southport 26 October 2022
(Preview)
Lesser Yellowlegs I had a trip over to Marshside to have a look at this rare American wader on its fifth day there would be a lifer for me. Reports of it showing well on Crossens Pool, but on arriving there was no sign of it or enyone else. But at the far end of the marsh was a small group of birders watching so...
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craggy
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Bumper fall of migrant birds at Spurn, Yorkshire. 21/10/2022
(Preview)
With all of the rare birds this autumn being found on places like Shetland, Scilly Isles & Ireland it felt that we had been starved of good birds during this exciting time. None of our team are what you may call chequebook birders (Having limitless money and time to twitch rare birds anywhere) So...
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David Ousey
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77
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Martin Mere 06/10/22
(Preview)
There had been some good run of local and national scarcities at Martin Mere in late September. A Purple Heron which first appeared at Brockholes briefly pitched up at Martin Mere and had made occasional forays out towards Marshside. Other notable species recorded included Willow Tit, Cattle...
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sarfraz
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70
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Red-footed Falcon Marton Mere 3/9/2022
(Preview)
A day out along the coast making the most of the good weather just had to make a small detour to see if a could catch a glimpse of the reported Red-footed Falcon. Walking along the track to the mere a local birder was looking out over the mere I asked if hed had any luck, saying he had seen it a good hour ago an...
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craggy
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Greater Sand Plover at Redcar, Yorkshire (or Teeside if you prefer) 26/8/2022
(Preview)
Its been a long 34 years since I saw my last Greater Sand Plover in Britain on Walney Island, Cumbria (or Lancashire, if I prefer) So, when one was found on Redcar beach last night around 7-30pm, I alerted a few of my rare bird enthusiast friends. This bird is probably the same bird seen last week in Ab...
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David Ousey
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78
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The Turkestan or Red tailed Shrike revisited. 21/8/22
(Preview)
With the change in wind patterns, good weather and the lack of many rare birds, we decided to have another look at the long staying Turkestan or Red tailed Shrike at Bempton, Yorkshire. A 7am start from Castleton along with Bob K, Kevin C, Craig B and myself we headed for our first stop at Flamborough...
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David Ousey
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North Cave N.R. & Blacktoft Sands. 16/8/22
(Preview)
A midweek trip out to try to see a couple of nice birds that have begun their migration through Britain. Myself, Kevin C and Craig B left Rochdale at 10am (to hopefully miss the M62 snarl) on a warm, pleasant morning. Our plan was to head for North Cave nature reserve about 20 miles west of Hull to see a S...
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David Ousey
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72
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Cape Gull at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire. 7/8/2022
(Preview)
After a very hectic night out for me at a couple of friends wedding reception, getting into bed at 1-20am. The last thing you would expect is for a first for Britain to turn up! As we know us seasoned twitchers Always expect the unexpected Waking at around 10-15am my fuzzy head was plotting what to do wi...
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David Ousey
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Yorkshire Birding trip 20/07/22
(Preview)
Not often a day off collides with someone wanting to go to see the Black Browed Albatross with the added bonus of the Turkestan Shrike. I needed something different as over the last 2 years I hadn't done much travelling of over 1 hour. The day before the Shrike was not reported. I said that we would only go...
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sarfraz
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RSPB Blacktoft Sands near Goole, Yorkshire. 27/7/22
(Preview)
With lots of species of wading birds beginning their return from the breeding grounds in the Arctic, it was time to visit one of the best places to watch them, Blacktoft (Toft being an old English word meaning Homestead) An early start to hopefully beat my pet hate the M62, now known as The Carpark....
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David Ousey
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RSPB Fairburn Ings & Alkborough N.R. 20/7/22
(Preview)
A text from Rossendale birder Sarfraz H with news of a Stone Curlew, a rare breeding species in the UK, being present at RSPB Fairburn Ings sparked me into twitch mode Grabbed my gear and off I went, it was 10am, thinking to myself it should take an hour plus to get there and then as I got to the top of the M...
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David Ousey
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Sabine`s Gull at Jenny Brown`s Point, Lancashire. 10/7/22
(Preview)
News of a Sabine`s Gull at Leighton Moss on Wednesday 6th July seemed a little strange for the time of year and lack of rough weather at sea. But the bird remained and a small trip to see it was arranged. Myself, Bob K and Kevin C left a sultry Whitworth around 7-30am all duly clad in shorts for the occasion...
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David Ousey
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60
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The Turkestan Shrike at Bempton, Yorkshire. Saturday 2nd July 2022
(Preview)
Back in 2000 the Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) was split into 2 different species namely: - Daurian Shrike, became Lanius isabellinus and Turkestan Shrike, became Lanius phoenicuroides. Yes, I know its a bit complicated but after scientific studies, ringing, photographs etc this...
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David Ousey
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A Mediterranean Nottinghamshire Trip? Sunday 26th June 2022
(Preview)
With a Caspian Tern arriving at Idle Valley N.R, Nottinghamshire early on Saturday morning and appearing settled for the rest of the day. Just apart from re-locating to Slaynes Lane, Misson, a trip to see it was talked about with Mark K and Dave W. The plan was, if the bird was still present early Sunda...
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David Ousey
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60
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Nightjars, Langsett Area, 15th June 2022
(Preview)
My annual visit around Barnsley mainly to see the Nightjars on the moors above Langsett with the following noted: Langsett. Nightjar, at least 3 individual birds. Churring started at 21:45 with the first bird flying at 21:55. 3 birds chasing around at 22:15 Long Eared Owl, adult hunting the moor plu...
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David Nuttall
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East Yorkshire evening and night trip out. 19th June 2022.
(Preview)
The day started for me rushing up to Hollingworth Lake N.R. in Rochdale to see a Great White Egret that had been seen earlier. It was a successful rush as the bird was seen and appeared to be quite settled. A special bird for me as it was my 200th species that I have seen in Rochdale.
We met in Milnrow with K...
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David Ousey
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63
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The return to Anglesey. Sunday 5th June 2022
(Preview)
Apart from a quick dash over to see the Elegant Tern at Cemlyn Bay last year, it was nice to visit one of the nicest islands in Britain, Anglesey again. A team of 5 birders filled Kevin C`s vehicle and we departed at 7am on a rather dull, damp day, the forecast was not very good with lots of morning rain. Fir...
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David Ousey
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Leighton Moss, 21 May
(Preview)
Paul, Mohammed and I decided to have a Spring trip to Leighton Moss. Paul had never been in the Spring so I told him it would give him a new experience of the reserve. 21st of May was the only day he could do so we decided to pencil that in and it was not long before it was upon us. I mentioned Foulshaw Moss,...
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sarfraz
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98
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The Eleonora`s Falcon at Worth Marsh, near Sandwich, Kent. 28/5/2022
(Preview)
When the news broke on Friday morning that an Eleonora`s Falcon had been seen in Kent and also knowing that this species was so rare, I had to go for it. This species has been seen only 7 times and had always been a One day bird. As I tried to get a team together to visit the area and see this ultra-rare falcon...
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David Ousey
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70
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Ullswater/St Bees 13/05/2022
(Preview)
Friday evening Glenridding Screaming parties of Swifts flying low over the village with Swallows & House Martins Ulls Water River Dipper & Grey Wagtail Saturday walk - Glenridding to Aira Force Waterfall a very wooded area lake side and hill side First bird seen was a wood Warbler callin...
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