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More Wirral Adventures & Pectoral Sandpiper in Rochdale. 16/8/20
(Preview)
After various trips to the east coast area it was time to check out one of our best birding areas on the west coast, RSPB Burton Mere, on the Wirral. A leisurely 8am start with myself, Steve B and Kevin C driving had us heading along the M56 on a grey but dry morning. An adult Spotted Crake had been seen o...
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David Ousey
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107
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Spurn at its very best. Tuesday 11th August 2020
(Preview)
After Monday`s news that a first year female Collared Flycatcher had been caught and rung at the warren at Spurn had got a few of us thinking and with easterly winds still blowing. Now as it would be a new bird for two of our group and that a good supporting cast of birds that were also present, a trip wa...
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David Ousey
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106
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Lincolnshire, 6th-9th Aug 2020
(Preview)
Spent a few days in Lincolnshire and visited Frampton Marsh, Freiston Shore and Gibraltar Point with a good selection of birds, especially Waders (22 species) seen with the highlights as follows: Gannet, 2 at Gib Point, Spoonbill, 25 at Frampton & 8 at Freiston Great White Egret, 1 at Frampton...
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David Nuttall
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109
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Ten Gull day at Spurn. Sunday 2nd July 2020
(Preview)
Ten Gull day at Spurn. Sunday 2nd July 2020 After a Red Necked Phalarope and various waders were seen in the Kilnsea/Spurn area on Saturday we thought it was time for our first trip to the Spurn area this year. Two of our elder statesmen were missing for the trip so it was myself at the wheel with Chris B a...
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David Ousey
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106
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Bearded Vulture/Lammergeier in the Peak District. Sunday 19th July 2020
(Preview)
Bearded Vulture/Lammergeier in the Peak District. Sunday 19th July 2020 The appearance of a vulture in this country is a strange occurrence at the best of times and with it came the tag presumed wild bred from reintroduced but not self-sustaining population in the Alps no great rush to see it set in...
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David Ousey
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5
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352
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Re-Tern to Wales. 12/7/2020
(Preview)
Re-Tern to Wales. 12/7/2020 With the Gateway to Wales having just been re-opened we thought that it was time to visit the principality and of course a visit to our favourite tern colony, Cemlyn Bay. I picked up Steve B and Kevin C at 7-15am and with a decent forecast of sunny periods we left Castleton. We...
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David Ousey
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97
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RSPB Bempton, Forge Valley & various. 5/7/2020
(Preview)
Last week we had planned to do this trip and the events during the week had us thinking, you never know. Kevin drove with myself and Steve B for company, we left Castleton at 7-15am and with the roads being fairly quiet we reached Bempton by 9-25am. With the negative news about the Black browed Albatr...
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David Ousey
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121
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Yorkshire Trip on 28/6/2020
(Preview)
It seems like a long while ago that we had a trip out together, but after a bit of shall we shan?t we, a decision was made to go out together on Sunday. Last trip out was the 15th March for the Black throated Thrush in Grimsby! We all met in Newhey and planned to head into Yorkshire to go and see the Spoonbill...
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David Ousey
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113
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Black Throated Thrush in Grimsby. 15/3/2020
(Preview)
A first winter Black Throated Thrush had taken up residence in some school (institute?) grounds in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. As we had only been out on a couple of birding trips this year we thought that a trip over to see it would be nice. We met in Newhey and with Bob K driving made good progress over th...
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David Ousey
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142
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Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Prestwick Carrs, Northumberland. 22/12/2019
(Preview)
In what seems to be the year of the above named full species, the chance for a few of our team again presented itself to see one. It was found on Sunday the 15th December in a flooded horse paddock and remained all week. We got a team together consisting of Steve B, Bob K and two birding friends from Hudde...
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David Ousey
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137
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North Wales & Little Neston. 8/12/2019
(Preview)
Probably our final trip of 2019 had myself, Kevin C and Bob K heading for the North Wales coast in my most recent car, a Skoda Yeti! Which, up to now is certainly a car for all seasons and conditions. Our plan was to visit RSPB Conway to try to connect with one of the Firecrest`s that seem to winter on the...
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David Ousey
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138
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Purple Heron at Eagland Hill, Lancashire. 5/12/2019
(Preview)
As a photographer was driving through Eagland Hill, Lancashire, recently, he encountered a bird that he thought was a bit unusual. So he took a picture of it and sent it to a birding friend of his who, quickly identified it as a juvenile Purple Heron! Very unusual in December, more of a spring/summer...
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David Ousey
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158
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Cumbria & North Lancashire. Tuesday 19th November 2019
(Preview)
Due to the poor weather last Sunday we decided to have a trip out when the weather had improved on Tuesday. A 9-00am start on a cold morning had 4 of us getting into Bob K`s car and heading north to visit Sizergh Castle, to possibly connect with the Hawfinch that are usually in the area. Upon arrival it so...
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David Ousey
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133
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Redwing roost at Kemple End, Longridge. 19th Nov 19
(Preview)
Approx 25-30,000 Redwings, c2,000 Fieldfare and dozens of Blackbirds went to roost in the trees at Longridge fell tonight. A truly fantastic and very rare sight anywhere let alone very local. Also 7+ Woodcock come out of the woods to feed on the farmland at dusk. Worth going for that alone!! -- Edite...
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C Bel
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181
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Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs. 9/11/2019
(Preview)
Going birding on a Saturday made a nice change from our regular Sunday trips out. So with only one of our team available, Chris B, it was nice to be contacted by Rob from Huddersfield to make up our team to visit the east coast to try to see one of the Hume`s Warbler`s that have been found. Picked up Chris in...
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David Ousey
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148
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North Cave and Spurn area. 3/11/2019
(Preview)
As we head ever closer towards the end of the autumn migration period it was nice to have, maybe, one last bash at Spurn. With the sad demise (no its not dead) of the putative Lesser Kestrel record put behind us another strange occurrence in the form of a Paddyfield Pipit was found at Sennen, Cornwall...
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David Ousey
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139
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Dee Estuary.
(Preview)
Burton Mere to Parkgate, no significant tidal swell, 3/11 degrees clear skies and sunshine, 0845/1400 hrs. Little Egret Great White Egret Grey Heron Mallard Wigeon Grey Plover Lapwing Black -tailed Godwit Curlew Redshank Meadow Pipit Water Pipit Reed Bunting Greenfinch Robin Cettis Warbler (...
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brian
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144
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Putative Lesser Kestrel at Fraisthorpe, Yorkshire.23/10/2019
(Preview)
After a birder had been driving along the lane to Fraisthorpe Beach in Yorkshire on Tuesday morning, he noted a Kestrel species sat close by in a small tree. He took some photos of the Kestrel and later showed them to a birding friend who told him This bird has got pale claws, it could be a Lesser Kestrel...
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David Ousey
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162
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Easington, Kilnsea & Spurn, Yorkshire. 20/10/2019
(Preview)
After a rather hectic week, it was nice to visit one of our favourite birding places. We met at Newhey, in the dark, as the days/nights begin to draw in and with Bob K driving were soon on our way to the Spurn area. Last weeks Red eyed Vireo had been reported yesterday as still being down by the point, but...
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David Ousey
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130
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Red Eyed Vireo in Easington, Yorkshire. 13/10/2019
(Preview)
After a good influx of American bird species, no doubt caused by a recent hurricane, it came as no real surprise when a Red Eyed Vireo was found on Vicar`s Lane, Easington. The weather forecast for the east Yorkshire area was for constant rain for most of the early part of the day, so a few extra layers...
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David Ousey
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138
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Common Nighthawk, County Antrim, N.Ireland. 15/10/2019
(Preview)
Many people know that I am a man of principles (dont laugh) but after a few mutterings at and on the way home from recent birding exploits the subject of the Common Nighthawk in Northern Ireland was raised. Dave W from Huddersfield seemed interested and along with Kevin C, who said, I can go on Tuesda...
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David Ousey
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171
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A Weekend in the Spurn Area. 4th to 6th October 2019
(Preview)
After a years break from our annual trip to Spurn it was nice to have another get together and enjoy the birds. Bob K, Kev C and myself left a wet and windy Rochdale at 6am and Bob soon had us through all the regular bottlenecks on the M62. We arrived at our first call at Stone Creek, Sunk Island and met up wi...
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David Ousey
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154
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A Damp Day in Derbyshire & the Wirral. 29/9/2019
(Preview)
We all knew that the weather was going to be very wet on Sunday but, most of our crew still headed out to see what we could find on a damp, dull day. Leaving Rochdale at 8am we headed over the M60/M67 and through the worst bottle neck known to man, Mottram in Longendale. Later in the day due to a closure of t...
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David Ousey
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138
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Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey. Friday 27th September 2019
(Preview)
The news of a probable Eastern Yellow Wagtail having been seen again on the 26th of September had me thinking of making a trip to see it. All my regular birding mates were contacted, with no takers, until John R of Red Throated Pipit fame and Craig B made contact. We had a plan to wait for news and meet up...
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David Ousey
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115
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RSPB ST Aidan's AKA Swillington Ings
(Preview)
With a day off from work on Monday I decided to visit RSPB St Aidan's near Leeds with Andy Young and Craggy. A Long Billed Dowitcher had arrived at Fairburn Ings and after a few days crossed over to the nearby St Aidan's Reserve. Long Billed Dowitchers are very rare this far inland and a first for the St...
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sarfraz
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1
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152
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Lancashire Clean Up (well almost) 22/9/2019
(Preview)
With the continued presence of the two American Golden Plovers at Lunt Water Meadows, Nr Maghull, Lancashire a trip to see them was planned. With Steve & Chris B we set off with a plan to see the plovers, a Red necked Phalarope at Marshside and finally the Pectoral Sandpiper between Mythop &...
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David Ousey
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0
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156
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Brown Booby at Kynance Cove, Lizard, Cornwall. 6/9/2019
(Preview)
With the ongoing saga of the Brown Booby(s) continuing in Cornwall, we decided to get a team together and see if we could manage to see it. So at 11-30pm with Kevin C driving, myself, Andy M, Dave W & Tony W (a Lancashire & Yorkshire team) we headed south. We planned to get there at first light ar...
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David Ousey
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964
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Trans Pennine Birding Day (or Booby prize). Sunday 1st September 2019
(Preview)
Its never easy trying to get people to give up a nights sleep to drive overnight on the chance of seeing a Brown Booby (a flying one) near St Ives, Cornwall. After trying a few possible participants for the journey and not getting many positive answers it seemed that a rethink was necessary. Now as it...
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David Ousey
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0
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138
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Sykes Field, Kilnsea & Beacon Lane, Spurn area. 25/8/2019
(Preview)
After the birding slumbers of June and July it was good to get all the members of our little team together again for a trip to the east coast. All five of us met in Newhey at 6am and loaded ourselves into Bob K`s latest car, the day promised to be warm and sunny and away we went. Our target bird was the Mars...
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David Ousey
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139
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U.S.A. 28th July -12th August 2019
(Preview)
Just back from a couple of weeks in The U.S.A., mainly in California but a few days on the east coast too. A family holiday but very good for wildlife generally with the Highlights as follows: Black Bear, 1 in Yosemite, Elephant Seal, c100 on the west coast, California Sea Lion, c50 on west coast, Harbo...
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David Nuttall
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0
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145
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