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Spurn Weekend 29th & 30th September 2017
(Preview)
Our annual trip to Spurn was a reasonable one with quite a few migrants (mainly common one`s) passing through. Due to a prior commitment, my grandson`s christening, I had to travel on my own. Kevin C & Bob K met me on the M62. Our first stop was at Stone Creek to meet an old friend, John Ward who has...
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David Ousey
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234
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Lincolnshire Twitching 24/9/2017
(Preview)
By way of a change to our regular east coast haunts all five of us decided to have a trip into Lincolnshire. The fact that Long billed Dowitcher, Red necked Phalarope where there, made it even better because one of the team needed both these species! At 6am we all piled into Chris B`s people carrier a...
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David Ousey
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0
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261
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Pallas`s Grasshopper Warbler in Norfolk. 18/9/2017
(Preview)
Everything comes to he who waits, is a saying that I have come to like over the year`s. Being a birdwatcher/ twitcher you must keep trying to see some of the rarer species that occur on our island. After dipping or generally missing out on Pallas`s Grasshopper Warbler a few times, the above saying c...
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David Ousey
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243
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Wader Day. 3/9/2017
(Preview)
It seems like a long while since I have put pen to paper but, lots of things have happened, like having to say goodbye to two friends. Our little team has also changed with Kevin C re-joining us after a long time away, welcome back Kev. Me, Bob K & Kevin C decided on a trip to Spurn to catch up with a few wad...
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David Ousey
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333
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Martin Down, 29th June 2017
(Preview)
Managed to grab a hour on this fantastic chalk down in Hampshire and the following were noted: Buzzard, 1, Turtle Dove, c10 purring birds plus 2 flying over, Stock Dove, 2, Barn Owl, 1 hunting in broad daylight, Green Woodpecker, 1, Skylark, c20, Stonechat, pair, Whitethroat, c12, Lesser Whitethro...
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David Nuttall
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317
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China 2017 Report
(Preview)
Find attached my report of my recent trip to China 8th to 23rd May 2017. Its a long rambling report so have a good read and enjoy! Dave Ousey.
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David Ousey
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284
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ELEGANT TERN, CHURCH NORTON, PAGHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX 12/6/2017
(Preview)
This species of tern has never been accepted onto the British List, the chances of being able to prove that they were not a hybrid`s has always clouded the issue. Three Elegant Tern`s have been breeding with Sandwich Tern`s for a few years in the south of France, producing hybrids, the adults are...
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David Ousey
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134
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East or West - which was it to be?
(Preview)
Either this spring is never ending or it is going very quickly. Another day to spare and with it another dilemma. I had planned to do a trip to Yorkshire with the intention of a my first ever trip to North Cave Wetlands and then onto St Aidans/Swillington Ings. However, Buffy the birding trip slayer turn...
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sarfraz
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1
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206
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East is East!
(Preview)
After reading Dave Ouseys report to Whisby and learning that it was less than 2 hours away I decided that this largest most Northerly concentration of Nightingales should be visited. I suggested the idea to Craig and Craggy who did not dispute and asked when? It took a couple of weeks of dilly-dallyi...
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sarfraz
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3
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198
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Pallid Harrier. Dunsop Valley, Bowland. 28th April '17.
(Preview)
For anyone interested in seeing a rare Adult Male Pallid Harrier head up the Dunsop Valley in Bowland and take the Whitendale (right hand) branch road at the top end until you reach the cattle grid and look over to the adjacent right hand heather moor and you will see this beautiful bird quartering the m...
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C Bel
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6
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747
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Faxfleet, Blacktoft Sands & North Cave. 23/7/2017
(Preview)
With the onset of spring and a really nice weather forecast in store, a trip to the marshy areas of Yorkshire was planned. Myself & Steve K met the York lads at North Cave and after the news that the day before`s Curlew Sandpiper had not been found, it was decided to visit Faxfleet. With Nigel S at th...
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David Ousey
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143
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Whisby NR, Barnack, Fairburn Ings & Swillington. 16/4/2017
(Preview)
A trip to Lincolnshire to see / hear the freshly arrived Nightingales was eagerly awaited and when news of their arrival was confirmed a trip was planned. Meeting at 6am in Newhey with a dodgy weather forecast was not for the faint of heart, but I never really believe forecasts. Off we went with Bob K at t...
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David Ousey
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166
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Kilnsea & North Cave. 9/4/17
(Preview)
Myself, Bob K and Nigel S from York, decided on a trip to the east coast. Me and Bob got to York at 8am and as we picked up Nige news of an Iberian Chiff-chaff at Kilnsea came through. We headed of through the sun drenched city of Hull on our first trip of the year to the Spurn area. In the Crown & Anchor ca...
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David Ousey
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0
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139
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Bluethroat, Woodlark & a naked man. Sunday 26th March 2017
(Preview)
A long staying Bluethroat, at a very remote Lincolnshire fen, had been giving birders / photographers amazing views, so a trip was organised. We met in Newhey and with Steve B at the wheel, myself Bob K & Chris B, set off for Willow Tree Fen N.R. at 6am. The promise of a sunny day was very much in eviden...
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David Ousey
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1
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154
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Birkdale, Lancashire 19/3 & Cheshire rain 22/3/2017
(Preview)
As I watched the rain splashing against the windows at home last Sunday morning, I casually looked at the BBC Weather news. It was sunny in the Southport area, so, I decided to have a look at the 6 Cattle Egrets that have been in the Birkdale area for some time. As there were no takers to accompany me I...
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David Ousey
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0
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132
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Black Grouse & Anglesey 12/3/2017
(Preview)
A nice trip to the principality to see some birds that, sadly we dont get to see very often, which is a good enough excuse to visit Wales. We met in Norden at 6am with myself, Steve & Chris Brown with Chris driving. There was a feel of spring in the air as we gained height towards World`s End, we were...
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David Ousey
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0
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137
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Once Bittern Twice Shy
(Preview)
A Bittern has been showing very well at Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve run by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Mere Sands Wood has been a hot spot for wintering Bitterns and decent photographs. I believe this year it has been the best for a long time. I think the number of sights with wintering Bittern...
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sarfraz
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117
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Hartlepool & Teesside. 5/3/2017
(Preview)
A hurried decision to go with the lads from York, Nige S & Mark K was fully justified with a really good days birding. We met in York and with Mark driving, we were soon at Ward Jackson Park in Hartlepool. A couple of Ring Necked Parakeet`s gave excellent close up views on a sunny but cold morning....
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David Ousey
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2
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127
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Yorkshire Coast & Dunnington (Hagg Wood). 26/2/2017
(Preview)
A good day out with Mark K and Nige S from York and apart from an early communications problem, a memorable one. We met in York at 8am and headed off towards Wykeham Lakes with Nige S driving. The possibility of seeing Egyptian Geese at Wykeham spurred us on as we traversed a bumpy, muddy track to a g...
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David Ousey
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0
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125
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The Dunnington (York) Pine Bunting. 25/2/2017
(Preview)
A Pine Bunting was found in Dunnington near York last week. It associated itself with a large flock of finches (Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Brambling and Tree Sparrow) A few of our friends from the York area had really struggled to see the bird but, as the flock was being fed in a couple of area`s an...
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David Ousey
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0
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101
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Northumberland & East Coast. 19/2/2017
(Preview)
With two of the A team needing to see the Pacific Diver that has been present at East Chevington, Northumberland for a while and with the promise of fine weather, we arranged to go. We met in Newhey at 6am, a time that our driver Steve K seemed unfamiliar with having had to miss his regular large brea...
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David Ousey
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0
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96
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It Had to Happen. 12/2/2017
(Preview)
If you keep trying to do something without any joy, dont give up, stick at it and eventually you will succeed. Now that is one of my many profound statements which can really be applied to the A Teams effort`s to see the Red Breasted Goose near Pilling, Lancashire. We had originally planned to go to s...
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David Ousey
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96
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Goosed Again! 5/2/2017
(Preview)
The long staying Red Breasted Goose that has been in the Pilling area in Lancashire has been admired by visitors from far & wide, but not by any of the A Team. One of our members has already been twice without any luck. So it seemed right that as the bird has been in the same field for the last thre...
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David Ousey
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92
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WILD GOOSE CHASE 06/02/2017
(Preview)
Text message from Sarfraz Sunday evening, are you coming on a wild goose chase on Monday morning yes was the answer. Unfortunately it turned into one as the targeted species Red-breasted Goose and Lesser Snow Goose nowhere to be seen Not all was lost first stop Eagland Hill where Sarfraz had are fir...
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craggy
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2
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163
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Waxwings Worsthorne
(Preview)
After having a small dose of them in Rossendale but left wanting more Craggy and I decided to nip over to Worsthorne to see if some that had been around a week were still there. They were there indeed as predicted. Approx 50 of them but a few days back someone mentioned there were over 100. Luckily jus...
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sarfraz
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2
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141
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Lancashire winter birding. 22/1/2017
(Preview)
A Red breasted Goose had turned up in Norfolk with a large quantity of Pink footed Geese in December. It didnt stay long in Norfolk and was relocated in North Lancashire in the Cockerham area. Myself and Steve B decided to have a go at seeing it and left Rochdale at 7am on a cool morning. We called at Fishmo...
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David Ousey
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2
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113
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WORLD RECORD
(Preview)
http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/this-man-has-just-broken-the-record-for-most-bird-species-seen-in-a-year-2/
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brian
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1
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119
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Mud, mud glorious mud. Sunday 15th January
(Preview)
The possibility of going out birding this Sunday looked very slim with rain forecast for most of the day and with illness etc, we decided to give it a miss. Whilst I sat in my night attire, watching it rain and contemplating having to watch the millionaires of Manchester & Liverpool ballet tea...
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David Ousey
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93
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GM Day out. 8/1/2017
(Preview)
Me and Steve K decided on a leisurely, local trip to see what we could find. It was quite foggy in the Rochdale area and as we headed for Pennington Flash (via a new way brought on by myself not watching road signs) the fog did not seem to be lifting. Such birds like Long Tailed Duck, Cettis Warbler and as th...
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David Ousey
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0
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102
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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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123
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