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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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198
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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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194
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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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190
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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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169
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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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150
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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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189
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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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168
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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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170
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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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136
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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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154
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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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0
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131
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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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209
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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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184
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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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156
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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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159
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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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130
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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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142
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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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163
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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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182
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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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177
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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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154
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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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146
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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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128
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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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158
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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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174
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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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167
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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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158
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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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125
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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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132
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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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176
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