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Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt -18th -25th November 2013
(Preview)
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt -18th -25th November 2013by David Ousey (david.ousey @ yahoo.com)Hotel Royal Albatros Modena, Nabq, Sharm el Sheikh After enjoying last years holiday in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt, we decided to go again and avoid the English climate. The 5 1/2 hour flight from Manchester and t...
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David Ousey
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302
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Marshside "BAIKAL" 30th Nov 2013
(Preview)
A couple of hours at Marshside this afternoon to have a look at any Peregrine, Merlin and Harriers turned into a memorable days birding !!! Straight after pulling up at the 1st gateway on the "Marine Drive", getting the scope out to scan the close-up wildfowl flock on the saltmarsh scrape a...
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C Bel
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3
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690
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A Tale of Two Greens
(Preview)
I had to make a work-related trip to London and with a few hours to spare I decided to visit the London Wetland Centre. For those who have not been it is a big nature reserve run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) in one of the biggest cities in the world. From Euston I got a tube to Green Park and then t...
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sarfraz
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292
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Dee Estuary, Parkgate, Wirral
(Preview)
13:00-15:00 Cormorant, c200 stood on sandbanks in the estuary, Grey Heron, 2, Little Egret, c10, Pink Footed Goose, c500, Teal, c500, Shoveler, pair, Buzzard, c6 on the drive in, Peregrine, 3 perched birds with one eventually taking flight over the estuary, Merlin, 1 perched female, Hen Harrier,...
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David Nuttall
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278
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Southport, 17th Nov 2013
(Preview)
12:00-14:00 Grey Heron, 1, Little Egret, c8 on the marshes and 11 later at roost on Marine Lake, Mute Swan, c12, Ross' Goose, 1 with Grey Lags, Grey Lag Goose, c60, Pink Footed Goose, c1000, Canada Goose, c200, Barnacle Goose, 1 with Pink Feet, Teal, c1000, Mallard, c200. Wigeon, c2000, Shoveler, c4...
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David Nuttall
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265
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Yorkshire Coast, 28-30th Oct 2013
(Preview)
we had a few days in Scarborough last week with the following sightings between the Ice Creams! R.T.Diver, c10 especially at Flamborough Head, Slavonian Grebe, 1 on Hornsea Mere, Whooper Swan, herds of 4 & 2 in off the sea, Goshawk, pair at Wykeham, Red Kite, 1 near Harrogate on the way over, Pereg...
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David Nuttall
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297
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Hartlepool Hat trick. 20/10/2013
(Preview)
Press ? for Keyboard Shortcuts. Hartlepool Hat-Trick. 20/10/2013 The town of Hartlepool has got a good reputation for attracting rare birds, White-throated Robin & Western Orphean Warbler of recent times. So, when 3 rare birds were seen on Saturday we got a trip up ther...
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David Ousey
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280
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SPURN TRIP 4/6th October 2013
(Preview)
Our annual trip came around again and it did not disappoint. There were new birds for the year, a twitch, sunny weather and finally a loss which has become a found! Me and Bob K left Rochdale early in dreadful weather on Friday and it looked good for, bad weather,good birds etc. By Hull the rain had s...
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David Ousey
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332
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Glossy Ibis, Horwich Moors
(Preview)
Finally caught up with them. A must see. Coming up to a few metres away. Some have had them a few yards away. These rare visitors are giving very good close views. They can move around so d keep a track on their whereabouts on the forums.
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sarfraz
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320
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Redisher Woods /Moorbottom Road and Holcombe Moor 24/09/2013
(Preview)
Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Curlew 1 Meadow Pipits large numbers in small flocks on Holcombe moor Sparrowhawk heard Pheasants heard Green Woodpecker heard Goldfinch in ones and two's Magpie 6 and 7 in flocks 5 flocks seen Cheers Craggy
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craggy
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280
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Cathedral in the mist. 22/9/2013
(Preview)
We had planned to go to Hilbre Island on the Wirral, but, the winds did not look very promising, so, we decided to go to find the Blue winged Teal's in Lincoln. A fully employed "A" team met in Newhey for a 6am departure with Bob K at the wheel. My idea of a shortcut over the tops turned into a bit of...
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David Ousey
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344
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Darwen 23/09/2013
(Preview)
Sunny Hurst Woods to Jubilee Tower around Darwen Hill Willow Warbler 2 Chiffchaff in song House Martin and Swallow mix 40 to 50 in one group Stonechat 8 Goldfinch in two flocks of 30 and 20 Chaffinch 10 Meadow pipit lots in groups 6 to 10 Coal tit 4 Sparrow Hawk 1 having a go at the goldfinch Red Grouse 5 w...
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craggy
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296
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An Italian in Norfolk 6/9/13
(Preview)
Whilst searching through a few websites, about birding, I noticed that Lee Evans considers the Italian Sparrow as a full species. Quite a bit of science has been applied to this and it appears in the second edition of the Collins guide. So that when an apparent, Italian Sparrow, turned up in Norfolk, I...
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David Ousey
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1
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341
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Salgados Lagoon, Nr Albufeira, Portugal, 26th Aug 2013
(Preview)
10:00-13:00 I managed to spend 3 hours or so on this super reserve which is a coastal lagoon a short bus ride from the hustle of Albufeira. It produced some great sightings for me including Greater Flamingo which was a new species personally. Most of the waders were in a shallow bay on the north side of t...
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David Nuttall
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7
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419
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Bempton amd Flamborough mid-June
(Preview)
I have always wanted to visit Bempton Cliffs but never got the chance but I wanted that to change in 2013. I had set a plan of visiting Bempton and Flamborough for the day, then in the late afternoon driving to some point in Wykenham Forest for the night to see if we could spot Nightjars. During the day we...
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sarfraz
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6
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441
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It ain't half hot in Yorkshire 14/7/13
(Preview)
With Bob K making a shed and trying to earn "browny" points the other four members of the A Team headed for the hills of Yorkshire. The weather over the last couple of weeks had been like traditional summers were, hot! The plan was to search the hills for Ring Ouzel a species that has eluded u...
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David Ousey
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293
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Dusky Thrush at Margate Cemetery 18/5/2013
(Preview)
Rising at a respectable 8-00am on Saturday morning and having lots of "chores" to do, I thought I would check the bird news. Nothing could prepare me for what I read,"female Dusky Thrush in Margate Cemetery and showing well". Morphing into, "Twitcherman". I...
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David Ousey
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5
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387
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Formby - early June
(Preview)
A warm early June day, no work so a day trip to Formby was the right answer. Arriving at Formby I take a slightly wrong turn and find myself at the Lifeboat Road Nature Reserve. Greeted by an annoyed Blackbird I took a little walk around and realise it was the wrong area. It was as beautiful but not as e...
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sarfraz
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390
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Anglesey, at last! 29/6/2013
(Preview)
Well two weeks ago we had planned our annual trip to Anglesey, but, a certain Pacific Swift diverted us from going, so this Saturday the three elders of our group made the trip with Bob K driving. An early start was needed as a few stops had been planned so we left Rochdale at 6am. First stop was Holyhead h...
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David Ousey
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4
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318
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Southern Spain 3rd to 10th June 2013
(Preview)
Southern Spain 3rd to 10th June 2013 Along with my wife and daughter we had a weeks holiday in Torremolinos,Spain staying at the Puente Real Hotel which is situated on the eastern end of town and just across from the beach.The hotel was a good family type hotel,excellent food and well set out.We hire...
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David Ousey
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3
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308
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Greenish by the greens. 13/6/2013
(Preview)
After a quick check on Rare Bird Alert on Thursday news of a Greenish Warbler in Lancashire. The bird had been found by the green keeper at Turton Golf Course near Edgworth. He had identified the bird from its unusual song, well done that man! Let our team know and arranged with Steve K to go.The conditio...
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David Ousey
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4
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300
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St Aidans
(Preview)
I visited the new RSPB reserve St Aidans today near Swillington in Yorkshire. Today was the opening day and we decided to arrive early so we would not have to struggle parking. Arriving at 9.20am there were just 4-5 cars parked and there appeared more staff and volunteers than visitors. Although...
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sarfraz
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4
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381
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Pacific Swift present on Father's Day 16/6/2013
(Preview)
At 10-30am last Saturday morning I checked the rare bird news and the message, "Pacific Swift at Trimley St Mary's, Suffolk and showing well", had all kind of emotions running around in lots of fellow birders brains. The memory of my bachelor night in Cley in 1993 over the Friday & Satu...
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David Ousey
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260
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Bolton Abbey Monday June 4th
(Preview)
I decided to go to Bolton Abbey as another birder recommended that it was a good place for Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler - the famous Oakwood trio. Having scoured the internet Whinchat were around as well as Cuckoo in the past few years. It was an exciting day and a good mix of history, c...
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sarfraz
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284
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Scotland, 27th-30th May 2013
(Preview)
A family holiday really but with so many birding opportunities the following highlights were observed: B.T.Diver, 1 on Lochindorb & 1 on the sea at St. Cyrus, R.T.Diver, 1 at St. Cyrus, Slavonian Grebe, at least 4 pairs at Loch Ruthven, Gannet, c40 passed Fowlsheugh, Greylag Goose, c100, Red Br...
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David Nuttall
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252
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West Yorks Moors 31st May 2013.
(Preview)
Just over the border into W Yorks. Female Montagu`s Harrier heading north over moorland during late morning. Good views. Craig.
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C Bel
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244
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Rock Thrush at Spurn 25/4/2013
(Preview)
Whilst at work in the morning , I got a text from Steve K saying," Rock Thrush at Spurn,female". He did not know that I needed that species, so when I replied saying, "Do you want to go now, as I will be going now"he was lost for words.No other replies came from our usual team members t...
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David Ousey
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288
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22 hours to Norfolk 25/5/2013
(Preview)
Not quite the words from the famous song, but it was that time of year again to undergo our, "nearly a day trip" to Norfolk. Only three brave souls aboard this year with Steve K driving, Chris B and myself leaving Newhey at 11-30pm. We reached our first stop, Dersingham Bog, near Sandringham...
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David Ousey
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2
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339
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Leighton Moss 19-5-2013
(Preview)
Arrived at Leighton Moss by 9.50am and straight to Lillians hide where a crowd was stood up frantically looking for some creature in the distance. I was excited and expected Garganey but Otter came the reply. However, it had gone and then the crowd vanished also. I was sat for 10 minutes looking at...
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sarfraz
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369
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Spurn Point 5th May 2013
(Preview)
Like an early start but a mattress attached to my back held up proceedings. Arrived and wandered around the triangle where plenty of Common Whitethroat and one lesser Whitethroat gave good views with the odd Sedge thrown in. On to the canal scrape where I was glad Mandy pulled me into as Common Sandpip...
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Ste Rush
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