learn, laugh, live
Eleven intrepid birders gathered at Marbury Country Park car park just four days before Christmas, to inspect the bird population of the park, and then to inspect the Christmas menu at the “Spinner and Bergamot” at lunchtime (where we were joined by another 3!) The day was cold, grey but rainless, so we were able …
…could well become the phrase to denote a trip to the new RSPB reserve of Burton Mere Wetlands. Across the marsh from the old hide at Inner Marsh Farm, the new visitor centre permits a raised view across the marsh, lagoons and scrapes created from a former fishery. 14 Sandbach U3A birdwatchers made the trip …
Our first outing of the 2011/12 season was to the Wirral coast on 21st Sept 2011, hoping to catch some waders, some late summer leavers and some early winter arrivals. We made our first stop Thurstaston Country Park, starting at the visitor centre there. A Buzzard kicked the list off, soaring high above the car …
Between the heavy showers 14 birdwatchers gathered in Sandbach for the visit to Brockholes, just off Junction 31 of the M6 at Preston. The forecast had promised that the rain would finish by 1000, but proved as unreliable as usual, although it did turn cold as promised. While waiting in the car park at Brockholes …
A damp morning at RSPB Coombs Valley led to a warbler morning. But the foliage in full leaf meant that it was time to put our hearing to best use. With one of the wardens to help us it wasn’t quite as difficult as feared, and Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat were …
Continue reading “Coombs Valley & Westport Lake Report – 18 May 2011”
Eight birdwatchers set off from Sandbach on a brisk beautiful spring morning, which matured into a warm almost early summers’ day. A first, brief stop was made at Nantwich Lake to meet our ninth participant, and to juggle cars. We were soon speeding past Whitchurch and Ellesmere to Colemere, a fairly regular destination for Cheshire …
Sandbach U3A Birdwatchers took off on their second weekend trip with four nights in the bird-rich county of Norfolk. A dozen of us set off from Sandbach on the morning of 18 Mar 2011 heading across country towards East Anglia, where we had booked into a hotel on the north-west tip of Norfolk at Old …
A misty morning greeted us on our way to Park Hall, making navigation somewhat of a lottery for some of us. When found however, the feeding area near the visitor centre quickly drew attention. Up to three Willow Tits vied with Great, Blue and Coal Tits for the seed and nuts. Good numbers of Chaffinches …
Continue reading “Park Hall CP and Tittesworth Reservoir – 15 Feb 2011”
Nine of us gathered for the first outing of the year, and were joined by two more on arrival at Marshside. Although cold, the weather was kind to us. Pink-footed Geese greeted our arrival in the car park, and our only Oystercatchers of the day were seen over the marsh heading west. It was high …
Our Christmas outing took place at our local venue, the Flashes. Usually handy to the White Lion for our Christmas lunch, roadworks put paid to that with a long detour later on. About ten of us gathered at 0900, a little later than usual to see what we could. I must admit that I had …