learn, laugh, live
And so to our last regular meeting of the season – seemingly such an industrial site in the docklands of Liverpool and with an appropriate level of security However our members were in for a pleasant surprise. Although the habitat was in places marginal, with the barest covering of green and with quite a derelict …
After some scenic detours around the back streets of Hanley, the group finally arrived at Carsington Water. The first sighting at the Visitor Centre was a Pied Wagtail on the roof. There were Chaffinches and Goldfinches on the ground and around the feeders. Shelduck, Coots and Tufted Ducks were visible on the water. The comfortable …
Four car-loads of birdwatchers turned up at the car park at Belvide Reservoir, just off the A5 near Brewood, Staffs. Belvide is a canal feeder reservoir and is fairly small at 182 acres, allowing good close range views. As we pulled on boots we started our list with Song Thrush and Pheasant in the car …
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 …