A blog and photo journal about the natural history of north-west England and beyond
Few Flowered Leek Despite looking like the picture of innocence this member of the onion family is the latest invasive species to arrive within the Stenner Wood site of biological interest. Further north its proved capable of spreading extremely quickly and outcompeting our Read More …
A quick round-up from the last few days of April and the arrival of a couple of Summer migrants. Male Blackcap Nevermind the swallows the song of the male Blackcap is one of the first signs of summer arriving. This year the late Spring Read More …
Highlights from another trip to the coast – the RSPB reserve at Marshside just north of Southport. Plenty of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits with circa 150 Wigeon hanging on for a change in the weather before moving north. Also a Spoonbill and several Snipe around. Read More …
Rose-ringed Parakeet in Didsbury. One of at least 3 pairs breeding in the local park (and another dodgy digiscoped effort). Although technically feral they seem to have found a niche in south Manchester and the population is now circa 30 birds. One of the Read More …
A few highlights from a quick visit to the Lancashire Wildlife Trusts Meresands Wood reserve. Always well worth a visit despite attracting a lot of dog walkers. In addition to birds also very good for mammals with most of the more common bats, Foxes, Stoats Read More …
Avocets at Leighton Moss (a rare digiscoped effort). The end of March and locally we’re still awaiting the arrival of the first summer migrants. The closet we’ve had is a male Stonechat at Millgate Fields but this was a case of passing through rather Read More …
Blackthorn coming into flower at Millgate Fields, Didsbury. One of the favourite spots for Bullfinch. Unfortunately contractors working on behalf of Manchester City Council have since pruned it all back to allow for “access improvements.” Also known as putting in a gravel footpath. Something Read More …
Highlights from an unexpected trip to the RSPB Burton Mere Reserve on the Dee estuary. Initially we were planning on collecting a new tent from Go Outdoors in Chester but after being let down by their reserve and collect system we decided to have a Read More …
A few highlights from a grand day out at Morecambe Bay and the Trough of Bowland. There’s nothing quite like watching 4 Barn Owls hunting over the mosses in late afternoon. Fortunately along the coastal marshes of Morecambe Bay they’re still relatively common. Apparently there’s Read More …
