Weather was sunny but the odd breeze blew very cold.                    Marton Mere Blackpool, this reserve is a real gem.  Although it is squeezed for space by a large caravan park, it always attracts some wonderful birds.  The reserve is a mixture of habitats, from lake, reedbed, scrub and farmland. The place has changed since our first visit.  The hides used to be containers and the feeding station used to use old plastic milk bottles.  The weather was dry although the ground was very wet and that suited the woodcock that got disturbed.  The new feeding station is very nice and help us add some of the smaller birds.

The group then walked on to where the Long eared owls roost. The birds were only 20 foot from the path and we managed to count 4 of them in one tree.  The rest of the day was slightly disappointing as we failed to see Bittern, Cetti's Warbler. It was also decided to leave a bit earlier and have a look for a local Firecrest but we failed on that.  Who cares the Owls were the best!!

          Total  Species Seen   45  

Weather was mainly dry but overcast.

A fairly quiet but nevertheless rewarding day, but which had a rousing finale, with the sighting of a flock of 8 wonderful Tree Sparrows, a low flying Buzzard , plus a large mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwing.

          Total  Species Seen   33

                  Total  Species For Year 53

Weather was dry and mild.   

A very rewarding visit to one of our local woods. The main highlights, apart from the number of mischievous grey Squirrels and Wood pigeon seen, was undoubtedly the superb close up views of Goldcrest and Treecreeper.

  Total  Species Seen  19 

                    Total  Species For Year 57

 Leader: Eddie Seal 

The magnificent six braved the trip to Wales, which as the forecast foretold was indeed a very, very wet trip.  Before our hardy travellers decamped for steaming  Coffee and retail therapy at RSPB Conwy they managed to clock  Red Throated  Diver, Common Scoter and Little Grebe at  Llandulas Breakwater, Conwy... Llanddulas is known for  thousands of gulls that congregate at the river mouth following a feeding session at the local dump...except for today!  Conwy birds, that were not hunkered down hiding from the poor weather boasted, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Curlew, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Red breasted Merganser, Water Rail, Coot, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Black headed Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull and Herring Gull

Total  Species Seen   21

                  Total  Species For Year 67

Weather:  Dry & Bright.

A joint trip with the MNA, seventeen adventurers took an outing to a local venue on a rewarding very pleasant day. Main highlight was the sighting of 3 Sparrowhawks together, plus excellent sighting of Jay, Nuthatch and Turnstone amongst others. .

          Total  Species Seen   31

                  Total  Species For Year 69

MAMMALS: GREY SQUIRREL.                           OTHERS: PEACOCK BUTTERFLY

Site guide: Dibbinsdale & Eastham C.P

Weather  Dry & Bright.

A pleasant walk through one of Liverpool's major parks. After a mediocre start, a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by gulls started the ball rolling, followed by excellent sightings of Nuthatch, and to round off good views of Gt Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest.

          Total  Species Seen   28

                  Total  Species For Year 69

  MAMMALS: GREY SQUIRREL.

Weather:  Sunny  & Warm.

A rewarding visit to a  local area of varied habitat so close to Liverpool. Soon after starting we sighted a popular summer visitor, the House Martin, and en route had excellent sightings of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Willow Warbler amongst others. However, compared to the thousands of punters at Aintree still waiting for their horse to find the finishing post, our meeting ended on a high with the close up sighting of another popular visitor, namely  the Swallow.

          Total  Species Seen   36

                  Total  Species For Year 75

MAMMALS: RABBIT

Weather:  Mostly Dry & Bright, few Showers later.

A visit to the highest point on Merseyside, Billinge Hill, and the surrounding area of farmland and woodland, provided the venue for a rewarding day out. Thus hi- lighting again what can be found on our doorstop. A good variety of species were seen, but probably Yellowhammer, Skylark and Great Spotted Woodpecker were the main stars of the day.  After several hrs walking Coffee, cake, tea and scones were a close runner up, enjoyed at the Cafe at the Fir tree farm plantation - an  newly planted woodland area of great promise. 

          Total  Species Seen  38 

                  Total  Species For Year 77

MAMMALS: GREY SQUIRREL

OTHERS:  BUTTERFLIES - PEACOCK,  WALL BROWN, GREEN VEIN WHITE.

Weather:  Mostly Dry 

          Total  Species Seen  28 

                      Total  Species For Year 81

Weather  Dry but overcast.

A very rewarding visit to North Wales. An excellent start seeing Dipper returning with food to it's nest, followed by good sightings of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, and Raven. A Fulmar was the highlight of the afternoon session, along with the sighting of 3 different species of tit at the same time.

          Total  Species Seen   40

      Total  Species For Year 87

Weather:  Mainly Dry & Bright.

Due to recent  wet weather - yes you would never think it was high summer, a walk in the woods was too muddy to contemplate, so the gang walked the canal towpath to Appley Bridge. A quiet but nevertheless rewarding outing. Great sightings were had of a colourful Yellowhammer singing his heart out from his favourite perch (same place on the walk back) and a stunning Kestrel perched on a dead tree across the canal. The main highlight of the day though  was  watching Sand Martins utilising an old drainage pipe in the retaining wall of the canal, as a nest site.

By the way canal cruises can be boarded at the Waters Edge Pub,  Appley Bridge, and the pub has an outside seating area overlooking the canal - nice meals!

   Total  Species Seen  25 

                  Total  Species For Year 89

MAMMALS: 

OTHERS:  BUTTERFLIES - GATEKEEPER,  MEADOW BROWN, GREEN VEIN WHITE, SMALL TORTOISESHELL, BANDED DAMOISELLE