About Graham Clarkson

Born & brought up in Marshside, I started birding there in the mid 1970s & made my first birding trip to Martin Mere in 1977. I've lived, worked & birdied in Abu Dhabi, Northern Ireland & Gloucestershire & I've spent time working in Kazakhstan & Madagascar. I enjoy birding my various West Lancashire patches, making frequent birding visits throughout the north-west of England and North Wales. I stray elsewhere in the UK & enjoy birding abroad from time to time. I'm particularly interested in wildfowl (especially pink-footed geese) with an interest in waders & raptors, bird counts & surveys & conservation. I'm trying to get the hang of photography & digiscoping - I'll get there eventually.

My degree from Edge Hill University is in conservation biology. I've guided on numerous birding days out & trips & guided birding holidays to Lesvos, Andalucia, Extremedura, Majorca, Camargue, Hungary, Finland & Florida. I enjoy showing people birds & habitats & helping them learn more about birds & enjoy birding. I'm currently involved with the Birdwatching and Beyond course at Edge Hill and a brand new venture; Skein Birding.

As well as birding I'm interested in captive breeding & reintroduction projects & zoos, how they're managed & how they contribute to conservation. I'm a proud Lancastrian & love the Lancashire countryside & landscapes. I'm an Evertonian & also keep up with what's happening at Southport, PNE & Bristol Rovers. Gardening, dogs (I have a Labrador & a Tibetan Terrier) and keeping chickens (especially Marsh Daisys & Scots Dumpy Bantams). Ruth & I have two marvellous boys who both love nature too. I hope you find the blog and subjects covered interesting; please feel free to leave a comment.

Saturday 15 September 2012

Big Green Bus

Didn't really do any proper birding today but did manage to get out and about. First adventure was out walking the dog early doors. I could hear lots of pink-feet from the house and we walked the short distance to Crabtree Lane where they were feeding. Half an hour spent stood behind a beech hedge next to the level crossing was worthwhile, I managed to get a fairly accurate count; 7300. A shame I didn't have my scope and camera. All credit to the dog for staying still while I counted the geese.

The second adventure of the day was a free a bus trip from Burscough to Mere Sands Wood (stopping at Martin Mere, Windmill Farm and Homestead farm). It was great! All four of us on a lovely, green, old double decker and a smashing welcome when we got to Mere Sands Wood; the Lancashire Wildlife Trust had laid on free pond dipping, which Jacob and Samuel really enjoyed.






Pink-footed Geese over Martin Mere (above) and Mere Sands Wood (below) today
 

Water Boateman at Mere Sands Wood
Jacob enjoying a bit of pond life ID at Mere Sands Wood

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