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.

Sunday 12 January 2014

Relaxed Saturday

No birding on Saturday due to the two Fs; Family and Football. 

Both the boys attend WLM Taekwhondo. Jacob is doing well, he's a green belt with blue stripe, whereas Samuel hasn't graded yet - he's only four.

 Samuel in his new uniform

Both boys had a good training session. Jacob and I sped off to Goodison afterwards. 

We always walk down Leighton St on the way to Goodison. It's now part of the pre fans ritual. Leighton Baines, Leighton Moss; it's all good. 

Jacob caught a T shirt, that they were firing into the crowd prematch. He donated it to me seeing as it's a men's XL. He caught two Everton mints too. He was happy enough even before kick-off, as were most of the crowd when Aiden McGeady was unveiled as the latest part of Roberto's blue revolution. 

I love Goodison with the floodlights on, it's a special atmosphere. 

The game itself was quality. Good, attacking, quick football from the Tofffees.  We should have scored more and Norwich could also have had at least one. However three points were well deserved. Barry and McCarthy were excellent in midfield and Stones class at the back. Barry's finish was explosive and the free kick Mirallas scored was simply sublime. Happy days at Goodison.  Long may it continue. 

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