[Goldfinch12]

Hi, :)

I'm 13 and getting more and more interested in birds and wildlife. I've been interested for a couple of years now but now am getting more interested.
I'm hoping people here can give me good advice? I'm looking for good starting points and places to look (Near liverpool and merseyside).

I'm getting more interested in more rare birds aswell after when i was in scotland a week or so ago i saw a smew at RSPB Lochwinnoch. :)

I like watching the visitors in the garden such as the Blue tits, Great tits, Greenfinches, Long tailed tits, Goldfinches and the Robins that could possibly be nesting at the bottom of the garden. :)

Thanks :)

[birding maniac]

Hi, Welcome to Birdforum!
If you havent already found it the Young Birders pages is brilliant, as is the YB facebook group if you have facebook. Ill link you a link to Young birders page.

[birding maniac]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....45989&page=276
Theres a few young birders (officially 13-21) on here, so they should respond soon too.
Michael (15)

[Goldfinch12]

Thanks :)

[Goldfinch12]

Still can't find the Young Birders page. Where is it?

[birding maniac]

The facebook or birdforum? the birforum is the one linked.
If you go forums-Birds and Birding youll find it.
Michael

[Goldfinch12]

I couldn't find both actually. I've found the BirdForum now but not the facebook.

[birding maniac]

I've sent a PM about it

[knotsbirder]

Believe the Facebook groups secret, so you'll have to add someone in it to gain access..... However, Jonathon Scragg (Jonny 721) lives in that general area (Blackpool) so should be able to advise

Edit: yes it is.

Sam (14)

[Goldfinch12]

Thanks again. :)

[birding maniac]

Basically what Sam has said Re the group, it is impossible to find, so you need to be added if that makes sense

[Goldfinch12]

Ok, so is there anyone who can add me?

[KCFoggin]

Okay, when you make a post in that thread, click on "go advanced" at the bottom of the quick reply. Make your post but then scroll down on that page a bit where you will be given a drop down giving you the choice of "thread subscription" click on that drop down and click on "instant email notification". This way anytime there is any activity on that thread you will be notified by email and given a link to that thread. Okay?

Or, you can make a post in that thread now and then I will go and subscribe you to it.

[Jonny721]

Originally Posted by KCFoggin

Okay, when you make a post in that thread, click on "go advanced" at the bottom of the quick reply. Make your post but then scroll down on that page a bit where you will be given a drop down giving you the choice of "thread subscription" click on that drop down and click on "instant email notification". This way anytime there is any activity on that thread you will be notified by email and given a link to that thread. Okay?

Or, you can make a post in that thread now and then I will go and subscribe you to it.

I think he was talking about the Facebook group rather than the Young Birders thread

Goldfinch if you PM me a link to your facebook profile I will add u to the group on there

[Goldfinch12]

Ok i have PM a link.

[Cheshire Birder]

Try the Cheshire thread here - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=119717. Also on Facebook there is a Northwest Birding page.

CB

[JamesA]

I did a lot of my "early" birding based in Liverpool, without a car. Loads of great places on the Wirral and up towards Southport easily accessible from the train, if you're willing to put in a bit of legwork!

[Goldfinch12]

Yes I visit Marshside quite a lot.

[bartolli]

Loads of places on wirral well worth visiting, not sure about the public transport situation tho! Yr local rspb group prob do various outings, check the rspb site out. May be worth considering using a pushbike plus train? Various sites mentioned on the wirral + cheshire thread, bmw/imf well worth the trip.

[Goldfinch12]

Can you suggest some?

[Cheshire Birder]

North Wirral Shore - try West Kirby, Hoylake, Red Rocks, New Brighton Marine Lake, Leasowe, Meols all along the coast basically!!

CB

[JamesA]

Originally Posted by Goldfinch12

Can you suggest some?

I'm sure the locals can tell you better but I used to do a circular route from Hoylake Station. Walked to Hilbre Point, poked around there for a bit before heading down the coast to West Kirby marine lake. Kept on going past the lake and then cut up through the houses to Caldy/Stapledon Woods. Walk around there for a bit, then I'd come back through the town to Gilroy Nature Park (does that flooded field still exist there?) and across the fields to the industrial estate behind Hoylake Station and home. It was always best to do the bit along the coast early in the morning, before there were too many dog walkers...

Fortunately though, it's a great bit of coast and if you get a train to almost any station and walk you're bound to see something.

[chris butterworth]

Originally Posted by JamesA

...............Gilroy Nature Park (does that flooded field still exist there?) .

.... yes, and geting better all the time. All the sites on the North Wirral Shore are accessible by train, or you could get the 347 from Liverpool to West Kirby and ask the driver to tell you when you get to Coronation Buildings / Gilroy Road, cross over the road and go down Gilroy Road until you come to the 5 barred gate ( entrance to Gilroy NP and Hoylake Langfields ), then walk over to Hoylake ( Stanley Road is the best entrance to Red Rocks ).

Chris

[Goldfinch12]

Thanks, I'm hoping to go across to the wirral next weekend.

[JamesA]

Originally Posted by chris butterworth

.... yes, and geting better all the time.

Glad to hear that - thought I'd read somewhere it was going to be drained. Loads of great memories of birding around there, so many life ticks on those trips. Good stuff.