Author Archives: Sabena Blackbird

Today the MNA coach trip visited another new venue Hutton Roof which has some of the best areas of limestone pavement in Britain We initially planned to visit this Cumbria Wildlife Trust Reserve last summer but a coach breakdown made … Continue reading →

  The two Dave’s, Ron Crosby, Chris Butterworth and I headed over to Acrefair near Wrexham, Wales for the day. After alighting in the village we walked up Chapel Street through a small housing estate and continued along a country-lane … Continue reading →

  Today’s coach trip was to a new location for the MNA – the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve Wheldrake Ings and adjacent Natural England Reserve Bank Island in the heart of the Lower Derwent Valley. These 390 acres of flood … Continue reading →

At last, a fine bright sunny day for a visit to Ness Gardens! As well as enjoying the fine collection of plants on display there was plenty wildlife to be seen. Growing broods of chicks were keeping the Blackbirds, Robins, … Continue reading →

  Our last MNA coach trip to Cannock Chase was back in July 2009 so members were eager to return. A Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler burst into song from the car park bushes, heralding our arrival. We had a … Continue reading →

Today was our special event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the MNA. A packed coach explored sites in north Wales and Anglesey led by the guides Alan Davies and Ruth Miller, noted for their global bird trek “The Biggest … Continue reading →

Boisser’s Glory Of The Snow A dozen MNA members met at Lime St, catching the train to Newton-le-Willows then the 34 Arriva bus to Pennington Flash. A colourful show of spring flowers greeted us at the entrance to the Country … Continue reading →

Goldeneye are one of our well known ducks with individuals from Northern Europe visiting the UK to overwinter. They first nested in Scotland in the early 1970’s and thanks to the Speyside nest-box programme they have been attracted to nest … Continue reading →

An early start on this cold, bright and sunny morning with Mike Barrow at the wheel, Chris Derri, the two Daves and I headed up the M6 to Cumbria and our first destination Sizergh Castle. Our target bird was Hawfinch … Continue reading →

It was a dismal misty, drizzly and cold day for the joint MNA / Liverpool RSPB visit to Lake Vyrnwy.  A good turnout nonetheless with twenty people arriving in shared cars and a minibus driven by Chris Tynan. Our destination … Continue reading →