Author Archives: Sabena Blackbird

I’ve recently returned from a two-week jaunt around Costa Rica. A varied trip ranging from verdant tropical rainforest, volcanoes, sandy beaches and gentle waterways. Visited the famous National Parks of Tortuguero, Arenal, Manuel Antonio and Montervere Cloud-forest Reserve. Great wildlife … Continue reading →

The final MNA coach trip of 2011 with some members making their own journey to our destination, the RSPB Reserve at Leighton Moss. A quick nose around the feeders brought the usual Chaffinches, Greenfinches, a female Bullfinch, Blue, Great and … Continue reading →

Joined the Liverpool Botanical Society Fungal Foray around Freshfield Dune Heath and along the Old Fisherman’s Path. Notables during the walk included:- Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa – a pale rubbery bracket on tree stumps. On close examination the upper side … Continue reading →

A dozen MNA members turned out for our visit to Neumann’s and Ashton’s Flash near Northwich. We took one of the well marked trails on a circular path around Neumann’s stopping off at the hides en route. Great numbers of … Continue reading →

Nearly a full coach for the MNA visit to Old Moor RSPB Reserve located in the DearneValley close to Barnsley, Yorkshire.The feeding station adjacent to the visitor centre was doing good business with Greenfinches, Chaffinches, a female Bullfinch feeding her … Continue reading →

Just returned from a hectic 3 week trip to Indonesia visiting Sumatra, Java and Bali. Here’s a few pics of the wildlife I encountered during the journey. Mating Black–spined Toads Duttaphrynus melanostictus Buffy Fish–owl Ketupa ketupu Sumatran Orangutan Pongo abelii Crab-eating … Continue reading →

Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve is about 100 acres in size and occupies a 3.3 mile stretch of the disused Tebay to Darlington railway line. It is maintained by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and has been designated as a Site … Continue reading →

A friend from the Netherlands visited South Walney Reserve last week. From the MNA visit in May amid dive-bombing gulls protecting their newly laid eggs there has been a sorry outcome 🙁 “We were here last week and had an awful shock, … Continue reading →

English Stonecrop Waterfall On the Afon Llafar   Lichen – Rhizocarpon species Female Wolf Spider Pardosa sp. carrying egg sac Common Green Grasshopper Omocestus viridulus Barbara On Wooden Stile Harry’s Sheep Skull Dor Beetle The Scenery 🙂

I had a visit over to the University Of Liverpool’s Ness Botanical Gardens on the Wirral. As well as being packed with traditional and rare garden plants it also has a number of wildflowers. A wildflower meadow area had been created which … Continue reading →