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Yorkshire Birding (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Hotspur
- Start date
BirdFlower
Always more to learn
2 weeks ago, it was a female showing occasionally. Not as easy to spot as a signing male bird
Went to Potteric Carr today to pay my YWT subs and have a brief walk around the place. Not much around as it was bitter cold, like a prat I'd left my woolly hat behind so my ears were like ice blocks by the time I got back to the car.
I did manage a few good birds though, starting at Oakwood traffic lights in Leeds, were there were at least 30 pied wagtails feeding in amongst the leaf litter, and a very obliging jay that swooped down just before the lights changed. The red kite at Seacroft was on top form, it didn't seem to realise that the wind was blowing a gale and just nonchalantly glided across the open ground as though it was a balmy summers day. Notched up 4 kestrels by the A1 between Leeds and the M18 which was one of the best counts for an awful long time.
The reserve was very quiet, best bird was the female sparrowhawk that flew low across the pool at Piper Marsh hide, why do I not have the camera with me when those things happen. Did most of my birding by ear though, good counts of wren and blackbird, and I did find 2 pairs of bullfinches on call alone. The water rail at the feeding station performed well, although the fighting moorhens kept spooking it. Called in at the Cafe and the bacon butties are on top form. Final bird of the day was siskin, 3 feeding at the top of a tree across the water near to Decoy Marsh hide.
I did manage a few good birds though, starting at Oakwood traffic lights in Leeds, were there were at least 30 pied wagtails feeding in amongst the leaf litter, and a very obliging jay that swooped down just before the lights changed. The red kite at Seacroft was on top form, it didn't seem to realise that the wind was blowing a gale and just nonchalantly glided across the open ground as though it was a balmy summers day. Notched up 4 kestrels by the A1 between Leeds and the M18 which was one of the best counts for an awful long time.
The reserve was very quiet, best bird was the female sparrowhawk that flew low across the pool at Piper Marsh hide, why do I not have the camera with me when those things happen. Did most of my birding by ear though, good counts of wren and blackbird, and I did find 2 pairs of bullfinches on call alone. The water rail at the feeding station performed well, although the fighting moorhens kept spooking it. Called in at the Cafe and the bacon butties are on top form. Final bird of the day was siskin, 3 feeding at the top of a tree across the water near to Decoy Marsh hide.
northernloon
swimming in a virtual sea
yeah Ken, I had 3 birds I think it was, on the commute between Castleford and home about 2 months ago, again that was the best count I'd had for ages.
It was very much a spur of the moment thing this morning going to Potteric... I was staying in until the tiler started with the saw cutting the tiles, that high pitched whine was too much like a dentist's drill for me.
It was very much a spur of the moment thing this morning going to Potteric... I was staying in until the tiler started with the saw cutting the tiles, that high pitched whine was too much like a dentist's drill for me.
Duckwoman
fledging new birdwatchers every year
Hi Helen - I completely agree with you about the time of year. I walked into work this morning with an icy breeze in my face all the way. Got a few pied wags and long-tailed tits, a great spotted woodpecker flew over my head from woodhouse moor and found a goldcrest in a mixed flock of tits near the student medical centre on Back Woodhouse Lane. When I got into work all my colleagues were moaning about the weather. Their loss!
northernloon
swimming in a virtual sea
Birdguides reported Waxwing in Headingley today. Anyone got further details?
Cheers for that James, I'm going to have a pop at the RL next Wednesday hopefully.
BTW Ken if I'm going you'll have a seat in the car.
BTW Ken if I'm going you'll have a seat in the car.
James Thomas
Well-known member
Pre season training started already?
Oh boy Jim, started on the Christmas Cracker jokes already?:-O
northernloon
swimming in a virtual sea
Thanks Keith, definitely interested in next Wednesday.
Strong north-easterlies forecast from Saturday onwards. Who knows what might turn up on the coast?
Strong north-easterlies forecast from Saturday onwards. Who knows what might turn up on the coast?
Duckwoman
fledging new birdwatchers every year
The details were that they flew over Moor Road in Far Headingley but I was home too late to go look.
Managed to catch up with around 200 waxwings on Leeds Road, Bradford today. Very easy to find opposite Yorkshire Bank on junction of Leeds Road and Killinghall Road. I also went to Pugneys for the LT duck and to Anglers for the GN diver. Both showing well. No sign of the Bewicks there though. Luckily, I managed to stay dry all day.
naturenorth
Well-known member
Anyone know if the Grey Phalarope at Cononley near Skipton is still about? Might be off to see The Pied-billed Grebe tomorrow and I was thinking about a detour?
Had a nice interlude to the working day this afternoon when a flock of about 15 Waxwings landed in the trees outside my office window in Horsforth. Hung around in the trees for about 20 minutes.
Pity it was really murky & misty, I could have been tempted to have had a break & gone out with my camera!!
Richard
Pity it was really murky & misty, I could have been tempted to have had a break & gone out with my camera!!
Richard
vwxyzen
swillybirder
I've just seen the photos of the female Long-tailed Duck at Pugneys on birdguides-
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?r=1&contid=39047&off=276412
Seems odd that it's got white scapulars, I thought this was a male thing?
Otherwise fine for a a female.
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?r=1&contid=39047&off=276412
Seems odd that it's got white scapulars, I thought this was a male thing?
Otherwise fine for a a female.
northernloon
swimming in a virtual sea
Anyone got any gen on the Desert Wheatear at Burniston? I'm gripped. Maybe it's the Northumberland bird moving south.
vwxyzen
swillybirder
first-winter male at dusk still, three fields north of seawatching hut at Long Nab TA025947. Strictly no access to farmer's fields, view only from the Cleveland Way
never mind this though, what about the long-tailed duck scapulars ?!!
schiffornis
AWBirder
Hi naturenorth
According to birdguides the Grey Phalarope was still present today:
"Still on small flash south of river Aire, at Bradley Ings, close to footpath SD998469"
As too was the Pied-billed Grebe (which didn't come on until late today, almost 3pm!)
"Still at the southeast end of the lake; park only in the Visitor Centre car park and walk southeast along Rakewood Road and take path to the bay before the hide"
Cheers Andy
joespy
Well-known member
Mmm..... interesting these pics of the RL. It's made me and 2 mates think again about the Buzzard we saw last Wed (17/11/10) as we were walking near the Chesterfield canal near Retford.. We were watching this pale faced/breasted ( couldn't see it's tail) bird walking around in the long grass.. we new it was a Buzzard but were surprised with it's colouring and the fact it was "searching/hunting" in the grass and thought ...that's different..! But not being top birders the idea of RL passed us by.......is there a chance it could have been...I know it's not much to go on and in that area.....? Cheers Joe :t::h?:
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