Yorkshire Birding (12 Viewers)

[Lawts]

interesting bird..mealy probably..again!
Dfficulty at this site is staying on birds long enough to get all the views required.
Will keep trying as long as they are here...its not exactly a hardship...they r gorgeous birds!!

Doc, this is a good candidate for Arctic. The tones are right. It would have been interesting to see the rump on this bird.

However, .......Common Redpoll still for me based on the bill size. They have that cute stubby bill. Next time you are up there, hit this one front on with a cricket bat and you've got yourself an Arctic.

 

[schiffornis]

The final instalment of the Lower Derwent ringing recoveries, re-sightings and retrap information provided for World Wetland Day now on my blog and includes the first Fieldfare from the UK to be retrapped in the Czech Republic amongst other interesting records! Don't forget to check out the Natural England website for information on activities going on this weekend at Wheldrake.

Cheers, Andy

 

[DOC REED]

The final instalment of the Lower Derwent ringing recoveries, re-sightings and retrap information provided for World Wetland Day now on my blog and includes the first Fieldfare from the UK to be retrapped in the Czech Republic amongst other interesting records! Don't forget to check out the Natural England website for information on activities going on this weekend at Wheldrake.

Cheers, Andy

Hi Andy
do u know whats on exactly for the kids..and what ages might be suitable...don't want to impose my love of natural history on my 2., they already know I love birds/wildlife etc....

Is it going to be a day they won't forget etc???
Paul

 

[DOC REED]

Doc, this is a good candidate for Arctic. The tones are right. It would have been interesting to see the rump on this bird.

However, .......Common Redpoll still for me based on the bill size. They have that cute stubby bill. Next time you are up there, hit this one front on with a cricket bat and you've got yourself an Arctic.

Cheers Steve!

They r doing my head in!! As i'm sure u have guessed! Even Clare has me down as an addict! But..its rare to have unusual birds ..rarer still on local patch ! They r impossible to nail..flighty..whether down low, up high or on ground...

How about a concerted effort??
Tykes meet....one sat or sunday...big coverage?? Worse days of spending time.....

Just a thought!
Paul

 

[schiffornis]

Hi Andy
do u know whats on exactly for the kids..and what ages might be suitable...don't want to impose my love of natural history on my 2., they already know I love birds/wildlife etc....

Is it going to be a day they won't forget etc???
Paul

Hi Paul - the info I have is from the Natural England Website:

"Lower Derwent Valley NNR

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 February

10.30 - 3.00 pm both days

Meet local groups and charities who look after this beautiful wetland area and the surrounding countryside, watch the birds on the wetland and take part in the free family activities. For more information, please contact Kerry Netherway on 0300 060 4348

Meet at Bank Island Reserve Office, Wheldrake (SE 691447)".

Not sure how the weather is going to impact on the above (if at all). It may be best to give a call in the morning for further details

 

[DOC REED]

Hi Paul - the info I have is from the Natural England Website:

"Lower Derwent Valley NNR

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 February

10.30 - 3.00 pm both days

Meet local groups and charities who look after this beautiful wetland area and the surrounding countryside, watch the birds on the wetland and take part in the free family activities. For more information, please contact Kerry Netherway on 0300 060 4348

Meet at Bank Island Reserve Office, Wheldrake (SE 691447)".

Not sure how the weather is going to impact on the above (if at all). It may be best to give a call in the morning for further details

Cheers Andy

not sure re weather...sounds well rough outside..but I will be along with my nippers at some point to lend support!!

Paul

 

[DOC REED]

Doc, this is a good candidate for Arctic. The tones are right. It would have been interesting to see the rump on this bird.

However, .......Common Redpoll still for me based on the bill size. They have that cute stubby bill. Next time you are up there, hit this one front on with a cricket bat and you've got yourself an Arctic.

Lawts

I agree mealy(common) untill proven otherwise!! Given up on posting birds...have a couple of interesting shots of bird with pure white UTCs...but no rump shot!!! Doing my head in..as Clare said...addicted!!!

Its true..I need therapy...forum meet required..please no suggestions redhouse for redpolls...need SEOs ..or waders etc etc!!!!!

 

[BeadsbyClareScott]

re the Hawfinches @ Clumber Park... thinking of heading down there again this week.

Can I ask, for those that have seen them, what time in the morning have you seen them at?
I saw them very early on, I just fancied a bit longer in bed...

 

[Nickynak]

Great views of a Sparrowhawk in the back garden today, managed to get my parents to see it too! On a mission to see my first woodpecker from next week, am having a look round Burton Bushes and the Westwood (Beverley). Thanks to everybody giving me tips and advice a few weeks ago regarding finding the birds!

 

[Keith Dickinson]

The great spotted woodies are drumming in my area of Leeds at the moment so listen out there Nickynak you might just hear one before you see it.

 

[aythya_hybrid]

Hello. Plus Redpolls.

Greetings everyone, I'm a newcomer to this neck of the woods, having moved to Leeds late last year.

Today I managed to fit in my first birding trip in West Yorks, at Fairnburn Ings. Couldn't get over the numbers of tree sparrows and willow tits. Tremendous.

Anyway, late morning I was one of small group of birders scrutinising a sizeable flock of redpolls (I reckoned maybe 60-70) outside the village bay hide. There were quite a few really smart pale mealies, in fact I got the impression the flock seemed to be mostly mealy, but obviously hard to work out ratios. I very briefly got on one bird which I thought looked pretty good for arctic - markedly paler than the others and head and bill shape looked good - but it scarpered within seconds, and eventually the whole flock disappeared.

Slightly confused to read on birdguides that the earlier report of an artic from Fairnburn was with a flock of lessers, and the flock I and others were dealing with definitely had a sizeable number of mealies in with them. In any case, a really nice flock, just a pity the light was so bad. And Fairnburn is superb, will no doubt be heading down there regularly from now on....

Jonathan

 

[northernloon]

Hi Jonathan and welcome to Leeds. Sounds like you had a good day out at Fairburn. There several good sites in the area to choose from round and about Leeds. Swillington Ings in south Leeds, Golden Acre park in the north and many others.

Look forward to seeing you out and about

 

[DOC REED]

redpolls again!

Greetings everyone, I'm a newcomer to this neck of the woods, having moved to Leeds late last year.

Today I managed to fit in my first birding trip in West Yorks, at Fairnburn Ings. Couldn't get over the numbers of tree sparrows and willow tits. Tremendous.

Anyway, late morning I was one of small group of birders scrutinising a sizeable flock of redpolls (I reckoned maybe 60-70) outside the village bay hide. There were quite a few really smart pale mealies, in fact I got the impression the flock seemed to be mostly mealy, but obviously hard to work out ratios. I very briefly got on one bird which I thought looked pretty good for arctic - markedly paler than the others and head and bill shape looked good - but it scarpered within seconds, and eventually the whole flock disappeared.

Slightly confused to read on birdguides that the earlier report of an artic from Fairnburn was with a flock of lessers, and the flock I and others were dealing with definitely had a sizeable number of mealies in with them. In any case, a really nice flock, just a pity the light was so bad. And Fairnburn is superb, will no doubt be heading down there regularly from now on....

Jonathan

Welcome Jonathan!
Don't mention redpolls on this site...I am close to formal psychiatric order over the blighters!!

Paul

 

[schiffornis]

A good afternoon at Wheldrake today, highlight being an Iceland Gull, 2 'Greater' White-fronted Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese amongst loads of other waterfowl. Details on my blog.

Cheers, Andy

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Welcome Jonathan!
Don't mention redpolls on this site...I am close to formal psychiatric order over the blighters!!

Paul

Hi Jonathan... redpolls are a definite source of fun!
Can I big up Swillington Ings as a site equally as good as (if not better than) Fairburn Ings.
They have a pretty good gull roost, altho' check with me before going for the gull roost, 'cos if I'm going there'll be sod all there.
The Swillington Ings Bird Group site is HERE

 

[BeadsbyClareScott]

re the Hawfinches @ Clumber Park... thinking of heading down there again this week.

Can I ask, for those that have seen them, what time in the morning have you seen them at?
I saw them very early on, I just fancied a bit longer in bed...

bumping the hawfinch post....

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Claire I ain't seen the birds at Clumber but knowing hawfinches of old I'd say the only way you'll get longer in bed is if you retire earlier. Sorry!

 

[BeadsbyClareScott]

thanks for your help Keith... anyone who`s actually seen them?

 

[BeadsbyClareScott]

Greetings everyone, I'm a newcomer to this neck of the woods, having moved to Leeds late last year.

Today I managed to fit in my first birding trip in West Yorks, at Fairnburn Ings. Couldn't get over the numbers of tree sparrows and willow tits. Tremendous.

Anyway, late morning I was one of small group of birders scrutinising a sizeable flock of redpolls (I reckoned maybe 60-70) outside the village bay hide. There were quite a few really smart pale mealies, in fact I got the impression the flock seemed to be mostly mealy, but obviously hard to work out ratios. I very briefly got on one bird which I thought looked pretty good for arctic - markedly paler than the others and head and bill shape looked good - but it scarpered within seconds, and eventually the whole flock disappeared.

Slightly confused to read on birdguides that the earlier report of an artic from Fairnburn was with a flock of lessers, and the flock I and others were dealing with definitely had a sizeable number of mealies in with them. In any case, a really nice flock, just a pity the light was so bad. And Fairnburn is superb, will no doubt be heading down there regularly from now on....

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan,

Good to meet you today.
Did you go for the LEO?

 

[metcow333]

Hey Jonathan,

the Coues i had nearly two weeks ago now at Fairburn was in the same area, btw the two hides, and with mealies as well. Shouldn't worry too much about the report with lessers, they seem to switch small groups a lot, and it may have been miscommunicated anyway.

Anyway, the bird I had had pretty strong flank streaking, but was otherwise very pale, fem/1w type with no pink flush at all. Any chance it's the same bird? Just wondering, would be good if others had seen a similar bird.

Cheers Ollie