Yorkshire Birding (109 Viewers)

[metcow333]

Tim's had 2 wood sands and other bits and pieces on Hes East this mrng. On the pool between university buildings and field lane. Please view from the path up by field lane down, so as not to flush them.

 

[metcow333]

Doc Reed- check Andy's blog for directions

 

[Richard G]

One from yesterday.

Richard

 

[vwxyzen]

I've just come back from a couple of weeks abroad and have been covering my local patch, Hetchell Woods, Bardsey this last week.
While the woods are full of Blackcaps, (more than ever before:t and plenty of Chiffchaffs, there are virtually no Willow Warblers, just one singing bird and another foraging yesterday and no singing birds today!!!! Has anybody else noticed a drop in their numbers this year??

On another note, I would be grateful if some-one could PM me details of where to see Black Grouse in Yorkshire. I have an idea of where to go, but I'm not sure and in these days of spiralling petrol costs, I would prefer not to waste a trip

Cheers

Steve

I used to watch Hetchell quite regularly in the 80s and 90s and even back then Willow Warblers were never really seen in any numbers in the woods. They used to favour the old railway line, and I used to get good numbers along here. If you'd like an idea of how many birds were around here 20 years ago in comparison to today, PM me and I'll dig out my old records.

Rest assured there are still good numbers of Willow warblers around!

Dave.

 

[DOC REED]

Hes east

Connected with wood and green sandpipers this afternoon.Had several yellow wags and 5 wheatears. 2 Common terns at Redhouse this am.

 

[pete seaman]

Had a smashing afternoon up at Scar House & Gouthwaite today. Nothing wildly spectacular but I did add another lifer to my list. Lots of Mipits, a few Skylarks & Lapwings, Greylags & Canada Geese by Scar House along with a single Whinchat. Also had Chaffinch & Willow Warbler in the car park. As we were driving away my lifer for the day appeared in the form a male Merlin which flew over the car & across the road.

Stopped at Goutwaite for half an hour as well. Lots of Teal, Tufted Duck, Shelduck & Mallard. Also Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin & Ringed Plover. Noticed quite a few duckings & goslings already making an appearance.

All in all a good day, and the weather helped as well!!

Richard

Glad you enjoyed your trip to heaven ,nice to get the Merlin in the area,(it's one of our local patches)there should have been Pied Flycatcher at the rock cutting 1/2 way up the road to Scar,we did have Ring Ouzel near the dam a few days ago and drumming Snipe over the car park.

 

[andy hood]

Had a lifer today up on the moors near Grosmont this morning afore going on the North Yorks Moors Railway

 

[metcow333]

Had an odd yellow wag at hes east this evening with Jack Ashton-Booth. Very pale grey wash to head, and greyer back than surrounding flavissima. Pics on blog, but any comments very much welcome

 

[Simmo1111]

Had a nice 'shortie' on Cowell Flats this afternoon ...

A nice way to christen my shiny new DSLR too !!

Light was a bit poor due to heavy rain but no complaints though !!

 

[timmyjones]

Had an odd yellow wag at hes east this evening with Jack Ashton-Booth. Very pale grey wash to head, and greyer back than surrounding flavissima. Pics on blog, but any comments very much welcome

The one you had this evening is a different bird to what I had yesterday, I've put a shocking sketch on my blog. Any Wagtail buffs out there? Comments welcomed! Link below

 

[BirdFlower]

The one you had this evening is a different bird to what I had yesterday, I've put a shocking sketch on my blog. Any Wagtail buffs out there? Comments welcomed! Link below

Your sketch looks a bit like one I photographed at Spurn in 2008. It was originally given out on rare bird services as Ashy-headed Wagtail, but this was later modified to flava Wagtail: http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.com/2008/06/spurn-after-rush.html

 

[DOC REED]

yellow wag

Had an odd yellow wag at hes east this evening with Jack Ashton-Booth. Very pale grey wash to head, and greyer back than surrounding flavissima. Pics on blog, but any comments very much welcome

Hi Ollie

What do you think of this yellow wag,taken yesterday?

 

[metcow333]

Hey Doc,
Think I'm the wrong person to ask with Yellow Wags, but from the one pic, I'm not sure there is anything to rule out female flavissima. For instance see here http://www.petermoorewildlifephotography.co.uk/Peter%20K%20Moore%20Wildlife%20Photography/Peter%20Moore%20Wildlife%20Photography/British%20Birds/Larks,%20pipits%20and%20wagtails/slides/Yellow%20Wagtail%20-%20male%20%28Moticilla%20flavissima%29%20Elmley%20RSPB,%20Kent.JPG

Having spoken to a few people last night, it seems that the bird I posted is a flavissima also, which can occasionally have grey plumage, although less commonly than Eastern Yellow Wag. See this threadhttp://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=169438&page=2 -see post 32

Anyway, you live and learn
Ollie
PS starting to feel a bit of a 'redpoll' moment coming on with these yellow wags, will make the spring interesting anyway

 

[DOC REED]

Hey Doc,
Think I'm the wrong person to ask with Yellow Wags, but from the one pic, I'm not sure there is anything to rule out female flavissima. For instance see here http://www.petermoorewildlifephotography.co.uk/Peter%20K%20Moore%20Wildlife%20Photography/Peter%20Moore%20Wildlife%20Photography/British%20Birds/Larks,%20pipits%20and%20wagtails/slides/Yellow%20Wagtail%20-%20male%20%28Moticilla%20flavissima%29%20Elmley%20RSPB,%20Kent.JPG

Having spoken to a few people last night, it seems that the bird I posted is a flavissima also, which can occasionally have grey plumage, although less commonly than Eastern Yellow Wag. See this threadhttp://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=169438&page=2 -see post 32

Anyway, you live and learn
Ollie
PS starting to feel a bit of a 'redpoll' moment coming on with these yellow wags, will make the spring interesting anyway

Cheers Ollie
I agree female flavissima!
Just had large raptor high over garden, initially thought buzzard, but I think maybe marsh harrier,not bad for middle of York!Check Hes east!

paul

 

[metcow333]

Tim has had Hobby thru Hes east this mrng, and the wood sand is still there.

Nice marsh harrier Doc.

Ollie

 

[woodhornbirder]

looks like citrine wagtail on the vid, but pic 01 on the blog showing the head, i would say female yeollow....had the pulse going for few secs tho!

I will say nothing about the image quality )

half the fun of birding :t:

cos am evil i thought i would link this and make you panic

http://www.www.birdguides.com/media/large/00062000/00062525.jpg

http://www.www.birdguides.com/media/std/00008000/00008135.jpg
hmm this one is more borderline!!

imho i would head back and get more pics.....i think its tight call between yellow and citrine.

 

[Trystan]

Went up into north yorkshire today to do last weeks cancelled meeting alone. There were 8 male grouse lekking in the field plus another single bird doing its own lek in the next field and one other further back watching on.

Cut across the dales and some beautiful scenary with lots of wheatear, red grouse and curlew plus lapwings, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher.

Finished up at pendle hill for dotterel with golden plover also around.

2 lifers in a day, can't remember the last time I did that in this country!

 

[DOC REED]

Had a nice 'shortie' on Cowell Flats this afternoon ...

A nice way to christen my shiny new DSLR too !!

Light was a bit poor due to heavy rain but no complaints though !!

Stunning!!!Nice one Dave!

 

[timmyjones]

Cheers Ollie
I agree female flavissima!
Just had large raptor high over garden, initially thought buzzard, but I think maybe marsh harrier,not bad for middle of York!Check Hes east!

paul

Nice one Paul, got your email about the Marsh Harrier and was on Hes East at the time so kept an eye out, no sign however.

Wood Sand was still present first thing and again later in the afternoon with Green and Common completing the trio.

A Hobby flew through about 10:40ish and at least 3 Corn Bunt were singing which was a first on site for me today.

A single House Martin flew through later on which was my 92nd sp on campus, not bad for 8 months of being on site!

Ollie was on wagtail watch this evening so maybe he'll get an interesting one.

For all those interested in the Hes East site or even with any knowledge of previous similar situations please check this thread http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=198360

 

[Andrew Gibson]

Patrington Haven may be worth a look for the Collard Pratincole or even Paull