Common Redpoll
 

I'm suffering a bit from Redpoll blindness at the moment. I've not regularly seen Common and Lesser together, but I don't know if I'm expecting more of a contrast. I only saw the flock together for about two minutes at Fulford on Saturday, but nothing stood out.

Someone has posted a shot of the bird on Birdguides today, and it is altogether a frostier bird. However, if I'd just glanced at the next shot of the Lesser and not read the caption, I'd have assumed it was a close up on the Common. I know you can't see the rump, but a fairly "frosty" bird, with obvious mantle tramlines, and a broad white wing-bar (why not buff)?

If you look through the complete set of Common Redpoll images on Birdguides, many don't stand out as classic. I know there are some darker Rostrata within that set as well but even so.

I think Common is one of those birds where there is no diagnostic feature, and it's a combination of factors.

What's the rump like on the Fulford bird - grey, white, pink?

The other thing that struck me on Saturday that one needs to be careful with is just how white Lessers are underneath. Very few marks on the undertail coverts, and generally a very bright white bird. Lesser is in no way a dingy dull brown bird.

I'd be interested to know from people who have seen it just how obvious the Fulford bird is. I know these birds can vary, as can be seen from the controversial bird in the midlands at the moment which structurally suggests Common Redpoll.

Lawts, the fulford Redpoll (or at least the bird i saw) stood out like a sore thumb, a very pale bird, much larger than the lesser redpoll it was with. It was a male with a large pink flush to the breast and a face with very grey and white colouration and few buff tones. I didnt see the rump or the UTCs but it didnt have the pushed in bill look of an arctic.

12:21 22/01/08 Fairburn Ings RSPB, West Yorkshire: the reserve is totally flooded, as are all roads in the area and therefore the reserve will be closed for the remainder of this week

Marcus, Good luck for the weekend in Norfolk, I would only be able to manage a day, so I will dip on this one....

OKay Dave. You have the sparrow already anyway ;) If you can make the two days - or anyone else can - just let me know.

Goldeneye record shot

A trip to Filey CP this afternoon produced good numbers of RT Divers. At one point there were 7 together in one raft. Interestingly, the calm sea north of the Brigg seemed alive with Harbour Porpoise, by far the most I've seen of this creature at any one time. A single GN Diver was also noted.

Walking to the Tip I only saw Skylark. No sign of any buntings although I could easily have missed them.

Calling in to Filey Dams yielded two Barnacle Geese and James (Hotspur), but unfortunately no Snipe.

After my exam this morning i headed to Burton Riggs to catch up with the BT Diver. That baby can really cross the lake quickly underwater-2 dives to cross it totally, really impressive. As i was leaving a small goose became evident on the first lake amongst the Canadas, it was a european White-front. A very nice lifer well received. After this i headed to filey where i year ticked RT Diver, Grey Plover (also a filey tick), Rock Pipit and Gannet. Bumped into mike as well. Which was nice. Missed the GN Diver - nearly a 3 diver sp day.

Hi Folks
Does anyone know what the access is like to Old Moor or Potteric after the floods?
Thanks Hotspur for the info on Fairburn. Pugneys CP and Calder Wetlands are accessible although the water levels are high.

Any more takers for Norfolk? Due to work fecking me around it will now be a Saturday dawn drive and late Sunday return.

No can do Marcus...much as I would like to. To book a Saturday off work I need to give at least 3 weeks notice...preferably more, the busiest day of the week.
Best of luck and I hope you get a shed load of birds....have a pint in the Dun Cow at Salthouse for me as well.

Hey no rain forecasted for the next 5 days, that canot be right, can it! Oh god I hope so!!!;) Hoping for a Shot of Waxwings this weekend.

Old Moor open after flooding, todays website report:
Thursday, 24 January 2008

The firecrests are back. Sighted in the car park along Green Lane. About 550 golden plovers went up this afternoon with about 700 lapwings when a peregrine went through in a typical falcon stoop. Judging by the size it was a male. The little owl is always good to see, usually around 4pm at the moment. The green woodpecker has been seen most mornings flying across the car park and siskins are still feeding on the alders and silver birch.

Also two bitterns.

Thanks for the info on Old Moor Jim.

Water Pipit
 

Hi All

Does anyone know any info as to whether the Water Pipit is still at the Catterton area? Or has it been washed away???

Cheers

Andy...

Mike saw it recently (last week?) and it was still in situ. Cant see it moving unless the area goes under water.

Yes, was last Sunday (I think Lawts saw it the same day). Not been reported since, although that doen't mean anything. It has gone weeks without sightings on Birdguides.

I was in Scarborough this afternoon so I popped in to Holbeck car park to see if the Meds were about. Only 6 gulls evident without my bins, but luckily one was an adult winter Med.
Usually when I drop in on an afternoon the birds are on the sea so I drank my ginger beer rather happy with myself. Of coarse I could attract the birds with food scraps but I'm far too greedy for that.

I have always found lunch times more productive for good gull numbers as many people seem to drive to Holbeck to eat.

Frustrated this morning that I had to go for a meeting in Halifax, when I was hoping to be working in Leeds for the day. Anyhow, a fringe benefit was calling off to see the single Waxwing at Batley on the way back mid-afternoon. Didn't know where I was going but remembered a reference to IKEA.

Found "Mars" and yes there is life there - not one but three Waxwings sheltering from the wind the best they could, in the heart of a Rowan just opposite the entrance.

My favourite bird - always a nice tick. There's plenty of berries so should be present for a while yet.

A great one to get with your other half if they're into IKEA or the other shops on the estate.

Andy, I picked it up last Sunday. It's wintering and I'd be surprised if it has moved on. The lake in the field is 10X the size it was when I saw it before the new year, but it hasn't affected it. Often it's the only bird in the field.

Make sure you get the right field as there are a few with lakes. It's the one on the bend in the road, where the Ebor Way footpath runs along its edge.

Great! I'll be there first thing in the morning, is it OK to extend your patch by half a mile to get a new patch tick? Whilst up there, a small flock of siskins were in the car park at Showcase last weekend.

"Mars" may not be clearly labelled so, it's part of the Mars group but is actually a Pedigree dog biscuit factory (one year on Smackos production line for my sins). It is the big cream building with reddish edges that is near IKEA and smells.

For future extended shopping trips to IKEA theres plenty of new woodland created at the back of Showcase when the landfill site was closed and planted which needs a look at when the summer migrants start coming back.

Thanks for the replies guys, thought i was going to get some 'free' time tomorrow, may have got the wrong weekend so it may have to wait another week! Hopefully by then i won't need a canoe to get about Yorkshire!

Cheers

Andy

I love Waxwings but I would need more than a year tick to get me to IKEA with my other half! I might consider it for a Wallcreeper (possibly).

Two waxwings today at Mars. Very obliging birds, happily eating at <10' away. Even I could get a few decent pics (left).

Also found the siskins, spent a while looking at a small group of 1 male and 6 female. As I was leaving a big flock of about 40 birds flew in off the old tip, landed in a tree 20 yards away then immediately took off and went back to the tip. Plenty of bright males in there. Think I'll give the tip a good working tomorrow.

Hi
Went to see the Waxwings at "Mars" met Den & I assume JTW521 (who told of of the Siskins?) Heres a couple of photos...