I really wish there was a smilie icon for two fingers!!

Nostel Priory
 

Went for a walk round the above today, not known for widely for its birds but had close views of a nuthatch and a Kingfisher. If anyone is wanting to get some great shots of a Kingfisher I would head down there this week whilst the freezing conditions continue - it was showing for long periods in the open and giving close views. It can be seen from the bridge down at the lake in the gardens (where you have to pay to get it - not sure whether its open now kids are back at school so check before you go). Look for any unfrozen water and check out the trees thereabouts.

Having day off work tomorrow - thinking of heading down to Potteric Carr, anybody know when the Bitterns are showing at Potteric Carr - AM or PM or both?

Cheers

John

Fairburnings
 

Forgot to mention - If your going to see the Smew at Fairburn dont do what I did. I spent time looking for it on Hicksons when in fact it was (I assume same bird) on the Village Bay. Unfortunately I did not have time to go to the Village Bay. If its not on one, try the other!!:brains:

If your after Brambling check out the feeding station in the far corner of the Centre/shop part of the reserve, I saw a female there through the post box holes. Looking for the Med Gull - this was on one of the small Islands in the main bay, best views from Bob Dickens (?) hide.

On the train home today got Red-legged Partridge and Barn Owl. The barn owl was a nice surprise, quartering the fields just north of selby.

Called in at Filey CP this evening for second helpings of the Jack Snipe. Unfortunately the only birds on the pond were a Redshank and the Knot who had become the very best of friends (Expect reports of weird waders later this year that show characteristics of both species).
A flyover Peregrine was a Filey Tick. A Diver on the sea was probably a RT although I couldn't be ar*d to set my scope up.
I suspect the Jack Snipe was hidden in the reeds as this pond seems to be the only one in the area that is not completely iced over due to its close proximity to the sea.

Hornsea Mere 'Monday'
 

Hi all, Us 'ChavTwitchers' (myself+Mikejack82) Visited Hornsea Mere today, got several new Species for the venue including... BITTERN (are these seen often here) dont ever really see any sightings reported on Bird Guides.Also Long-Tailed Duck. Full trip Report on Blog...feel free to visit/leave us a comment!!

Jacko n Kempy!!



NEW BLOG.... ...www.chavtwitchers.blogspot.com
B (:

Hey James Spencer (hotspur) I had a look at your blog today its very good. But I was just wondering what makes you so sure that the East Park Red-Crested Pochard is an escapee?
Any info that you know would be gratefully received. Cheers.

It was what poecile said about the lake being stocked with them earlier on this thread.

one of them only has half a wing! They've been there years, at least 3 (2 males and a female) and they keep adding the odd one or two now and again. One of the keepers clearly likes RCP! Thye may well bring down a wild bird now and again, but you'd never know, and only Lee Evans would tick one in those circumstances...

Iceland Gull was confirmed as my new Bogey today when I missed the reported adult on Bridlington beach making it the 3rd bird dipped in as many weeks. Freezing fog didn't help when I first had a look several minutes after it was first reported, although I couldn't spare the time for a longer search.
This evening I had another go, but despite 5 gull species present, there was no sign of the Iceland. A very near Grey Seal, Sanderling, Redshank, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Shag and GC Grebe were also seen, along with some Common Chav vandalising a kiosk. It was very, very, very cold!

Well i've been going 2 to 3 times a week for the last 14-16 months and never seen one until February 1st this year. And i've seen the bird everytime i've been since so its obviously just turned up from somewhere. Think I might go and have a word with the 'parkies' tomorrow, but to be honest, I can't see them just releasing one female. What would be the point in that???
Do you go there often Poecile?
Yours Sincerely,
Lee evans
;)

Alibi
 

[quote=skink1978;1132700A very near Grey Seal, Sanderling, Redshank, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Shag and GC Grebe were also seen, along with some Common Chav vandalising a kiosk. It was very, very, very cold![/QUOTE]

Hi just wanna put all ya minds at rest..the chav wasnt me been at work all day!! poss mikejack82 lol? dunno if he has been there all day!

kempy ;)

NEW BLOG.... www.chavtwitchers.blogspot.com

Unless Mike is about 12 I don't think it was. They weren't wearing blue either. In typical plumage for the year they had Burberry Caps and had their tracksuit bottoms tucked into their socks. A sign of a juvenile I believe?

Might give the Iceland another go tomorrow.

YES!! Thats a definate Juvenile!

good luck on the iceland tomorrow if ya go for it! :t:

I'll second that!

Kemp watch your spelling! --- chavtwitching***
Hahaha ;)

And colour!!! You turned yank on me?

Mike, just to clarify the position of RCP in Yorks. in any event. Each one seen has a question mark. Obviously if it's got half a wing missing then forget it. However, even if fully winged and unringed there will always be some doubt about a Yorkshire record from a potential escape scenario.

If you want a defo one then you need to move out of county. The only "true" cat. C ones are those at Cotswold Water Park, as the BOURC made specific reference to this population when they upgraded to cat. C. However, the population at Lound (Notts) is probably big enough to tick as cat. C birds.

There are no cat. C birds established in Yorks. yet, so if you are after a cat. A there will always be a question mark.

I saw my first in Yorks. in 1983, and my most recent last year. In that time nothing has changed save for a greater likelihood of a wandering cat. C bird.

In summary, a bird on East Park even if not introduced by the parkies there, could just have easily escaped from a park down the road, or be a wanderer from say Lound. Both are probably more likely than a genuine cat. A. (which still couldn't be ruled out)

So don't beat yourself uip about its credentials 'cos you'll never know.

Worth the trip to Cotswold W P - a fine site when you see a large flock of circa 50 together.

Did anyone else notice the report of 6 bean goose over Goole? That is some ID skill, I find them difficult enough on the deck. I have had a look in the books and I see a slightly shorter neck and darker mantle, but I cannot really see how to call these in flight with no comparisons possible.

Cheers for the reply Steve. I don't know what ya mean by Cat. C. and Cat. A. birds. And don't think I wanna go in to that much detail cos I just go local twitching for a laugh thats all, don't want it getting all technical and spoiling the fun. Also, its wings are definately fine cos i chucked a brick at it today and the duck flew off lovely.
Cheers.

Cat A is wild Cat C is intoduced

PS... No-one get a 'flap-on' about me chucking bricks at ducks.
I was only kidding!

I thought the same thing. According to Collins Bean also has a narrow white band on tail in contrast to wide tail edge of Pink Foot.
The geese were most likely reported by someone on the way to Blacktoft, probably one of those old blokes that identify Peregrine from a dot.
I would be even more impressed if subspecies was determined.

Came up as Tundra BG. Reminds me of the bloke that picked out a snow bunting at c1 mile from Flam

Not sure how ssp was done but having looked in my nice shiny new Flight ID of European Seabirds Blomdahl et al it appears that pink-feet look silver and bean brown in flight. So if it wasnt a silhouette its doable. SSp looks tricky in flight.

I believe to the very well trained ear the call of Bean Geese is different too, which is probably more useful than upperpart colour in an overflying flock. But there really are people that good - that Snow Bunting off Flam was jaw-dropping - when you know someone can do that (and then be proved right as the bird flew right over us) you can't presume anything to be stringy.

What are anyone's plans for the weekend - having been locked in a room in Aldershot for nigh on 3 weeks I wanna go birding back home - really gutted to have missed out on last weekend's trip.

Graham