I don't dress well enough to get into the hotel to look at the menu! Judging by the B-mers and Audi's in the car park it's all expense account stuff so the sky's the limit for that crowd, rook pie wouldn't come into it... maybe slender-billed curlew pie.

woken early by my beloved daughter to coincide with my morning off I decided on a spur of the moment return to Thorne moor - decide to go the Crowle side again as not happy leaving car on Thorne side. The place was bristling with insects, particularly dragonflies, which boded well for targets of RFF and Hobby. Not much on the main lake as I hurried past (had to be back at work 1pm) except a pair of Ruddy duck ( can someone let me know if these are a tickable UK species). several other birders when I finally got to the obs platform - no sightings prior to my arrival.
However, the sun came out and the show began:-
marsh harrier brought the BHG's up followed by Kestrels and cuckoos aplenty.
Then distant views of the RFF hawking south of the platform, soon to be joined by the adolescent. Then came along at least 2 Hobbys to give us a nice comparison!
The RFF's performed for about 10 mins getting closer before disappearing again.
Had to make a sharp exit at this point - however, interestingly, a couple of Lancs lads who'd come in from the Thorne side had seen a NIGHTINGALE at around 8am - clearly we were far too EARLY in the day a few weeks ago!!
feeling pretty smug I hoofed it back to the car.
rob

Ruddy Duck is a Cat C species and as such is admissable to a British List in keeping with the BOU - check out their website for the official list.

cheers james, I will.
Apologies Keith, I hadn't read your Hobby lament when I posted the above gloat about the trip to Thorne.
rob

Went and got it tonight. Smart looking bird. Just one other birder at first then had it to myself - possibly the footie, or possibly because it may be considered an escape?

Apparently it is quite tame, and has a liking for pilchards, plus cat and dog food, but it could still be wild IMO.

Interesting that it chooses to roost on far bank away from footpath. Birds are opportunists and taking an easy meal doesn't necessarily spell escape.

If you do go, no easy access. Strictly speaking it should be a long walk along the riverside footpath from the village. I think I did what Andy did and blasted across the farmer's field, albeit along dry tractor tracks between the crops.

If Osprey wasn't a my twenty year bogey, then next behind it is night heron for the UK. Not sure if I should wait for a more pukka one.

But hey it's May and it's an unringed adult, what more do you need...

Intersting record of the Baikal Teals. Three escapes seems odd, and to then turn up in such a remote location. One escape on a park lake in the centre of a big city would seem more the norm.

I suspect the ringed drake is the Norfolk bird, where during its stay didn't appear to have any females with it, unless they were overlooked. For it to find two after moving north - very odd all round.

But for the ring I'd have been there tonight.

Excellent night up in the hills last night, started with a dunlin 4' away. Ciched but I got a head shot which will follow, now categorised as a 'photographer'.

Moved on to a different site for Ring Ouzel, Merlin, SEO, Siskin, Spotted Flycatcher and plenty of good views of other species. They do exist Keith!

This seems quite a likely scenario. If you wanted to be subtle you could try asking one of the younger kitchen staff what happened to the Rookery, just out of casual interest ;) ... they might naively spill some info.


Cheers,
Bob.

Right, what's needed is to send someone in wearing camo gear! :-O


Cheers,
Bob.

OR...send in a couple of chavs to 'beat' an answer out of them!! fella, mate!

regards

chris :t:

They can borrow mine,

ahem....well how else can you get brand new goretex winter coats for 30 quid. :-O

Good commute today, a nice female sparrowhawk across the road in front of the car, in Pontefract. Thankfully I wasn't travelling fast so she made it across safely.

Just looking at Birdguides and there's a quail listed for North Duffield Carrs, anybody got any more gen on this bird?
It would be nice to get this one on my UK list

Apparently there have been up to 4 calling there Keith, checked in today but nothing doing. Apparently from the meadow beside the path.

Cheers \james, might just get over there this weekend then.

Head shot cliche as promised, had to be done. Get your camera up there Marus and let Keith check its retina.

Nice work Jim, gonna have to get up there.

Yellow wagail at the BNG site this morning, but no BNG between 6 and 8AM. Three dead swans doesn't bode well...

Any sign of cause of death, Marcus? 3 dead swans is a job for the police wildlife officer, I think, and if no foul play then posibly a job for DEFRA?

Popped to see the Temminck's Stint at Old Moor yesterday, showing really well on the nearest little island to the Wader Scrape Hide. I'd only seen one at great distance previously - they are much smarter close up, and it was bizarre to see it dwarfed by a black-headed gull chick, a little ringed plover and even a pied wagtail. They really are tiny!

Tuesday I spent almost twelve hours at Bolton Abbey in the end, with spectacular views of all the local specialties. Spent over an hour sitting watching one Wood Warbler singing and displaying around my head. There are at least seven males present but the others were presumably paired, being much quieter by now and/or buried in inaccessible parts of the wood. I counted at least 6 singing male Redstarts and saw two males and one female. I'd thought you had to be really early to get great views, but met Knocker7800 and watched them really well in the early afternoon. Thanks very much to Mark for spotting a Buzzard mobbed by two Ravens while we were watching these. The Pied Flycatchers are still very vocal, even through the day, and easy to spot. In the mature woodland on the east side there were 14+ singing males, and I saw most of these and two or three females. Best moment was watching some house-hunting and courtship feeding. Very sweet. Also 3 Spotted Flycatchers between Cavendish Pavilion and Barden Bridge on the east side - pathetic song makes them harder to detect and they weren't very showy. In between great views of Garden Warbler, several Blackcaps, Green and Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, several Nuthatches, Treecreepers etc etc. Plus three Kestrels and a few Curlew, Lapwing, and Oystercatcher in the fields. Also heard Lesser Spot calling but from across the river so couldn't track it down. In fact the only expected woodland bird I didn't detect was Marsh Tit - this is supposed to be a good location for them but only seen them there once?

Spent less time watching the river but did get fantastic views of a pair of Common Sand, Grey Wagtails, Mandarins and the Sand Martin colony by lying on the riverbank for a while, and Dippers whizzed by several times during the day. As always for me, b#gg#r all on the moors in a quick hour to finish - two Kestrels and many Meadow Pipits. In all a superb day, although very very tired by the end. Would still recommend getting there as early as possible but even with the leaf cover, the dog-walkers and the birds quietening down you still have a good chance of seeing all these species well.

Graham

PS - a very vocal female Tawny Owl in a neighbouring garden last night which I hope is a good sign.

Any takers for Monday??

ALL DAY BIRD WATCH (STAPLE ISLAND & INNER FARNE) This tour is particularly suitable for the enthusiastic ornithologist and photographer or anyone who wishes to spend more time observing the wealth of nesting species. The trip departs at 10am and only runs during the breeding season (May, June and July). It lasts approximately 5 1/2 hours and allows 2 hours on Staple Island in the morning and 2 hours on Inner Farne in the afternoon. It is recommended you take a packed lunch as there are no facilities on the islands. National Trust members land free of charge and non-members pay a landing fee to the National Trust wardens on both islands (see boat fares and landing fees). The tour also includes a cruise around all the islands to view nesting seabirds on the cliff faces and the Grey Seal colonies at several vantage points.

Inner Farne and Staple Island are major sanctuaries in the UK for about 22 species of breeding seabirds, including Guillemots, Razorbills, Eider Ducks, 4 species of Terns and a staggering 70,000 Puffins.

Also a bluethroat present.

It looked like one of the swans had been shot. I met one of the locals I left and he is investigated further, and said he would report as necessary. Foxes have raided two coots nests, but he did not think they would attack (and kill) a swan. One of the swans had been savaged, but he thought this was likely post mortem and not the cause of death. They do have a problem with chav gunmen at the site.

Marcus,

Might need to take your sea sickness pills.

See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/..._forecast.html

Richard

Don't worry Marcus I'm sure you'll have a great time. We went last year and when we arrived the weather was bad and we were told it would be 50/50 whether we would be able to land but they make every effort to get you there. And when you get there it really is amazing, no need for your long lens you'll be tripping over Puffins.

Come on fella's, we're Tykes not southern shandies!
Bring on the waves!!!

Enjoy your day on Monday Marcus, unfortunately I have a long standing engagement with 'er indoors, if I try to sneak off birding, she'll have my gonads for earrings...LOL.

I'm going to Bolton Abbey Sunday early doors so will combine your info with Graham's last post and I should have a good day.