Purple Heron at Fairburn! Anyone know if its a fly over, a stayer or a wet grey heron?

Fairburn Ings is close to Wakefield - though not sure about Nuthatch or Marsh Tit there.


Cheers,
Bob.

Can't answer Jim but I wish I hadn't logged on before I'd set off, now wondering about giving the rouzels a miss and nipping over to Fairburn. How long do you reckon the rouzels will be about for?

Just spoken to warden on reserve, bird seen before 8.00am flew over visitor centre and kept on going, so rouzels here I come.

Thanks Bob. Fairburn seems to be the place. Had assumed that every patch of countryside in England was packed with those species but of course it doesn't work like that...

Hi Pianoman i live 3mile from Wakefield there are GSWoody and Nuthatch in Wakefield park and also in Breton Park which is about 2miles from Wakefield we also get the odd Yellow wag along the canal going to Horbury where i live.There is a spilway passed the Navigation Pub where they are seen feeding.Saw marsh tit at fairburn about a month ago down the small beck where the gate is to where you go over the stacks.Hope this helps Phill

Had a wee tip off about this windfarm application off Spurn. Recently submitted to the planning dept apparently.

Not sure what impact it would have, if any... any thoughts? The same company operate one off Wirral (Burbo) for the last few years without much fuss.


Cheers,
Bob.

Hi Taz - I think I was at that very stretch of canal on Sunday, a nice walk; saw Greys but no Yellows there, the luck of the draw no doubt. We were staying in the Cedar Court Hotel. Maybe meet up for an hour or so the next time. Thanks!

On the other side of the motorway is Pugneys country park, worth a visit.

Thanks for the info Jim, scored with rouzels... male, female and nest location even. Possibility of me being able to make tonight as well, what time you intending on being on site?

Nuthatch would be a major sighting at Fairburn Ings, one of the 'common' species that require a full write up for the record to be accepted.

Great spotted woodpecker are pretty regular round the riverside trail from the visitor centre to the village.

Yellow wagtails are seen but usually in low numbers, latest report (2005) has birds being seen daily from mid April to end August. Best area for them is the fields between the visitor centre and Lin Dyke hide at the west end of the reserve.

Marsh tit another rarity with only one record, 28th April 2000, between 1994 and 2005, I don't have reports going back any further than 1994.

Phill
You want to get a written description in to the reserve office for this bird, it's another site rarity.

Any one connected with the "Starling" in Wetwang?? Thinking of going this evening

A most unusual day today, sunny and warm when I'm not at work.
Had a bike ride around the Eccup area with no real surprises, red kites among the things seen. If the weather holds up I'll try Fairburn and Swilly on Friday. Not expecting much but you never know, I bet nobody expected the purple heron today.

Damn, just checked the Swilly sightings for today. Not too pleased with my choice of bike ride.

Complete lack of Starling today. Was on site for a couple of hours this morning and checked the whole village. The Common Starlings seemed to be commuting to and from a wood about 2km away so it may have been hidden in their but the photos I saw were of a very wet adult so maybe it perished.

Yes me too - Sanderling would get me to 183 BOU for the recording area...

Best
Daz

Hi all.
I wonder if anyone has any information as to good birding sites in North Yorkshire, particularly around the Malton area? My aunt and uncle live near Malton, and the possibility has arisen that I may be able to stay up there for the weekend. Particular target species would be Red (and if possible Black, although I know the sites are sensitive) Grouse on the moorland. Any information on Crossbill sites would also be appreciated.

I have birded a few places up there in winter (Castle Howard Lake, for example) as well as the east coast (Flamborough, Filey etc) in autumn, but I have no experience of the area in summer.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Many thanks
Joe

What's your range? Let me know and I'll factor into response.

Andrew,

If no-one knows anywhere closer (and there may not be any as they are not common anywhere) Nidd Gorge woods at Knaresborough are good for Marsh Tit. GSW are common in any even partially wooded habitat and all sites in and near Wakefield have them. Nuthatch strangely local and much less widespread than in the south. Bradford and Leeds have them and they've spread up to Ilkley and Harrogate but still rare east of here (they are common at Nidd Gorge, BTW, and in my garden) Yellow Wagtail much commoner in the east - Spurn is great but a very very long trek from Wakefiled - I don't know a reliable site near Wakefield.

Graham

If it's a year before you're back over I'd say stick a post here about a week or so before you arrive and we can sort something out.

Joe, is it this weekend you are in Malton or some time over the summer?

Did a little bit of self-analysis on my Yorkshire list dips since I started to get serious on the Yorkshire list (allegedly) in the last four and a half years. It got me looking as I've recently bumped off two long standing birds - Golden Oriole and Osprey.

I'm still rather disappointingly averaging roughly two dips of tickable species per year.

Since 2004 I've dipped/not attempted the following tickable species:

1) Stone Curlew - dipped what turned out to be an untickable one, not this tickable one
2) Dartford Warbler
3) Cetti's Warbler - dipped three times at Worsborough
4) Nightingale - dipped this year
5) Serin
6) Purple Heron - dipped by ten minutes
7) Storm Petrel
8) Black-throated Thrush
9) Spotted Sandpiper
10) Chimney Swift (if accepted) - dipped

I've not counted Quail, unless anyone wants to contend that some have been tickable.

In summary, far too many dips for someone who's supposedly an active lister.

2008 mid-term report "could do better"

Rejected.........

Hi Joe

The moorland public footpaths around Goathland should give you a chance of red Grouse. Dalby Forest and the forestry commission woods at Yearsley have Crossbill I believe. Not sure about black grouse near Malton - I think you have to head up much further north

HTH

Mark

At this time of year you could do worse than go for a drive around the back roads of the Wolds in the evening (e.g. around Sledmere) - could see several different Barn Owls in an hours drive. Little Owl also fairly likely - keep your eyes on the telephone posts.


Cheers,
Bob.

Ah well that reduces it to nine!