Superb thanks Michael :t:

Just thought, it may be an idea to take some seeds/peanuts to put down on feeding tables/trays in case the locals haven't done it that particular morning! It's not an official feeding station area as such, more an area where a few locals put some seed out!
Cheers

Tophill Low
 

Anyone know if Tophill Low is open for certain on Thursday 1st January?

From the Yorkshire Water web site it looks like it should be, but I would like to be certain.

Thanks.

Keith.

Yeah its definitely open as the warden is having a year list starting event i believe.

Went off patch and over the border again today and was rewarded with a caspian gull at pottric car a lifer as well what a way to end the year

Happy new year everyone! Hope everyone has a good night. B (:

I'm looking forward to midnight tonight, because for a few hours my yearlist will be on par with Marcus and James ;)

Thanks.

Keith.

Possible Dark-breasted Barn Owl seen again yesterday but not seen by friends of mine yesterday or today. Had 2 Stonechat and Chiffchaff at Weel fishing pond y'day.
In Hull Valley yesterday:
Two Great Northern Diver Welton Waters [one today] and 2 Scaup.
Redhead Smew Tophill Low.
Black Redstart Beverley.
Little Stint and 3 Ruff Swinemoor.
Hopefully manage to get out tomorrow, likely Tophill Low.
Happy New Year to every poster. Hope to put a few more faces to names next year.
Hoping for Ivory Gull, my bogey bird, maybe at Barmston?

New Year Bogeys
 

Well there is a dead White beaked Dolphin on the beach at Saltwick near Whitby.....perhaps worth staking out?!!

A big UP to all those of you who shared their sightings with the rest of us in 2008. A big personal thankyou to those who found the King Eider, Black Stork, Brown Shrike and of course the Amur Falcon..after all in the end nothing to stop me going to have a look and seeing it perched to!!;)

With the record spring fall and the September rares what a great year for Yorkshire Birders...aren't we lucky old gets!

Happy New Year....

ps I was the one with the peroxide hair at the Saltburn Ivory Gull

Happy New Year Everyone! Hope to meet some of you in 2009!

Great start to the year!

Took my nephew to Potteric Carr today, and had good views of Water Rail, Willow Tit, Pintail etc, but the best photo opportunity was waiting for us on our return home. Saw something drop down ahead & slowed right down & there it was! Had to reverse a few yards, take the camera out the boot & tried approaching again. Luckily, it stayed put - the light was terrible, so feel quite pleased with the result. Tried it on automatic first, but the shutter speed was too slow (hence the arty 1st pic!), so switched to manual. I wonder when I'll ever have such a good view of this bird again? It was only the dull weather, which put a dampner on it!

Cheers

Happy New Year everyone!

Hope we all have a productive year.

New Year
 

Started well, had to pick the lads up at dinner time so went for the RND at Anglers, arrived 30 minutes after it took off but saw the RCP and was put onto some nearby waxwing at Cold Hiendley. A very confiding male Goldeneye was diving 10yds off so I got some nice pictures of my favourite duck (bar smew). Also there was 3 marsh tit and c.50 Lesser Redpoll. Whilethere got a call,didn't need to pick the lads up until after 4 - result!

Went onto High Hoyland for the finches, must be a thousand birds there now. All the trees were full of frost, the poor light was a shame, at the risk of sounding like you-know-who I didn't get the shot I was after - right composition but not sharp enough, you'll get the idea below.


Anyway, Happy New Year to you all.

Went between old fall and south landing. Some goodies in the form of a woodcock flushed from setaside 2 peregrines full of starling along the cliffs, great northern diver offshore plus a RND and fluffed some twite.

As usual a great New Year breakfast @ Potteric Carr, plus Bittern, Water Rail, Willow Tit & good views again of the 3rd winter Caspian Gull, onto Blacktoft for smashing views of male Hen & Marsh Harrier plus Barn & SE Owl.

Happy New Year All:t:

Daz

Please can someone post/PM details for the bullfinch feeding station and any info on the site. Somehwere near Hull I beleive.

Humber Bridge Country Park

Managed some proper birding again at last. Started at Tophill Low early aftenoon. Had redhead Smew and 3 Pintail on D reservoir with another redhead on Watton NR. Also Water Rail at the feeder, a dozen Siskin in the car park and Whitefront and Pinkfoot with the Greylags beyond Hempholme Lock. Little Egret again y'day.
Moved onto Welton Waters and had the 2 Great Northern Divers and female Scaup on the watersports pit and drake Red-crested Pochard on Osprey Pond.
Also in Hull Valley area:
4 Ruff at Swinemoor.
6 Goosander East Park, Hull and 3 Waxwing nearby by Tower Grange cop shop.
Probable Glaucous-winged Gull in Cleveland. Just needs to come south a few miles!

Happy New Year all................I see the Hawfinch showed today at the pond near Millington - anyone know if the Rough Leg has been seen too? Thanks Dan.

Happy New Year! Not been out of the house all day, so Coal Tit and Wren are my best on the feeders + probable Goldcrest which would have been a garden tick. Teach me to leave my bins in the boot.

This year I aim to finally see Little Bittern (fingers crossed) and I wouldn't mind a lingering Ring-billed Gull in Yorks (my prediction).

Also an even rarer gull drifting further south would be nice. Probably see you there tomorrow:eek!:

Hi Marcus

Park up at the Humber Bridge Country park car park at the end opposite the Information centre.
make your way along the footpath (heading towards the Humber) until you come to some steps, go to the bottom and turn right.
Follow the path along for about 300m.
You will then find an enclosed area made up of bent willows? with the feeders inside.
I have found mornings to be more productive, make sure you take some seeds.
Hope this is of some use.

Cheers.

Thanks to everyone who replied or PM'ed re the bullfinch.

Marcus, just come over and sit in my living room, mate. I currently have at least six Bullfinches visiting the feeder four feet from the window. You won't have to wait more than fifteen minutes. Also Siskin today and regular Nuthatch. Tawny Owl often findable around sunset also, although tends to roost in cover in the leylandii.

I finally made it out for a bit of a walk today after three weeks of flu. Actually saw nothing more exciting than in the garden but had a lovely walk from Huby to Stainburn and back - scenically probably the best result yet of all the walks I've just picked off the OS map. Some more interesting habitat for Woodcock, Snipe, possibly Dipper was frustratingly well off the footpath. Only 1 Red Kite, 3 Buzzard, a couple of GSW and lots of thrushes, but a very pleasant stroll which should produce Redstarts in the Spring.

Jim, did you post where exactly your finch flock is? It sounds really impressive.

Graham

Theres a barely distinguishable arrow in the bottom left (SW :)) corner. Come off M1 at Bretton,turn left before Bretton Parkthrough Haigh, go right to the top and turn left. 200 yrds on park-up next to the church and you can't miss 'em.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idmap.srf...ay=410655&lm=0

Basically its a big round of applause for the shooters with fields of sunflowers, maize and lower down rape that have all been left to seed. There's grain barrels everywhere letting out a constant supply, loads of RLP.

Anybody got info on the LEO that is listed on Birdguides as present at Fairburn?
I might be able to get over there tomorrow in my lunch break if it's close to the car park like last time.

Apparently at the other end of the reserve, whether thats lin dyke or cut lane it didnt say but it asks you to call in at the centtre first. I guess either would be ok as there is car parking at both.