Until I moved down to near Hull I'd never seen a Barn Owl, now I see up to 3 some days just driving to work !!

My Owl quest started when my dad and I were on the moors in Durham looking for Black Grouse and a chance pull into a layby meant we saw a SEO in flight ...... I love watching them hunt and flying, after that I thought about the others, and how LEO, Eagle & Snowy would be the most difficult ( never thought I would see Eagle Owl before Tawny or LEO though ).

I need to do some research on where Snowy Owls tend to turn up - I was guessing Outer Hebrides, so I suppose Cornwall is closer.

Mal Skelton

Mal I think you'll find Tengmalm's and Hawk will be the most difficult. Unless you go to Sweden like I did for this one.....

G

Nice shot Garry. Lets have one of them at Spurn this year! Id even take a Tengmalm's! Today at Tophill finally got Goldcrest for the year and a nice showy Kingfisher sat outside the Borrow Pits hide. On the back pool at Borrow Pits was a red head Smew. Got a feeling it was a different bird to yesterday as it seemed to show more white on its flanks but as i couldnt refind yesterdays bird on O or D I cant be sure so no self found. A Buzzard went screaming through the gulls coming into roost before disappearing off to roost. It didnt attempt to take anything, was quite strange. As usual Barn Owl on the way back.

Helland Road
 

Zacatzooba said

Yes they were Pink footed Geese, I was in the East Stand and I see skeins of Pink feet quite often over Elland Road. One season when we in the Premiership I had a flock of fifty Waxwings. No such luck nowadays and watching Fabian Delph on Saturday I think he will soon be following the geese and heading south to warmer climes..the Emirates!

just shows how bad leeds united are when your still birding from the standsB (:

Just thumbing thriugh the latest Birds mag, the RSPB annual weekend is at York again this April. They are advertising trips to St Aidans that weekend, anyone know if it's opening soon? Could be worth a gatecrash!!

Funny you should be thumbing through birds because ive just been doing the self same thing. I have just rejoined the RSPB after shamefully letting my membership lapse. Looking through the August - October issue and i spotted a familiar picture. Its the header from the (seemingly defunct) chavbirder site and underneath was a very eloquent letter signed Kempy about the simple joys of birds whilst walking the dogs. I think we have a fake chav here!

It was massively edited my Rob Hume!
I saw the original ;) hahaha

I remember last season when Obafemi Martins caught a Woodcock on the pitch at St James Park - I thought at the time it was more interesting than watching Newcastle !!!

Mal Skelton

Hi all, I'm in East Yorks this weekend and hope to see the Rough Legged Buzzard at Millington Pastures.

I'm a bit confused by the directions on Birdguides and totally unfamiliar with the area, so I was wondering can anyone advise on the best spot to look for the RLB?

Will probably spend an hour or two in this area, looks like its good for a variety of Raptors :t:

Dates come and go. The site may be open later this year, or possibly not before 2012!! It's all down to UK Coal completing the restoration to Leeds City Council's satisfaction before they will take over the site, and then hand it straight on to the RSPB to manage.
I shall be attending the latest Liaison Committee meeting next week, we may get some more info then.

The simplest way is to head towards Bridlington from York. You ascend a steep hill onto the wolds called Garrowby Hill and after a few miles you come to a sign for millington 4 miles, pocklington 6 - head down this right turn for 2-3 miles, a left then takes you the final mile or so to millington. As you reach the village the pastures & wood are signed left. Follow the road until you reach the pond and park here (or in the woods 1/4 mile toward the village). The Hawfinch should be around the pond, as will the kingfisher & water rail. Red Kite can usually be seen up the valley above the pond. Continuing along the road you will enter another valley. On the left hand side of this next valley is a footpath leading to the best viewpoint for the rough-legged Buzzards and also a good spot for all round viewing. You should be able to see Red Kite, Buzzard & Kestrel knocking about with the possibility of Merlin, Peregrine, SEO & Sparrowhawk. If you look across the road from the viewpoint toward an escarpment a mile or so ahead this is where we saw the RL Buzzard on the 4th Jan and where I also saw the birds in December. It does come along the valley from the escarpment toward you also. Hope this helps.

p.s. you can come through pocklington to millington but there is more scope fro getting lost.

Whereabouts in East Yorkshire will you be starting?

Hi Kay,

Here's the directions I give my classes - out of more than 100 people only 1 couple got lost who went thro' Millington Village. I'm there with my groups all tomorrow, so will let you know if I have any sightings!
Cheers

Millington Wood Grid reference SE 837 530
Leave the 1079 between Beverley and York at the junction for Pocklington. Follow the “Scenic Drive” signs through Pocklington. Go straight through Pocklington and after a Total garage turn right following the brown signs to Millington Wood and the ordinary sign-posts to Millington. Carry on towards Millington by following brown Millington Wood signs (but do not go to the village itself), the road will narrow and there are some sharp bends, but the wood has a large car park at the bottom of a hill.

Andy didn't say why birders may be interested in this site. I've had very close views of wintering Hen Harriers there, much closer than at either Blacktoft or Faxfleet, and hunting in good daylight fairly early in the morning. Of course they quarter large areas, so sometimes turn up further along the estuary. This morning birdguides reported one at Sunk Island; whilst it was seen again this afternoon at Stone Creek giving fairly close views from a car
Cheers

Many thanks James and Mike, most excellent gen chaps :t:.

I'll keep a close eye on here and BG for RL Buzzard sightings.

Jim - we're staying in Hull this time. Just a flying visit. Might go to Far Ings on Sat (I know its in Lincs) for a couple of hours, is it worth a visit?

Had a cold, wet, dirty and in the end tiring day but got those long eared owls at Fairburn. Well four of them anyway. Cut lane was a let down as the area was taking a serious flailing. A guy that walked past was very angry about it as it seems to be a prelude to Yorkshire Water getting ready to destroy the place for some works.

Chris.

If travelling from Hull you're best following Michaels directions and going through Pocklington. On the road out of Pock theres some fields/allotments on the left hand side. Check the wires for Corn Bunting.

Afraid I can't help with Far Ings, never been.

Roy had two Smew on Sunday and I have on few occasions this winter so could be a second bird. Roy thought one may be a immature male which would fit your description.
Did High Eske this afternoon and had twelve Whoopers in fields to the north.
Twelve Goosander on East Park lake y'day and 25 Waxwings nearby on Holderness Rd.

Far Ings is a good site if you can justify the bridge toll. Bittern is regular and drake Smew on Hotel pit today still. Sorry to mention Lincs on this thread!

There is a drake Smew at Far Ings and a good chance of Bittern and Bearded Tit

That was my feeling with the saturday bird on O res being adult female

Hawfinch has been on the board at Far Ings for a while, too, not seen owt of it- think it's spotted in the mornings. Bearded tits are a good chance, I'd recommend the pond in front of Reeds Hotel.

Sorry - this post will be about a Linc site!
 

If you do go to Far Ings, make sure you don't follow the new signs, as they take you to a visitor centre, which is away from the best birds. You want to go to the old Far Ings, now renamed Ness End. Can send directions if required. You would also be near Waters' Edge which often has plenty of Redpolls at this time of year, including some of the rarer varieties. No records on birdguides recently, but it is underwatched.

Yes, Far Ings is a brill location. If the wind is westerly you can get extremely close to the drake Smew on the lake in front of the Hotel - it shelters close to the perimeter path. It's also one of the best locations for Bittern, but even better in Spring if you are in the area again. I've had them having an aerial skirmish over the car park, plus a youngster stretching its wings right next to the path. In winter the male Bitterns are still around. Also good for common wildfowl, Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Pochard etc, and Kingfisher often alights in front of the main hide, as did a whole family of Bearded Tits on one memorable location. They were right in front of the big hide in October, but you can't rely on them as you used to. Willow Tit is fairly common on the feeders if they are stocked at the mo. An even better location for a May visit.

Many of Graham Catley's pics are taken at these 2 locations, If you click on his blog & then click on older posts, to see some of his recent N Lincs stuff.
http://www.pewit.blogspot.com/

In a way the bridge toll is a good thing, as for some reason it tends to put off too many from the North bank visiting when you want a quiet day's birding!;)

Cheers

You all love Leeds
 

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uYSULkXcVYw

thinks you would enjoy this Leeds United!