Now you say it's a bluethroat being ringed, you can see it, but you do have to get your eye in! Another theory bites the dust!

Welwick saltmarsh is really a roost site you can see the birds during the day but it's very hit and miss. Sometimes the birds do come in early so the last couple of hours are best. Wrap up well its very exposed and bloody freezing.

Its also a good place for Water Pipit but they only really show in flight usually when a raptor flushes them.

G

Anybody booked on to the Rapter Roost Walks at Blacktoft over the next couple of weekends? We're going on the one on the 14th.

Be interested to hear opinions of these events.

Richard

It'll be packed in the singleton hide.;) mark.

Welwick - Gary has sumed up the site. In response to mikes comment on the off roading this has been very much reduced and i would ask anyone visiting the site to pass on any details to me of off roaders so we can reduce further disturbance.

In reply to tophillbirder re Pulfin, Yorkshire wildlife trust are not conducting any work on their land. EA are doing some foot path work and removing a boundry kissing gate and replacing it with post and rail. Dont know who the contact is at EA but they will advise you of all works on their land.

I've been on a few of these over the years and what Mark said is true....Singleton Hide can get full to bursting point. The success is very dependant upon the birds showing well. I can think of one that I did a few years ago now, that drew a blank on raptors, not a talon in sight! That's one of the joys/headaches of organising stuff in advance I suppose.
However on a good day you'll see a shed load of birds, and be able to get id tips from more knowledgeable people.
Hope the birds do the right thing for you on the 14th

Anyone know if the Bewick's are still at Nth. Frodingham? Any info. appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Loshpotts.
Sparrowhawk, 2 x Roe Deer, Yellowhammer, Tufted Duck. Notable that there must be 1000+ thrushes feeding in the trunip field that also has sheep in it. Mainly redwing, fieldfare and starlings. Also lapwing and 40 golden plover.

Water Rail heard squeeling from the flooded scrub - not sure if that's a new one Steve. I tried really hard to see it but it never showed and it's pretty thick stuff there. Almost on the list?

Still there mate.

Mealy in Sheffield on birdguides, hopefully a few more about this weekend. Going to Nottingham for the night tomorrow so its a stop off at Clumber Park, Hawfinch reported there again today.

Yes it's new Marcus. Habitat looks good for Water Rail. Not a lot on the water then from the sounds of it?

Just a word from sydney swillington to say hello to all , hope to get involved in discussion's about the yorkshire birding scene .
cheers.
from Sydney.

Hi Sydney, welcome to the Yorkshire thread. Usually lots of cross county discussion and loads of info sharing on here. Plenty of guys in the Leeds area that post.

Just opened my blinds to 20+ Waxwings, nice garden tick :)

QUALITY

Nice one Mike!

Managed to take this Barnie on the way back from Welwick! Report of sorts on the blog.
Cheers

Weather brings more bizareness!
 

I headed up to Dalby/Wkyeham area for dawn hoping to use the sunshine that had been forecast. However, at about 8:30 the snow starts and my plans are in a mess. Not only that the roads are now treachorous and I am well off the beaten track. Still a dipper is displaying so its not all bad. I try to get into Wykeham to look for the shrike but the road is under three/four inches and I don't fancy it.

For whatever reason I decide to check the fields and find a hare hunkered down and a couple of finches feeding in the stubble. They are distant and the snow is thick and well jigger me! They are Snow Bunting! The day suddenly picks up, I am about 12 miles from the coast in fairly normal farmland.

I pluck up the courage to 'commando stylee' get up close to these beauties whilst passing motorists stop and stare. Don't blame them I must have looked crazy. You make an effort for you favourite birds especially when they are in their element(s)! Brilliant :t:

RESULT!!! ^^^
Lovin' that 2nd pic!

Bewick's & Hoodies
 

I too went over to the east coast today. No snow after Wetherby and then a blanket across the wolds and then none on the other side, although it did start to snow in Brid.

First stop was North Frodingham. The ten Bewick's showed very well. I was lucky as they were on the first area of water (ice!) at the top of the public footpath near the road. Some nice shots of them sliding about.

I then tried for the Glauc. at Brid. - a no show. A quick call to Hotspur (thanks again James) and I was on site for the wintering Hooded Crow north of Flamborough. Very tricky at times to see the whole of the flock as many were over the other side of the ridge in the field. I took James' advice and stayed in the car. A couple of mutant Crows distantly in flight showing pale areas to the plumage had me wondering. Then the real thing, but not one, or even two - three Hooded Crows together on the deck!

A second attempt for the Glauc. with again no luck.

Cheers Michael. It wasn't until I got back to the car that I realised how knackered one of my hands was. I didn't get the feeling back into it for over an hour - not good. :eek!:

OH GOD! What were ya doing to knacker ONE hand out? They're only birds! ;)

:eek!:

That's how you become an award winning photographer! Eric Hosking lost an eye taking Owl pics & now Marcus nearly lost his hand with the Snow Buntings! Are any of your workshops in the snow? - don't want you to lose any 'students' from frostbite while they try for a Ptarmigan!

Loved your description of when you "pluck[ed] up the courage to [go] 'commando style' [to] get up close to these beauties", but don't know why you had to take your undies off first to get a Snow Bunt pic, you could easily have lost the use of something else for an hour or more - painful! ;)

The BBC are looking for someone to tickle Kate Humble's fancy (I repeat, fancy) on the Springwatch Sofa. You can't tickle her fancy with either a frostbitten hand or doo-dah, so please take care - we'd all miss your posts!
Cheers
:t:

Good skills with the second photo marcus. Infact great find.

Thanks everyone. Can't go tickling anyones fancy without the missus' prior permission though. I think todays conditions were the most extreme I have been in for a prolonged period. I photographed some twite in the snow and that was cold and a few days and in the highlands last winter the car read -9! Today was just crazy though in the storm just me and these little fellas. I had some seed in my pocket and chucked it down for them and they seemed pretty chuffed, trilling away.

Just goes to show check them fields!

EDIT also had on some new thermal limed North Face extreme trousers so doodah was very cosy and warm!!