Bins - A Yorkshire View
 

Hi all, going off the thread a little here but would welcome my fellow Tykes view on the following:

I am finally upgrading my bins and have a budget of around £300 thanks to birthday contributions!

Went to In Focus yesterday at Denby Dale and from the four I was given to try the Opticron BGA 8x42 Classic WP and the Nikon 8x42 Monarch felt to me like the best two. I tried the Hawke Frontier ED 8x43 at Bass & Bligh in Harrogate the other week and they felt very bright, but theres not much wildllife/trees to look at outside the shop.

Im thinking of going to Rother valley Optics off Junction 31 of the M1 as they seem to have most of the brands out there - is there any form of viewing area onto a field perhaps at this shop?

I have put this on the optics section but I would appreciate any advice on this as I will probably be using the new bins for the next 20 years....

Cheers

John

I echo this as the area is quite large - are they being seen up by the folly (you have to pay to access this area) or in the parkland somewhere (think you just pay to park and then its free to walk in the parkland)???

With a similar budget I ended up with the Minox

At Blacktoft yesterday for this event, and had a really good couple of hours. There were only about a dozen people booked in so we had loads of space in Singleton Hide. Although a lot of the anticipated birds like Merlins & SEO didn't show we had super views of both Hen & Marsh Harriers. We also had Barn Owls hunting right in front of the hide, which impressed my son no end.

My 6 year old daughter got bored part way through but the RSPB staff were superb with her.

We also had good views of Stonechat, Snipe, & Whooper Swan.

A good afternoon, but cold & muddy!! Unfortunately my attempts at photography failed miserably, so everything got binned off the camera.

Loads of pinkfeet around yesterday, got a skein of 500 over Handsworth Sheffield, and another of around 300 over Potteric Carr. Thousands reported over the area.

Quite a good day at Potteric too, got a bittern and water rail at the Willow Pool hide, but I was there a bit early for the Caspo (as much as I tried to string a lone herring gull into one...)

Just back from doing my tetrad for the BTO Atlas. Had a walk round Adel Dam, Golden Acre Park and Breary Marsh.
Nuthatch performing well at the little feeding station in G A P, treecreeper very visible in A D, but Breary was a let down, a few blue tit and great tit and nothing else.
All 3 are still pretty much frozen over so waterfowl weren't in big numbers, other than mallard.

Re Yorkshire Bird Report 2006
 

Of intrest to anyone passing by/or visitng North Cave Wetlands, the latest YNU Yorkshire Bird Report 2006 can be bought (£10) from Angela at 'The Wild Bird' mobile catering establishment (burger van) in the car park. Current opening hours Tuesday to Sunday c7.30am to c2.30pm.

Bird news from North Cave Wetlands today; 1 Waxwing flew south at 8.30am, c200 Pink-feet N.W. 3 Lesser Redpoll, c30 Siskin, 1 or 2 Barn Owls also been showing well over reserve from c4pm onwards most evenings this past week.

Speaking of pink feet, I saw a large number of birds (200+) on my way home from work Friday at around 5:10. Too far away to see what but were in V formations heading West through Gipton/Oakwood. By the time I got into that area there was a big flock of gulls heading the same way.

Crap birding up on Howarth Moors today-just red grouse essentially, although some were close enough for good views.

Quite a lot of gulls passing over (inc. herring/lesser black-backed) and roosting on nearby reservoirs.

Yawn.

[Im thinking of going to Rother valley Optics off Junction 31 of the M1 as they seem to have most of the brands out there - is there any form of viewing area onto a field perhaps at this shop?

Cheers

John[/quote]

This shop is on a main street with only phone lines and roof tops to view.

Stu.

Good to see you on here Gary!! Wild Bird does a cracking Saus & Tom also..

I second that motion. Keep posting N.Cave news and you might tempt me back!
Started in Hull looking for 15 Waxies seen y'day on Anlaby High Rd.
Got news that Bewick's were still near N.Frodingham.
Headed for Barmston and had the Glauc distantly to the north but was flushed and flew further then landed on the sea off Fraisthorpe. However on returning from viewing the outfall the Gull was back and was settled enough to get good shots. Also 3 Snow Buntings, 2 Stonechat, Purple Sands and Grey Plovers.
At Tophill had a rh Smew on D reservoir. 2 rh Smew reported on O reservoir but could only see one so can't confirm if 3 or 2 mobile birds on site. Also Siskin by the car park, 2 Brambling and Water Rail at the feeders and Peregrine from Watton NR hide.
Just a thought but as both Michael and I have wanted get info from/to N.Lincs would it worth any tyke birder regularly going into enemy territory starting a N.Lincs thread and see if it continues.

Family trip west today,started at Crosbyfor the Gormley statues (Ace), Plenty of birds about; Goldeneye, Red breasted merganser on the lake, sanderling on the beach. Went onto Southport, loads of gulls about, BHG's moulting into summer clothes - kept thinking i'd seen Meds because of some of the moulting patterns but no. A whopper of a Herring Gull required a good look but didn't get further but there's so many gulls there'll be something good. Loads posing.

Went on to Formby for the Red Squirrels, sadly Squirl pox caught hold in november and seems to have pretty much wiped them out. Various signs about saying 80 have been found dead and a similar number taken in sick. Again more signs appealing for any sightings to be reported. Pretty sad really. 10% of the 2006 population left

Hey Gary,

I don't think we've met before, but as a N. Cave regular I recognise the G. Dayes signature from the bird log book! Welcome to BF, it's nice to have news of the reserve while I'm away from home.

I believe they don't want Pontefract Lane to become the rat-run it had been. There had been a few bad accidents along it due to idiots overtaking on the bends or brows of hills. There ought to be better signs to make it clear that it is essentially a dead-end road now. I just thought I'd warn people in case we manage to find another decent bird there this year.

Second that, as for the grub I could go through the whole menu if I had time! (burp!) :t:

Richard

Careful! Don't put him off already! ;)

Saw the 'Glonk' yesterday too twixt Barmston and Fraisthorpe, cracking bird but strangely no sign of any nudists on such a tropical day! (not that I look of course) :-C

I, too am familiar with the signature if nothing else! Good to have you posting.

Hi,

I have recently brought the Hawke Frontier ED 8 X 42 for just under £300 and can't fault them. From what my fairly limited experience tells me and what I have read they are on par with some much more expensive bins.

RE: Bins - A Yorkshire View
 

Many thanks for the comments posted so far, any comments are welcome.

Cheers

John

LEO's at Fairburnings
 

Heard the sad news that one of the birds has been found dead today - ringed at Bingley Moor a few years back. Does anyone know if it was natural causes? Im hoping its not the local idiots.....

Also when it was rung at Bingley. I always assumed the birds migrated much further.

Re skelton lake access
 

B (:G'day,
Permit holder's only can go through the traffic light's which are permanently on red, these will be local's from the farm and official refuse wagon's, anybody else will prohibited from going through the light's.
Access too skelton is from junction 45 on the M 1 motorway then park safely at the end of the access track down to skelton lake. or access from bullerthorpe lane and park before the light's and walk to skelton via the track that run's alongside the tip.
Happy birding.B (:

I have heard mixed reviews of the following store (mostly good), and they sell imported Monarchs (plus loads of other stuff) cheaper than average UK prices, but you might want to check that they come with some form of guarantee. I heard that the official Nikon guarantee won't be valid, but they'd do a one-year guarantee from the store itself.

http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/...kon-binoculars

Have posted on your other thread, John.