One of my clients has taken some pics today of a raptor with its prey. OK so it's a common raptor, but the pics tell quite a dramatic story. Some people may view it as porn, but as you're dedicated birders, I hope it's not too strong for your stomachs! 8-P

To view, follow the link to the blog below!
Cheers

Very good shots. Maurice must be chuffed to bits

Yeah, he is. I've got some even gorier ones, but will only post them if there's a demand!

They're great. I'm up for more!

I live a stonesthrow away. The birding in the immediate locality is fairly hard work as it is mainly fields. You will get both red-legged and grey partridge, barn, tawny and little owls, I have seen a kingfisher in a ditch nearby and the usual hedgerow species. It is not (currently, but I live in hope) Red Kite country. A little further afield there is the lake at Castle Howard (25 min drive) , Wheldrake Ings, Nosterfield ( Red Necked Grebe there according to Birdguides) and Saltholme RSPB would all be approximately an hour away (although I am guessing you may be at a wedding and not have time to travel far!?)

19/3/09
 

A Long Eared Owl was roosting in a pine tree in our garden this mornig, it is now roosting in the hedge along side of our paddock, also a Goldcrest in our garden this morning too

Very nice garden tick Andy!

Most of you will probably know already, but one of Maurice's Sparrowhawk pics has won the Birdguides picture of the week. I wish I could claim credit for a talent I have carefully nurtured over the past 4 years, but at least I did suggest sending it in to Birdguides. Will have a look through some of the gorier shots, and maybe post a couple of those later this evening.

thank you , yes a very nice garden tick indeed, and my first Long Eared too :t:, 1 Pink Footed Goose with 8 Greylag Geese in the pasture field across the road from us ,

At home writing lots of essays and the like and I hope that nothing good comes out on the pager. Relief sets in when I get home to no news this evening only to be relatively inundated - Bittern at Flam on North Marsh, Richard's Pipit at Hornsea Mere and Snow Goose on the dark side (Far Ings). Balls.

i hope the bittern stays for a few days, cant get out birding till sunday afternoon due to work :C, only the second bittern record for flamborough

Apparently it's a Ross's Goose not a Snow Goose http://pewit.blogspot.com/

Its plastic, hurrah!

My old Birdforum identity seems to have disappeared down a plughole in cyberspace, so please don't PM me on that ID, as I can no longer access it.
Crazy!

Mal Skelton - wasn't yesterday your big birdrace? How did you get on?
Cheers

You can pm him, because he'll have his original account back by then :t:
Please people, if you can't log-in, just contact admin via the 'contact us' form at the very bottom of every page.
There's never a reason to create a second account.
cheers,
Andy

Fantastic morning at Beeley Wood near Hillsborough - not only got all 3 woodpeckers on the same site, but in the same clearing, at the same time! :t:

hi all my first time on here but thought you`d like to know at least 3-4 pairs of woodlark singing and displaying at a site south of york also grass snake adder and common lizard all showing well too also all 3 woodpeckers present although lesser spotted only heard calling and drumming

I'm going to wash my car more often, last time I did it I got 150+ waxwings in the garden, today I was rewarded with a small flock (8) of siskins ripping into the buds of my ash tree. Also 4 goldfinch flying over and a single red kite soaring around over the houses.

It's getting to the point where I've seen red kites more than any other raptor this year. Good to know they are doing so well isn't it. Still haven't seen a waxwing this winter even though it seems to be the best one in ages.
Good one there Pete, can't be too often people get those views. Though it does happen at Potteric I believe.
I now have a week off so I hope for some sightings but can't decide where to go.

Theres been a black necked grebe seen at potteric carr today from the cottage drain hide

Can anyone give me a grid reference for Ten Acre Lake on Hatfield Moors, I'm off later in the week and fancy a trip for the Red-necked Grebe as well as stopping into Potteric Carr.

John

John
There's some info here and here about the area, sorry can't give you a map ref. but you should be able to suss out directions to the lake from the sites.

Lucky man Pete, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker i never seem to have any luck with, not seen one now for two years, the last one was close to Rother Valley CP

Welcome to the forum, with your welcome news too! Good to know the reptiles are now out in Yorkshire, after we searched fruitlessly for them yesterday at presumably a different site south of York!
Cheers

Thanks Keith!