Bob, I think that was me. May be I am guilty of taking it too seriously at times. I'm not sure. Strikes me I buy optics to look at birds through. It seems a bit pointless if the birds or news of the birds is not forthcoming, when there is no good reason not to spread the news. It's being seen today without any hassle and it sounds like by sharing the news a lot of people are enjoying this unique event.

I could try to lighten up by going to the cinema where they don't actually show a film, or perhaps take up golf without using a golf ball, but I think I'll stick with birdwatching where you watch birds.

I guess I must be more of a Twitcher. No wrong or right in my book, just different emphasis on our shared hobby.

Good birding.

It wasn't.


Not forthcoming... you've just seen an American Robin in Yorkshire, FFS! |=)|

I get your point though, it does seem to have been handled rather poorly. It'll be interesting to see what the 'official' story is.


Absolutely, and long may it continue, in harmony |:d|


Cheers,
Bob.

Not forthcoming... you've just seen an American Robin in Yorkshire, FFS! |=)|

I know, I'm getting greedy, and a bit giddy. This is inland Yorkshire.

Just got back from seeing both the American Robin and the Pacific Diver. Great views were had of both birds so I'm a happy bunny. Maybe the next Yorkshire rarity will turn up on the East Coast or do they prefer inland sites now!
Thanks to the BF members that helped me with the Robin directions. Still managed to get lost in Bradford for a short while! (bloody diversions!).

Well done Mike, Bradford is a bit of a nightmare to drive round isn't it?
I hope the loon is still there on Thursday, first chance i've got of going.

Got to see the Diver between 8 & 10 this morning. Crowd was bigger when i got there than when i left! Also Peregrine flying over and (unbeknown to me) Little Grebe were year ticks. Went home. Got some brekkie and then went on a year tick bonanza with Whooper Swan, Ruff, Dunlin, Blackwit, Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Stock Dove and to finish it all off a corking ringtail Hen Harrier. What an ace 3 days. Got some really pants pics of the Diver (rubbish camera/scope on full zoom at half a mile) but the views were actually pretty not bad, i didnt even care about going into Treves. Hope you all have enjoyed the Yorkshire inland megas. I see somebody in Lancs thinks it would be an idea to steal the thunder and tries to string a Thayer's Gull!

James Imagine if you were sat wrong side of the penines looking into a landfill site, hearing of all the beauts in Gods County. I might get creative too ;)

May go across to Flamborough if anyones interested this Saturday/Sunday??

Any good yearlisting yorkshirefolk wanting full value for their £10 shoudl note that there's an adult female scaup on the nature reserve pit (not the boating lake). Do not, however, expect access to the hide, even though you've parted with a tenner! Also GSW, Kingfisher, Yellowhammer all in the vicinity of the hide - Oh, I got my money's worth alright!

Sorry about the hassle finding the Robin, Mike. What I meant to say was, to get to Dowley Gap you don't want to set off from Farnham Gravel Pits.

Flamborough at the weekend good, but if I work hard now I might get there sooner. Mike talked it up a treat today.

Graham

Would be free Saturday afternoon or Sunday for Flamborough. The Lapland Buntings are still showing, although I've missed them twice now! Did get great views of Peregrine, SEO, Barn Owl, RL Partridge all on the headland though. Also there are still GN Divers at Filey.

Could do sunday pm at flamboro. Am ringing on sun morning & sleeping saturday.

I've told it to hang about until you've been Keith - looking pretty impressive today!

Sandra

Glad you got it Mike. We got lost too coming from the other direction, near Bingley. I had visions of us having to come home without seeing the robin when we'd only been about 2 mins. away!

Sandra

Thanks Sandra, I was a bit of a wally today, went in to work with toothache, came back to visit dentist but forgot to pick up my work equipment when I left Pontefract....so i had to go back to get it as i am not in Pontefract until next week and will need it before then. Pillock I am...I could have rung in after the tooth extraction with some old rubbish and been over at Farnham today. Too blessed honest that's me.

Have managed to find 3 house sparrows this month, yesterday in fact, this is my worst monthly total for this species in the whole 25 years of active birding. Has anyone else noticed this decline?
I've seen more tree sparrows than house sparrows, I've actually seen more woodpeckers than house sparrows.

Im fairly lucky keith, good numbers of House Sparrows near me.

10 in my garden here in suburban Bradford. I'm starting to think it's not so bad living here what with the firecrest, american robin, shorelark and pacific diver - and it's only January. Is it always like this? (it's my first year birding!)

That would be a no.

I cannot remember the last 1st for Britian that was in Yorkshire. I doubt there's ever been a first for the WP. Keith you normally know such things, so I'll consult the oracle on this one.

Here goes Marcus, been doing a bit of swotting.

Great winged petrel at Flamboro' in 1986 is the only first for the WP...if accepted. It's still being considered.

Other firsts for the UK in Yorkshire are...
Herald Petrel at Flamboro' in 1982...still being considered
Definite accepted firsts for UK

Red-necked stint, Blacktoft, 1986
Stilt sandpiper, Easington, 1954
Hudsonian godwit, Blacktoft, 1981
Ross's gull, Tadcaster, 1846
Rufous turtle dove, Scarboro' 1889
Marmora's warbler, Langsett, 1982
Spectacled warbler, Filey, 1992
Orphean warbler, Wetherby, 1848
Penduline tit, Spurn, 1966

Not accepted
Mugimaki flycatcher, Sunk Island, 1991

Just back from another good look at the diver, it looks better 400m closer than the last look i got!

Re House Sparrows, plenty of them in Spofforth at the minute, plus a good Starling roost.

Re: 1sts, how about the Flamborough Taiga Flycatcher?

Cheers

ANDY

OOps. My reference book is older than this record so I didn't have it. Sorry. Need a new reference book I think.

so that was 2003 for the taiga flycatcher 1st for UK, 3rd for the WP

That sounds about right i think, i havn't got my file to had at the minute for when i saw it. Also, was thinking about the Black Lark, didn't the observation of that at Spurn get promoted to the 1st british record retrospectivley after the welsh bird proved it may well have been an accurate yorkshire record and that they could get here after all!!!???

Checked it out on the BTO site and yes, the record for spurn is now the first

so
Black lark, Spurn, 1984

Anybody want an out of date reference book? LOL

You might do better to just pencil them in till the rush is over. :-)

Any more thoughts on your plans for the weekend Marcus? Still good birds about in Flamborough, including Corn Buntings in Thornwick Bay area. Or has recent events tempted you to look for Californian Condors at Rodley?

Whats everyone else up to this weekend?