Yes they have. Not sure how often but ive been twice and dipped both.

Went down to Rodley yesterday. There was nothing there, should have just watched the garden!

Think i'll try somewhere else today

Wetherby Wetlands
 

First time posting so bear with me if it goes horribly wrong.

Like the idea of a Yorkshire thread. The new A1 has opened up access to some interesting small pools and channels just to the north of Wetherby. Not sure what life is in them yet for birds, but I'll be checking them out soon. Look like the kind of pools where you could find a Grey Phal swimming about.

There's a significant gravel pit about one mile north, but access looks difficult. You can just see it if heading south on the A1. With the Wharfe and Nidd nearby I'm hopeful for the future when life and plants become established.

Steve

Hi all,

I had a free afternoon yesterday, so thought I'd pay a visit to North Cave Wetlands. I was supprised to find the reserve almost free of people. Possibly too hot for some folk.

Highlights of my leisurely walk around the site are as follows:-

Summer plumage Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper and a fly-past by a couple of Oystercatchers.

Several singing Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and a Skylark.

A pair of Tree Sparrows on the boundary hedge.

A small party of Red-legged Partridge drinking from the lake shallows.

I was hoping to see Turtle Dove or Corn Bunting (would be UK firsts for me). I also failed to come across any raptors (not even the usual Kestrel, never mind a Hobby!!!).

However, without sounding soft, it was one of those days when it was just nice to be out in the countryside, watching our more common birds. I also got to practise my rather limited identification skills.

I returned to my car very hot, but with a great big smile on my face
(at least until I realised I had forgotten to bring a drink!)

Having said that, went back down to Rodley today again, there was abit more about including 5 common gulls, a tail bobbing common spiper, and a Rodley first for me - Grey Partridge. Woo hoo!!

And all wild to boot!

Steve, would be very interested to hear what you find out. i work in Wetherby so any newer sites up there would be well appreciated. Let me know the Grid references for what you know :t:

Wetherby isn't a million miles from me so if these places turn out to be gems i may have to take a look.

Went on my first birding expedition this weekend.... Well went with the (bird) camping to Robin Hoods bay with the idea to stop at the Raptor view point in Wykeham forest on the way back. Was there for a couple of hours without seeing much apart from what I thought were a couple of hawks fly past but I cant say what they are, being a complete novice.....

On the way back to Bradford we thought we would stop at Harewood house, while looking for the Kites from the balcony of the gardens we stotted a Buzzard soaring over the fields and woods. I noticed something in one of the trees when I got the binos on it, it was a Red Kite just sitting there looking at us. When I looked up to spot the Buzzard again there were 4 RK`s soaring. Watched them till they booted us out....

A good ending to my first (proper) birding outing.

Does anyone know what Eccup Reservoir is like for watching the RK`s?

Eccup is now only really any good for the kites during the winter when they tend to congregate in the woodland to the NE of the dam wall. At other times it is pot luck as during spring and summer the birds tend to disperse quite widely. A pair have nested in the woodland near Weardley, between Eccup and the Harewood to Pool road. The Harewood area is just about the best for them....I have travelled between Leeds and Harrogate about a dozen times this year and seen at least one bird every journey in the air over the Harewood estate.

Thanks for the tip, i`ll pay Eccup a visit in winter then..... Out of interest where is the viewing platform that Yorkshire water have set up?

It's not really a viewing platform....just an area on the otherside of the hedge that they have fenced off so that 'scopes could be set up. You'll see it at the dam wall, other side of the road to the wall. There's a notice board...or was last time I was there. You look across the valley from the dam wall for the birds.

Eccup
 

There's a nice walk from Eccup Reservoir which takes you into the Harewood grounds. I did it last Saturday and saw at least 10 Red Kites as well as Common Tern, Grey Wagtail, Cormorant, Curlew, Yellowhammer and Grey Heron.

Eccup is good for Goosander in winter.

Jon

Masham area
 

Hi,
We will be staying in Masham for a week from 19th August. Can anyone suggest good birding sites in that area? Also, what is the must see site in Yorkshire? Birding time will be seriously limited, alas.

All suggestions gratefully received.

I'd say the best site in yorkshire to see something is probably blacktoft sands. Of course the East Coast sites can be exceptional but you need the right weather conditions. From where you are nosterfield is pretty close and is worth a trip, but if you ask my opinion the best place in the world is Rodley Nature Reserve in well Rodley ;)

Blacktoft Sands today
 

Spent the morning at Blacktoft Sands - wonder if I saw any Forum members there. I did have my badge on but didn't notice any caps etc..

Highlight was 3 spoonbills from the Townend hide. There hadn't been anything of note there when we arrived but we went back just before we left for home and there was a completely different 'set' of birds. Green sandpiper, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, lots of herons, ruff, godwit, redshank & spotted redshank, yellow and pied wagtail. Someone had seen bearded tits along the reed edge and we had barn owl flapping over the reeds in the distance. It had rained heavily yesterday apparently so maybe it was making up for lost time and hunting in the daytime.

Lots of tiny frogs hopping on the path to the Singleton hide. Maybe there should have been a sign at the beginning of the track warning us to be careful. Mistook a rabbit turd for a frog at times (fancy going through life being mistaken for a rabbit turd!)

I'd be interested to know if any Forum members were at the reserve today. We arrived at 9.15 and left round about 12.15

Sandra

Good stuff Sandra,
I was there Friday, and saw all the birds that you did.

Then have spent the weekend down at Rodley Quite a few new birds down there including snipe and black tailed godwit. Good numbers of common sands, and some litlle grebes started a new nest - seems late to me...

Hi Sandra

A coach party from the north east will be visiting next Saturday - several BF members will be on the trip :-)

Hope the Spoonies hang around as would be most welcome and probably a life tick for some of the party.

Beardies too would be most welcome. Can you post a full list, or PM me the list so I can let the group now what is available as I have never yet visited this reserve. We were advised of Marsh Harrier, what of Bittern? Avocet? I believe they frequent the area too.

Steve

Hi Sandra,
I was at Blacktoft today from about 11am to 3pm, so we probably passed each other!
I missed the Spotted Redshank and the Yellow Wagtail, but saw most of the other species you mentioned. Did you see the Little Egrets? They seemed to fly about alot between the different pools on the reserve.
I was also lucky enough to see several small groups of Bearded Tit. I sat for ages in Marshland Hide with my bins trained on the reed edges and was finally rewarded with brief views. I also saw a large number of Sedge Warblers.
Come to think of it Sandra- if you left at lunch time- I was the bloke sat in the black pick-up truck, stuffing his face with sandwiches and crisps! :eat:

Marshland was the one hide we didn't go in . We left it until later then as we walked towards it we saw that huge group of birders advancing on it so we wouldn't have a chance of getting a seat. The whole crowd of them seemed to stick together instead of splitting up and going to different hides - can't blame them really because their leader sounded really knowledgable when he was explaining what was about.

Didn't get the egrets as, like you say, they were flitting about and we were never where they were!

Good day out though

Sandra

Hi Steve

Bitterns are certainly there regularly but I've only ever seen them in cold weather when the ponds were frozen over. Water rail had been seen today too. Peregrine regular. Many people today saw bearded tit briefly.

Our full list :

Swift
Swallow
House Martin
Sand martin (100s)
Mallard
Teal
Gadwall
Coot
Moorhen
Little Grebe
House sparrow
Tree sparrow
Chaffinch
Collared dove
Wood pigeon
Marsh harrier
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Pheasant
Barn owl
Sedge warbler
Green sandpiper
Ruff
Godwit (Iceland race) blacktailed?
Spotted redshank
Redshank
Spoonbill
Grey heron
Yellow wagtail
Pied wagtail
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Snipe
Avocet
Lapwing
Reed bunting
Dunlin

Think this is all but I may have missed something. Not bad really as we just went for spoonbill. The godwits looked beautiful with their rusty-red plumage.

I'm sure your Group will have a good day out next week. Please post a report or e-mail me with how you went on.

Sandra

In addition to Sandra's list and my above thread, I also had Dunlin (think you forgot to add it to your list Sandra!), Reed Bunting, Greenshank and possibly Peregrine.

The Peregrine was identified as a speck in the sky by a group of 'regulars' who seemed to know their birds (Do I add Peregrine to my list or not?)

I will also be interested to know how your trip next Saturday goes Steve. Perhaps you can write a report on this Yorkshire thread?

If I was looking at a speck in the sky and someone was certain it was a peregrine, I'd put it on my list.

Thanks for those omissions - reed bunting as well as dunlin.

I really should carry round a notebook and jot names down as I see them.

Sandra

Thanks for all info - nice and varied list. It is a local RSPB trip and I'm sure there will be something for everyone.

Of course I will post a report on here - especially as it is my first visit.

Of course x2 you can count the Peregrine, Skink. These "regulars" (like seawatchers) are reliable ;)

Thanks.

Steve

Great idea Sandra - wonder if it will catch on?

3:-)

Not likely we cant get coins out of our pockets down here let alone anything bigger. Went to bank island today nr Wheldrake Ings. Nothing there. At all, saw a fox and heard a tawny owl. Best of the rest was a sedge warbler and a heron very close so i could sketch it (badly, cant draw) in my notes!!