Had an excellent out of county today - got the Brown Shrike - Dave needed it, and I never managed to photograph the Flamborough bird. Got some nice shots today in calm conditions, and nobody could get too close to flush it because of the river. Glad I don't live near Heathrow though!

Then on to Didcot - just as we were pulling in the pager announced the presence of the atlantis Yellow-legged, and it was duly ticked minutes later.

Dave then found a couple of Caspo's and a Yellow-legged.

Good day as we haven't been birding together since the Farnes in July.

some eastern chiffs and an eastern willow warbler at flamboro. Also a Ring Ouzel and my first Clouded Yellow

We must have just missed each other. I was there for the sea watch and then wen't to spurn to dip the red-flanked bluetail. Managed a Jack Snipe, so at least i'm still adding to the life list.

Mark.

Not as big a haul as the East Yorks lot can muster, but there's some good stuff round Sheffield at the moment. Slav Grebe and Scaup at RVCP, a Firecrest was at an Ecclesall garden yesterday so that area may be worth a look, Caspian Gull and YLG have been in the Redmires gull roost this last week, and a Little Egret has been at Attercliffe (perhaps not very exciting, but a first so close to the City Centre).

Sadly I'm stuck in the office till at least Saturday, but good luck if anyone's out looking!

James do you mean an 'acredula' or was it something more interesting, i.e. a 'yakutensis'?

G

John and I had a very interesting day yesterday volunteering on a Dormouse nest box check with the Yorkshire Mammal Group. The Dormice were reintroduced to a private site near Ripon three years ago and the population now appears to be doing well.

We got to see our first ever Hazel Dormice, together with both Common and Pygmy Shrew, loads of Roe Deer, Brown Hare etc.

Birds were in short supply but we did manage good numbers of RL Partridge and a Jay. The fact we were in prime shooting country may account for the lack of raptors.

Anyone know who would be interested in GS Woodpecker in off the sea at Flamboro on 13th October or a Jay flying towards the sea over Old Fall Plantation on 30th Sept? If they go on as Roving Records will they get picked up, or is there a better way to let someone know?

Cheers

Flamborough records
 

Hi Michael

I'll make sure both records are forwarded on to the Flamborough recorder and will therefore be picked up in the local Report and, thereafter, the Yorkshire one. Jays in particular have been present in higher than usual numbers since the start of October; up to four have been present on some days and one flew over the Coastguard Cottages this morning.

All the best

Craig

Thanks Craig

I saw a Ross's Goose on Lingham Lake, Nosterfield on Saturday afternoon, in the company mostly of Greylags but also some Pinkfeet. It was on the water the whole time so I couldn't see any evidence or otherwise of rings. I know only birds arriving with carrier flocks at coastal locations will even be seriously evaluated, and that this is a very poor candidate for acceptance, but out of interest does anyone know if this bird has been around a while and/or is a definite escape? Apologies for the late posting - struck by norovirus on the way home and out of action since.

Graham

sorry Garry - was writing through tired eyes - acredula indeed sadly not anything more exciting than that.

Some Photos

Awww! I want one! My nuts were scoffed by wood mice unfortunately.

I've a tube of cream you can borrow Jim;)


Other than a couple of low flyovers of the house by red kites yesterday I've had a pretty boring weekend.

[quote=Keith Dickinson;1620702]I've a tube of cream you can borrow Jim;) [quote]

:-O

Shame about your nuts Jim. Would have been a very good record apparently.

On the subject of Yorkshire mammals, I see on the FBOG website some Harvest Mice were trapped over the weekend. I would love to see this species and would gratefully appreciate any advanced notice of future trapping events at Filey Dams, Fairburn Ings or anywhere else this species occur.

[quote=skink1978;1620809][quote=Keith Dickinson;1620702]I've a tube of cream you can borrow Jim;) Watched something on telly the other day that said harvest mouse densities are highest in reedbeds so a good scan of the reedbed at the dams may produce the goods i guess.

May be too far for you, but I read about a harvest mouse census in the Sheffield area in the coming months. I'll dig out the details when I get home if you're interested.

[quote=skink1978;1620809][quote=Keith Dickinson;1620702]I've a tube of cream you can borrow Jim;) The harvest mice at Fairburn Ings used to be in the wet meadow by the new boardwalk, not the one leading to pickup pool. There were never many of them and when I was helping with the pheonix group we put out some tennis balls to see if we could get one to nest in a ball but it was unsuccessful. I'm not sure whether there are any trapping events at Fairburn nowadays, the Mammal Society would be the best perople to ask Mike.

Thanks for the Harvest Mice info folks. Fingers crossed I might see some early November in Herts. They are almost impossible to see well without trapping but the site info is much appreciated.

Pete, I would be interested in the HM census info so long as it doesn't cause you any trouble to dig out.

There's been a Ross's Goose at Lound (North Notts) since Sunday or Monday, so it could be the same bird.

Also on birdforum, there is mention of 4 on Texel here

Been after a Kestrel shot for a while with hide set ups and all sorts. This one came in off the sea and crashed into the field at Old Fall. It took off just after the sun came out having dug around for some worms and I managed to grab this.

Red Kite poisoned in Yorkshire!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/n...re/8317727.stm.

As I have mentioned to two or three of the West Ridings birders Red Kite sightings seem to have been very low since about March I assumed an ephemeral change in feeding movements (even though numbers showed no drop in 2007 or 2008). It can be several days between red kite sightings at the moment though I only have anecdotal evidence to support any fluctuation in numbers.

Interesting report Marcus, we still get a couple of kites around our house but I had noticed that when I go over to Preston to either drop-off or pick-up Craig, I'm not seeing the numbers of birds that I did when he first started there last year. On the first journey over on the A59 we saw good numbers of buzzards and a couple of kites between Blubberhouses and Bolton Abbey, and most trips that year I was seeing at least a couple of birds. I've been over 3 times since the start of the autumn term this year and not seen one raptor this side of Pendle Hill, not even a kestrel. Makes you wonder .....

Red kites are reported in my neck of the woods with increasing frequency, so part of it could be they're finding new feeding areas further afield. However I'm sure red kites would be yet another bird of prey to "mysteriously disappear" should they start frequenting the Peak District grouse moors.

Sorry to see things are just as bad in North Yorks. You do have to wonder if it's taking its toll.

I've seen five red kites with a buzzard about 6 weeks ago near home. I still see the odd one or two on a fairly regular basis and local kestrels are increasing since not seeing any last spring. A red kite had been noticed at St James' hospital just recently too according to the hospital forum.