Certainly a hotbed of activity down there! I think the Fulmar was reported yesterday on birdguides yesterday evening (c5pm?)

I saw that- probably blown crosscountry with the kittiwakes in the gales. Want a leach's petrel!!!

Awesome mate, superb day list.

Can you tell me a bit more about the white wings at Wheldrake. Do I need waders to get to the appropriate hide. I haven't been to whledarke since the whiskered tern in the mid 90's so I imagine its a different place now what with the flower chumps et al.

Hi James

first post on here but been following various threads to do with Lower Derwent valley. I'm just interested to know where this info regarding a female bird in dec came from. Its just that its not one anyone who birds in the valley regularly knows about and obviously i'm keen to either trace the record, or dismiss the 'never put out' comments

cheers

Was talking to a gentleman from thorganby who mentioned it as we were talking about the 2 males at bubwith. Apparently it was about when the male was first at wheldrake. The kind of bird that could readily go through unnoticed. Unfortunately i fear this is the birder that doesnt submit records due to previous (that im unaware of) although i could be mistaken. He stated the bird as fact and i had no reason to doubt him as appeared a competent birder (far more so than myself).

ps. Welcome to bf

Had an interesting plover with the golden plover flock at north cave today. My notes read obvious super, not capped looking. A grey and white bird. Plain grey wing coverts with vermiculation on the primaries. Looked leggy-not longer legs than the GP but slighter in build. Long winged. Dark legs. Dark bill. Grey throat ends higher than GP's with white breast and belly. Indistinguishable in flight from GP.

The guy you mention claims lots of stuff, but never subs records or tells anyone at the time, it's always 'after the event' or when he bumps into folk at 'twitches'. Whether any of it is 'gen' is unknown, but given that he never offers any of his records up for verification, either immediately or afterwards, then this supposed female American Wigeon is about as useful as anything else he reports. Best forget about it, everyone esle does with respect to anything that he claims :))

Possible American GP, James? Here's the sheet from Concise BWP.

Field characters
24–25 cm; wing-span 65–72 cm. Slighter than Golden Plover, with particularly narrower neck and longer legs and wings; tips of last extend well beyond tertials and tail, forming noticeably long and narrow end to form; flight silhouette also exhibits relatively longer, narrow wings and slimmer body. Breeding plumage basically black, relieved by white band round crown, extending down neck-sides to broaden and end by shoulder, and rather sparse golden spangles on back and wings (except quills); in summer, much the darkest of the 3 golden plovers. Juvenile and winter adult recall young Grey Plover in colour, often showing no visible gold at distance but differing in cleaner supercilium, smaller spangles on rather dark back and wings, and clouded, softly barred (not lined) underparts below chest, as well as size and build. Underwing dusky on axillaries and coverts (usually noticeably white on Golden Plover); narrow wing-bar greyish (again duller than Golden Plover’s less long but whiter mark). In flight, lighter and on ground, daintier than Golden Plover.

Unmistakable only in breeding plumage; identification in other plumages needs close attention to detail. Beware confusing small, greyer examples of Golden Plover and occasional apparent hybrids of that species and this (or Pacific Golden Plover). Commonest flight calls a clear, vibrato ‘kuee-eep’, recalling Lapwing to some ears, a fluted ‘puu’ and a short ‘kweep’; none suggests Spotted Redshank, as does commonest note of Pacific Golden Plover.

Well, there 'ya go, nowt sa queer as folks as we say. Quite a harsh and clique'ish post imho. Maybe he just doesn't want, or have the time, to submit records and surely this is his right?, whatever the reason. I feel that this does not deserve the disrespect you obviously regard him with.

I am new'ish to birding but I would never dream of 'posting reports'. I conceed I would be only too willing to post a pic for id if I had one and let it run from there but many 'watchers' just don't want to get that deeply involved for various reasons.

Personally, I get frustrated by forum (any forum) members who can only exist on a nickname without any clues or blog/web sites for reference, but hey, I live with it;)

Denis.

Any chance of a bit of guidance J?

Sorry Marcus, didnt see your post.

Its a walking boots job. Follow the muddy path and get to the first hide for about five. Sit on the top deck and scan the gulls as they come in. Its about half mile from the car. Probably 5 different Iceland Gulls and 2 different Glaucs passed through this winter.

Cheers for that James - good to have it cleared up. Unfortunately, as Ings Birder says, although this guys records are probably ok, without any records, verification or descriptions, then they are both meaningless and useful. There will never appear in print in the reserve report, NNR files, YNU report or any avian publication for the county. Its a shame but there you go. As Ings birder says again - best forgotten, otherwise the picture gets confused. Its just a shame, despite not submitting records or discriptions, he feels the need to pass on records in this way at a later date - would be better if he just kept them to himself.

There has been a lot of issues in the Lower Derwent Valley with record acceptance (partly due to its size, partly due to the relatively small part of it viewable by the public, partly due to birds usually being short staying, flythrough or rather mobile and difficult to connect with - like the A. Wigeon which had been present since early November but very difficult prior to appearing at Bubwith recently) - alot of people have worked very hard to get this sorted out with the YNU and rare breeding birds pannel - as this ultimately effects the nature conservation designations and protection on the site. I just wanted to make sure that we knew what to do with this particualr record - chase it up or bin it!

Denis - Whilst everyone has the choice to do what they want with this hobby, i would encourage everyone to submit records/counts etc - look at it this way - its gives you pleasure and enjoyment, you use nature reserve/birding sites car parks, hides, paths etc and benefit from the conservation protection and management of these sites - so this is a chance to put something back - just a thought.

cheers everone - didnt mean to start a debate - hopefully i'll get back to posting birdy info

American Golden Plover was my initial thought but it was so cold and snowing tht i couldnt bear to look for more than 30 secs at a time-my hands started to freeze v.v. quick. Like i said took some field notes and did a sketch. Got home and looked in my holarctic waders book. AGP was closest but not an exact match.

Will you be back there tomorrow James?
I can't get out there until Thursday at the earliest. That's if Sheila lets me, I'm supposed to be getting the car ready for the Scotland trip on Friday.

Should do Keith. Have lectures all morning but will be there pm hopefully (on way home :) )

Wrap up warm, hot flask with you and really grill that bird.
It's worth the wrath of She-who-must-be-obeyed for an American GP on my Yorkshire list.

I cant get any shots (she who must be obeyed is in Zimbabwe with it) but will try to get a scope from uni and talk my tutor into bringing the DSLR down.

Dovekies and stuff

Several Little Auks made it as far south as Whitburn today so well worth a watch at Filey or Flamborough. The latter site had a Bonxie yesterday but little else. A cracking Pom with spoons drifted south past Hartlepool and was also picked up later from the South Gare, old Yorks..see earlier posts!

Inland a Little Ringed Plover has made it to Hay a Park, Knaresborough whilst the Bittern still booms on at Pugneys. This site has also held up to 60 Sand Martins despite the weather.

I spent yesterday in the North Pennines watching Black Grouse in the snow storms. Including at least 32 Blackcock together at the feeding site above Reeth.

cheers John @ Birdline NE

Thanks for the gen John, plenty for us tykes to go at there!

Just echoing Marcus,
John, thanks for the info, unfortunately I can't make use of it tomorrow as I'm tied up getting my car ready for trip to Scotland over the weekend and picking Wife's car up from garage after MOT test.
Looks like there's no chance for me if James has got an American Golden Plover at North Cave. Hopefully it'll be a stayer.

Didnt get across there today- but going to hull for 30 mins tomorrow so north cave will get a good grilling. Especially the golden plover flock.

If you find it James, nail it's feet to the floor. I've been to the Old Moor when they have had AGP there and dipped out, not hard when the flock is several thousand strong.

Like i said there were only 200 yesterday so will make a good go at id'ing it.

Got to wish you success James, waiting for your report as I may be able to get there on friday for a short visit, also hoping to do N.Duffield and Bubwith, keep us posted please.
pete

Got a nice addition to my garden list today. Had a red kite fly right over the roof of my house, I was on the phone trying to give the garage some grief and all I wanted to do was get the camera and grab some snaps.