The tail and presence of a dark band/s towards the end of the tail feathers is one of the key id features, along with feathering along the legs (hence rough legged) and longer wings than common buzzard. It also 'hovers' much more than a common buzzard would do.
I wouldn't rule it out as the birds will turn up anywhere where there is good hunting, but if you haven't got the tail features it'll be hard to make the id stick.

Would anyone be able to give me directions to Orgreave Lakes, Pit House West and the Bittern Pool on Rother Valley please ? I have visited Rother Valley before but have no idea of the names of the different areas of the place.

I'm fancying a look for the bearded reedlings and the common scoter while I have a couple of days off work ... Assuming that they are still there of course ..

Thanks guys ...

I'm noob to birding, but spotted this on the Aire in Leeds near the railway station this week.

Attachment 294134

A male Goosander I believe?

Colin

That's right, Colin a nice male goosander. Nice to see the river in the city centre is clean enough for them.

This Black Swan is still on the River Aire as well.

Attachment 294143

Colin

i had to read this 5 times before i managed to work out that the pied billed grebe was still at hollingworth and hadn't move to the same place as the phalarope

Desert Wheatear
 

Evening all, put a write up and a couple of pictures of the Desert Wheatear on my new blog incase anyone is interested.
http://secrettwitcher87.blogspot.com/

Hi Secret Twitcher - congrats on finding the Desert Wheatear! Like the blog too! Great pictures of the Grey Phalarope too!

Cheers Andy

Same from me. That really is a great bird to self-find. There's birders will go a lifetime without finding something that good.

I see you got the answer I suspected on the ID forum, Dave. LTD moult sequences are just too weird.


Graham

Excellent work Secret. A cracking bird to find, and a just reward for working a patch that could, does and DID turn up a very good rarity, not far from where Yorkshire's last record of the species was found.

There's no rush but make sure you formally submit the record to the VC recorder for that area with photographic evidence to make sure you get sole credit for finding it in BB.

Re the Grey Phal, I once overlooked a bird on a pond that made the one at Cononley look massive. It was about the size of a bath, and there was no bird present, and then ten minutes later, it's swimming around. I suspect early doors they must get tucked in close to the edge under vegetation, and the natural pesimist in us comes out and assumes it's probably gone, especially if the pond doesn't look like it could hold one.

Cheers AW, got to see the Phal and bonus of juvenile Whooper dropping onto field too. Black Grouse was a chance siting driving through Calderdale on way to Hollingworth Lake. P-B Grebe was asleep on water with bum towards hide but showed well preening and swimming after about 30 minutes or so. No sign of the 2 Fudges on Ryburn Reservoir as I made my way back home.

What a superb find - well done!

Just had 2 Little Auk on the west coast of Scotland. If we are getting them here there should be Plenty in yorks

Red surely?

You'd think so given their scarcity.

That Phalarope's a bit friendly...

Awesome - love the POV!

Isn't that a bit artistic for you, Jim?

Great photo!

Looked too big and too dark to be a Red Grouse. We see plenty of Red Grouse on the North Yorks Moors and this month. I've not seen Black for a while and that was Langdon Beck. I am unfamiliar with this site in Calderdale, but somewhere between Oxenhope and Pecket Well if that helps.

Cheers!
 

[quote=Lawts;1984649] There's no rush but make sure you formally submit the record to the VC recorder for that area with photographic evidence to make sure you get sole credit for finding it in BB.QUOTE]


Thanks for all the congratulations and compliments. It was just right place at right time I suppose really. I'm aware better birders than me have gone a lifetime without such a nice find so I'm really grateful the God's of birding shone on me on Friday! A bit gutted it didn't stick for more people to get a good look.

RE submitting the record, I have emailed Nick Addey (Scarborough Birding Recorder) who was the second birder to arrive. He has the photos and video and the date and times and stuff as he was present. He has said he will submit the record to the BBRC/YNU. Is this what you are referring to? In terms of getting sole credit, I am not too bothered about that really but what is "BB?"

Thanks again

Black Grouse aren't found in Calderdale, only 5 records ever and all in the distant past. Nearest population is in the north of the Yorkshire dales, don't know what has happened with the reintroduction project in Derbyshire.

Phew!..... thanks for clarifying that Jim. I didn't think black grouse were in C'dale but wasn't confident enough to say so.

Sandra

Did you see the Waxwings in Tod yesterday?

Oh Jim - where were they please? I was in Tod at a lunch when our son phoned to say they were looking at 60+ in Burnley. But Tod?? Tell me please

S