Good day at the coast yesterday. Hope these pictures have worked. Barn Owl, Sanderling and Snow Bunting. The Sanderling was one of a flock of about 15 that were running round my feet.

Finally made it to the coast this weekend after deciding to leave it last week because of the weather.

Had one of those amazing days where everything went to plan starting with the rough legged buzzard at south ferriby then across the humber bridge shrouded in fog (very spooky) and on to spurn.

Saw the slavonian grebe on beacon lagoons I think somebody mentioned it a little while ago, also in a field with brent geese, curlews and black tailed godwits was a big ugly looking glaucous gull!

Then called at Skeffling where a walk along the bank found me 10 meters from a barn owl which flew up into a tree to ogle me.

Finally on to Welwick and while I was trying to determine whether the brent geese had pale bellies (they did), a male hen harrier came across the scope. I followed it along and it kindly flew over a post where a merlin sat preening.

A short walk later and a flock of a dozen twite flew over and into the reeds and I finished the day with a short eared owl all by 2pm!

Only down side of the day was that I only heard skylark and meadow pipit, both of which I need for the year.

Rough-legged - Old Moor
 

"showing well" per Birdguides................anyone know where you get one of those 'scopes and how much they cost?

I thought Aldi or was it Lidl sold them....;) an image so poor that you can see anything you want!

Had a trundle round today, a bit murky early doors but clearing from West. Went to Fairburn hoping tom get into Lin Dyke hide and get some wildfowl up close with the water level being so high. Hadn't reckoned on the hide being used as a toilet last night and a huge turd in the corner stopped me from spending any time in there. Had a walk down Cut Lane the highlight being a scrap between two chaffinches. Lots of pairing up taking place, Bullfinches, Goldeneye, Mute Swans, lovely.

Went on to South Ferriby for the RLB, views distant but OK, it does hover for a long time. From there finished the day at Worlaby, 9 SEO was my biggest single count but there's plenty more there. Not bad.

Good afternoon at Thorganby and Wheldrake today with the highlights been Black-tailed Godwit. Lots of other wildfowl and waders recorded. Details on my blog

You should have gone to Swilly Jim... still bittern on there. There's also redpolls (sorry) with maybe a mealy or two in the flock.

Waxwings at Designer Outlet, York 12/2/11
 

Dear All,

Just got back from York to Designer Outlet at about 4.30 today and found 32 Waxwings sat in the tree next to the park and ride bus! Some flew down then to a small tree nearer the centre and we got really quite close up to them.

However, I only had the phone with me (isn't it always the way that the best views are when you don't have the camera!) so the shot below is the best I have.

regards
Michael

Snap Michael...see my post from a couple of Wednesdays ago.
It's always the same - either you get brill views and you've no decent camera or you've got a decent camera and the views are total sh...ugar!

Weirdest Chaffinch pic I've ever seen!

id help
 

sorry to be a pain! anybody got any ideas? would appreciate id help on this lot some of the pics suffer clarity, light etc.

help greatly appreciated.


some pics


http://www.flickr.com/photos/zing0414/

A good afternoon at Redhouse today. I'd heard woodpeckers about three weeks ago, and saw two GSWs today
Attachment 308165 Attachment 308166

wow! well done, good pic these tend to be very flighty and nervous at this time of year.(looking for a good nest site and all that!)

Lesser Redpoll
Siskin
Brambling

Barn Owls in East Yorkshire
 

The people who monitor the Red Kites have sent me out an email below about monitoring the current Barn Owl population via the Wolds Owl Group. I have checked with them & they are interested in ALL sightings of Barn Owls in East Yorkshire. Please give a date for your sightings, if at all possible a grid ref, but if not, a precise description of the location, and of course if you see more than one Owl at the same time, please include that information. Thanks for your help. If you log your sightings on here, or send me a PM, I will ensure they get forwarded to the people monitoring.

Hi all, having spoken to our friends The Wolds Owl Group, I have a request for you.

We’re all aware of how this past harsh winter has had a disastrous effect, decimating the Barn Owl population in East Yorkshire. So although it may appear to be ‘shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted’, while the Barn Owl population is at a low point, I’d like to ask you to record any sightings you may have and let me have them please. This will assist in monitoring the increase/recovery of their population as we move in to the year.

I will then pass your sightings on to The Wolds Owl Group.

Many thanks for your help.

N

Many thanks Jim.

I was starting to get worried, everybody seeing waxwings apart from me! I've been to a few places where they've been seen but no luck. Managed to catch up with a flock 100+ today at Wincobank, Sheffield, and got within 30ft of them. Biggest flock I'd seen before was 20+ at distance. I'd heard people say that they are quite noisy but it still surprised me the amount of noise these birds made, a strangely pleasant noise though!

Thanks Zing

A nice evening at North Duffield, looked a bit like the north sea in the wind and rain. Highlight being 104 Whoopers, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, lots more seen, further details on my blog

There are some on this site for Welwick and the Spurn obs are worth an email as they are being seen daily in this part of Holderness.

Michael

This fellow was at Welwick saltmarsh yesterday-it had a ring on but was too disant to read any numbers etc.
Also peregrine and short eared owl.

Had a damp day out at the Yorkshire meet. We dipped quite a lot but got fab views of Iceland & Med Gulls. Details and pics on the blog.

hey, can anyone help me with the name of the landfill near york that gets gulls? Thanks in advance
Ollie

Harewood whin ollie

have you tried the one at Holme upon spalding moor? its teaming with all sorts of stuff.

some recent pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zing0414/