Allerthorpe woods
 

Freezing wind, rubbish light but plenty of great tits (20+) coal tits (5-7) blue tits (10+) marsh and/or willow tits (10-15) chaffinch (5) plus plenty of robins and blackbirds. and the star performer of the afternoon.(thumbnail) but even he got fed up after 5 minutes!!

Had two reports of red kite from Holderness today.
First was mid week in Welwick and the next was this afternoon over Otteringham, both from differnt people.

Two pairs of bullfinches at Strensall Common this afternoon. It was blinking chilly and light was pants so unfortunately not the best of shots.

Attachment 309412

Great Grey Shrike at North Duffield Carrs
 

Second Shrike species in 9 months...amazing! The bird appeared to go to roost in the hedge to the left of the Geoff Smith Hide. Great weekend B (:

More on my Blog...

E Yorks Barn Owls
 

Had 2 today, one at Emmottland(1140) the other between N Frodingham and ?Beaford 1230.
Loads Sanderling Fraisthorpe beach but it was coooooold!!!!

Top notch Alan nice one,this idiot (me) decided to give the GS hide a miss today even though its just about walking distance from my house.

Love the blog!!

Very kind. Would have missed it myself except for help from a couple of fellow Birders! Thanks again lads...
Might be worth a peep first thing tomorrow?

Great afternoon at North Duffield Carrs - Great Grey Shrike sat right in front of the hide - good to meet some of the locals - thanks for the mention in the blog alan.
Further details of the Great Grey Shrike and some AMAZING photos on my blog now...

Have you got Seven coloured Linnets (Goldfinch) and Cuddies (Dunnock) there as well Keith....?
Will expect some decent pics now thro' your Ramblings with the new Camera Keith...! :t: Cheers Joe

Thanks again Andy for the shout!

Just found out this morning when doing a trudge round Staveley YWT in the mud and rain that Nosterfield NR had a Shore Lark by the main lake last weekend.

Highlight at Staveley today was Pintail on West Lagoon.

Shame that didn't come out - unless I missesd it!???

Great Grey Shrike still from Geoff Smith Hide, North Duffield Carrs, this morning 8.10-20am at least. The bird favoured bushes around the scrape.
Also, 70+ Whooper Swans first thing and a Barn Owl.
I will bung some shaky shots on the blog tonight.
Cheers Jono

I don't think the Shore Lark at Noster stayed around for long,it went on their web over a week ago.Good news about the Staveley Pintail,might get there tomorrow,usually plenty on interest there and only a short drive from home.

No sign of the Shrike at North Duffield Carrs mid/late morn (spent about 50 mins in the Geoff Smith hide) so i headed off to Blacktoft Sands, had great views of 2 Long Eared owls roosting by the Xerox hide
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...redOwls001.jpg

I managed to get 10 minutes with the Great Grey Shrike this morning, some more useless pictures on my blog. Good to meet up with some more local birders today.

Cheers, Andy

Todays efforts
 

No show shrike, but will be back tomorrow, plenty of whoopers,widgeon, teal and lots of lapwing,coots,moorhen,grey lags ,shovelor,mutes but bird numbers in general down on recent days. both north duff hides open not flooded,

Then onto north cave, loads of redshank,widgeon,mutes,tufted, siskin on feeders but no water rail.

Interesting Cormorant in Mirfield
 

Not sure of how much interest this will be but whilst at Sand's Lane today (Ring-Bill present at 1.30) I came across an unusaul Cormorant which I think shows features of the continental race Sinensis. Not really sure how unusual this is but after doing a bit of research I am now aware of the difficulties involved in splitting Carbo and Sinensis in the field. Still thought this was an interesting bird though and worth a mention.

Can't upload pics for some reason so if anyone is interested, photos of the bird are on my blog...

Hi all,
Does anyone know if the Long Eared Owls are still present at Blacktoft, cannot make it until tomorrow but would be nice to know if they are sticking around. I'll keep my fingers crossed and make do with the Harriers if I miss out.
Cheers
Dave.

Carcroft Tip
 

Does anyone know where Carcroft Tip is ?

A Glauc and a Caspian Gull were reported from there today.
Wondered if anyone knows where you view from and what sort of numbers of Gulls it's been getting.
Would be good to have somewhere local to look at Gulls ,now that Poolsbrook and the Sheffield tips aren't doing it.

Pete.

2 birds roosting next to the Xerox Hide yesterday :t:

Request for photos
 

Hull Valley Wildlife Group is looking for photographs of birds and other wildlife, rare or otherwise, taken in the area during 2010 for a forthcoming small annual report.
Any pictures would be gratefully received.
The HVWG recording area is shown here: http://www.hullvalleywildlifegroup.co.uk/page3.html
Please PM me if you would like to contribute.
All published photographs will be credited.

Thank you

Andrew

HI Pete,
Carcroft tip is on Bentley Moor Lane, DN6 7BD.
best of luck
Dave

Thanks for that Dave,

Might have a look on Friday, Unless I finally give in and go for the pigeon.

Pete.

Hi Andrew
just wondered exactly what you are interested in.eg I have some fab pics of Kingfisher at Tophill..but guessing u might have tons of these.Can you narrow it down slightly....I would like to contribute

Paul