Hope no-one minds me posting this here...

Tomorrow, March 3rd, I’ll be setting off to cycle around 220 miles from Leighton Moss RSPB, near Silverdale on the Lancashire coast, to Bempton Cliffs RSPB north of Flamborough on the Yorkshire Coast. The route takes me through Morecambe, Lancaster, and over the Pennines through Whalley, Colne, and Keighley to Leeds; then on to York and through the Wolds to Bridlington, Flamborough and Bempton. It’s only around 50 miles a day on average, but that’s quite enough for an 18-stone forty-year-old on an old mountain bike with a hernia. (Me, not the bike)

I’m hoping to raise some money for two charities, the RSPB and for Jole Rider, who supply bicycles to Africa, including the village in the Gambia which I have visited twice in recent years. Obviously, all the trip expenses are my own and all money donated will go directly to the charities concerned. If I meet the modest target I will have raised more than the cost of the trip for each charity.

I’ve set up two “Just Giving” sites, one for each of the charities, at the following links...
RSPB... http://www.justgiving.com/rspbrosespootle/
Jole Rider... http://www.justgiving.com/joleriderrosespootle

You can read more about both charities and the work sponsorship money will support here...
RSPB... http://www.rspb.org.uk/about/whatwedo/
Jole Rider... http://www.jolerider.org/index.php/p...s/bikes4africa

Thanks for reading and thanks very much for any sponsorship money you are able to donate.

Graham

Sponsors
 

Hia Graham,
Great charity, I'll send you a cheque for a tenner if you PM your details. I'd rather do this than via Credit/Debit.......hope you make it, I'm sure you will...Making it public is the best motivation.... :t:

Cheers Joe, it is where I thought it was!!

Going to try & get there over the weekend.

Richard

Heard a dirty rumour when I was at Allerthorpe dipping the Redpoll that it was seen at a site in Thornton near Melbourne yesterday, about two miles as the Coues' flies. Saw nothing of note at Allerthorpe but did manage 2 Red Kites driving home and a good number of Brambling at the grain store at Fridaythorpe as I sped past.

Waxwings - Brough, East Yorks.
Possibly had a flock of 20-30 Waxwings while picking my daughter up from the local school, then walked home and had a group of 5 (6 an hour later) on TV aerials in Trent Walk viewed form my back door!!

I've not been since they started charging for car parking (typical tight Tyke) but last time I was there the White Stork was definitely pinioned.
It used to be quite good for Bramblings around where they feed the deer, did you check out that area?

Presumably the same flock has been reported from the Roundhay Road Tesco car park recently, so that might be worth a try.

Might be worth giving the new bike a run up there this weekend then, that or Swilly.

Great "photo of the week" on Birdguides, Marcus.

Scarborough
 

4 adult Med Gulls at Holbeck Hall car park, and the juvie Iceland Gull still in the harbour this afternoon
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/Gulls007.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/Gulls011.jpg

Thanks Paul, the stork was down at the opposite end of the paddock so I didn't get a really good view of it.
We did go down to the deer Paul, I'd no bins with me as it wasn't a birding trip. The feeding area was quite a way from the footpath so whilst I could see lots of finches they weren't close enough for me to really be sure on species.

Keith I'm shocked, have you had them surgically removed? - I'm never without my bins, although I have to stress no tools are left in my 'van' overnight!!!!!

When out with 'she who must be obeyed' it is wiser not to have bins. My ribs aren't what they were and 'er elbows are getting bonier!;)

Its not a redpoll..I promise ...!
 

Redhouse still producing lovely birds and photo opportunities...but no cigar re arctic.This siskn however allowed really close approach..but he was watching me!!!

10 waxwing in Leeds this morning, in trees in Woodhouse Moor whilst walking from Hyde Park Corner across to the university. Also loads of redwings, many subsinging. Nice.

Waxwings
 

30 at 1130 behind shopping precinct in Copmanthorpe today

Has any one got any records of Eagle owl in the Hull or Hessle area, exact dates not needed but month and year would be useful.

does anyone know if the rough legged is still around at the cement works? Cheers.

Snow Bunting
 

Thanks for the map Joe, I drove up from Baildon this afternoon and found the CP without difficulty. Saw two skylarks feeding close to the CP immediately but unfortunately I dipped on the Snow Buntings. What with the golfers and the dog walkers I am amazed that anything hangs around!

Graeme

South Ferriby bird reported on birdguides today Clare :t:

Thankyou Andy, I`m thinking of going over on again Tuesday... =)

Great Grey Shrike reported again from North Duffield, details on my blog

I can only imagine they've gone then Graeme because they were so near, approx. 15m and were not phased too much by human activity. It was this behaviour that led you to believe they were "hand reared" with reports of someone throwing seed down to keep them around. Maybe he's run out of seed............! I have read reports that where they are more common they are like Chaffinches at a picnic table.
This mornings weekly BG report has them still there, but exactly when that report was .........................Who knows..?
Still,glad you found it ok, it's nice to get summat rait.. :t:

I wear body armour for the ribs Keith and my "bony elbows" are useful for my defense against my bloke! Did you say hi to my duck? She now lives at Lotherton and doesn't look likely to leave even though she is free to do so (long story).

Is it OK to put it on here, or should it be in a PM?