FINALLY, Caught up with Yellow Wags on Hatfield Moors today,a couple of Green Woodpeckers and Meadow Pipits also. A Buzzard was the only raptor seen all afternoon .

Depressing stuff Jono. Sadly, any warm sunny night that coincides with a holiday/weekend seems to be 'party time' on Wheldrake Ings nowadays. Given that Tower Hide is hidden away from the car park then the same ***** must be returning time and time again. No doubt they will have to park their shiny little Corsa in the car park and walk to Tower Hide for their 'enjoyment', so it would be a shame if they returned to find a little bit less ground clearance for that go faster exhaust in the future......

It also appears that eggers have been at large in the LDV recently, so a timely reminder to anyone that visits the site to be vigilant. More importantly, if you find anything of interest please think twice before broadcasting the news to groups such as this and beyond. Eggers only need a whiff of a species' presence and they can work out the rest far better than us birders!

Bit of a depressing post that one!!

Has anyone had Dotterel on their hilltop sites yet ?any info would be welcome as the wife would love to see them (to be honest so would I)
thanks
Pete

stunning shot David!!

Don't this just make you sick,it seems any reserve is fair game to these b******** nowadays,not sure what the answer is.

Interesting thought. There has been quite a lot of work being carried out by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in Hetchell with the top of the woods having been thinned out quite extensively. A few years ago the area below the crags had been thinned out but this has now grown over more extensively.

My own observations on these effects were the immediate disappearance of Willow Tits, (never common here), the virtual disappearance of Coal Tits and a marked reduction in Treecreeper sightings. Bullfinch numbers have however shot up in Hetchell and also Tree Sparrows are starting to put in an appearance.

My only Willow Warbler records this year have indeed been near the top towards Thorner Lane, an area which hasn't really been managed in any way.

Steve

I reply, with respect to all others who have posted, this is sickening....but at least they are not harming the birds. The joy, for me , of LDV is that i can go down there and lose myself.
We ,or at least I, don't want it to become a managed reserve eg \Blacktoft, lets just all be vigilant, but if the kids are down there at gone dark, what can we do??? CCTV??

Paul

Hi Dave

I agree the old railway track has always been the best spot to see Willow Warblers (at least from that part of the woods that I regularly walk along). I covered the area yesterday, (which is now 3 times in the last 8 days) and not a single WW along the railway track. Given that other observers are seeing plenty of this species elsewhere there must be some subtle change in habitat going on of which I'm not aware.

Steve

Another depressing post...

It's not just eggers to be aware of. I've put a post on my blog about some of the local problems at the minute. This involves thugs chasing ducklings about, birders stood on the roof of a hide causing disturbance to breeding birds and birders stood in the middle of a very sensitive location (this makes the dearly departed Mannix look like a saint!).

So in summary, maybe really consider releasing news of birds (rare or scarce) where there are potentially sensitve species present and potentially breeding. Not all birders have the same regard for birds as you'd hope.

Cheers, Andy

Could anyone help with the ID of this Warbler, didn,t sing too much but did sound Chaffinchesq (if that's a word ) not any evidence of green in colouring which put me off Willow. Any help would be appreciated.

I don't know Hetchell well. Only visited once for a uni field trip in 1990, eep. My memories are of what would be described as 'high forest', i.e. big trees with little undergrowth. I assume the YWT are attempting to re-establish a more varied age structure.

It's a Willow Warbler, David. Like Chaffinch they have a song which descends the scale, but it's much sweeter and higher-pitched. Like a flute, rather than a piano.

Hi Andy


tried to post comment on your blog, but due to IT probs failed. That pic of a bloke isn't me, but could easily have been. I was led to believe ok to wander down onto the site, staying away from obvious areas where birds were etc.
I think many York birders have seen this a decent birding spot for some time,not myself as i only discovered it through Tim and Ollie's posts, and may not be use to the idea of staying off site.

Don't know the guy in photo....but a month ago could have been me...didn't know any better!

I hope this all works out well for the birds....i sense your anger....but that guy might have been workinjg that patch for ages??Do u know the absolute details??Also...have seen dog walkers/students/runners in exact same area.

Its harsh to chastise someone when that is going on!

I couldn't make meeting last night....but I have been in touch with Tim and have offered my full support. Will help in any capacity I can.

As a full time family doc, free time is hard earned for me, but i will gladly help with any moves re Hes east.

Please don't take this as criticism, just feel there needs to be a bit of tongue holding,its not a wildlife site.Best bet in my opinion is

1) approach uni as has been suggested
2)stop reporting birds
3)lets put our own 'illegal' signs up saying no entry, it might put a few off.



4) Bugger! still haven't managed a gropper!!:-O


Cheers

Paul

ps I am on YOUR side !!!

Hi Doc,

They guy in the photo is a well known local birder. And yes he's been visiting the site for a while, the same as Tim and myself. Given that and his birding experience, he should have been in a position to see the situation and keep out of the area he was in, as both myself, Tim and many other birders have done.

In future it would be great if people could limit viewing over the east end of the site to the bus turning circle, Low Lane, and the car park at the top. these give more than good enough views over the area.

I know what the answer is but I think we are to far gone as a society or even a species to actually do it.

In answer to your other question, it's out of county but there were 2 dotterel on pendle hill on both saturday and sunday this weekend.

Woodchat Shrike still present at the old Tip Filey at 6.30am (per RBA)

Thanx Gary nice to know that when I dip it that it has been seen today.


Yeah I'm a realist, I always used to dip woodchat shrike in the UK, not anymore though!

The Woodchat was a little belter. Actively feeding along the fence in the Old Tip. Cheers Keith.:t: 3 or 4 Lesser Whitethroats along the hedge. Called in at Wykeham on the way back. Virtually a bird-free zone apart from 3 Crossbills that dropped into a larch at the edge of the watchpoint. Struggled to make my usual quota of 3 raptors until a Buzzard flew over the A64 ;)

Very obliging Gropper near the iron windmill at Wheldrake this afternoon, right out in full view. Curlew calling at the same time which made for a delightful duet. Plenty of sedge and the common warblers too, butterflies all over place. Also got lovely views of a stoat on the path who stopped to look at me for at least 10 secs. A great shame to see the trashed hide though.

HI DOC,
Groppers sighted down at Poor Piece and Tunnel Pits at Hatfield Moors.
Dave

Thanks for that info Trystan

trip home
 

Amazing what you see on the way home, willow warbler and chiff chaff (as usual) swallows, grey lags with chicks.my first sedge warbler was the highlight,cuckoo calling and plenty of sky larks, 3-4 snipe and mute swans, distant curlews getting fruity! and 2-3 blackcaps.

Went to Hornsea Mere after work this afternoon, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 White Wagtails, several Pied Wagtails and had close views of the Blue Headed Wagtail thats been reported there this last few days, looks to me like its a Channel Wagtail though?? it also has a gammy right leg and spent a bit of time resting, but was also activley feeding

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...irds/008-1.jpg

Regarding the hide at Wheldrake Ings - it maybe a consideration if the reserve is unmanned to consider a members-only key scheme like at YWT Staveley. There is the problem then of casual observers needing to buddy-up to use the hide or join YWT and potentially putting some people off birdwatching if it becomes inaccessible. TBC also have a members hide key scheme around the Teesmouth area.

Fair point but I suspect there may be funding issues which require open access. I may well be wrong.