Seriously chavved off today. Got up at 7 with intentions of picking up the temminck's stint at north cave on the way to spurn to get spotted crake barred warbler and dotterel. Got in car. Chug chug bleurgh. DOH! Managed to push start it and took it round the block to see if the battery charged but instead managed to get stranded a mile from home. Looks like the alternator has packed up. And i gotta walk across town to work for the next 3 nights. AAARGH!!!!!!!!!

Gutted. Sounds like you had it all sussed!

Well I did get down to north cave and connected with the Temminks Stint which was a Yorkshire first for me, and only my second. I was there on my own to begin with so also had the challenge of finding it! Good selection of otherbirds down there seven whimbrel and very confiding spotted redshank. Still interesting to note there are common terns there. They cleared out of Rodley in July.

Also dunlin pic attached.

I am suitably gripped off!!

What's you local hotspur?

I also connected with the Temmink's on Monday. The little bugger took some finding. I was told by another birder to look for the Dunlin and the Stint wouldn't be far behind. Anyhow, the birds must have fallen out because the Dunlin had found new pals in the form of two Ringed Plovers. Would have loved to see some Wimbrel though.

Also got very poor views of the Dotterel on my way home. Must admit if it wasn't for a couple of other birders at the site I would have easily missed them.

Don't mean to gripe you off Hotspur! If your car is fixed I think the stint is still at North Cave.

My local patch is wheldrake/bank island and the rest of the lower derwent valley. If anyone fancies a treck round im always glad of company :D. If the Temminck's is still around friday might go then as i finish my nights that morning.

I've always wanted a truly local patch and I'm hoping that I may have discovered one, albeit in its infancy. It is a new gravel pit just north of where I live in Wetherby. In the last week I've established it can be viewed from the A1 flyover, and that it actually says "keep Out Bird Sanctuary" on the gate. The use of the word sanctuary is a bit odd, but it does look like it is being developed as a reserve. I want to get involved - planting trees, putting up boxes etc. but I haven't a clue who "owns" it. Any ideas?? - thought about checking with Harrogate council. Some duck and gulls on it tonight - first time I've been with optics, but lightning that bad I didn't dare get the scope out.

First Yorkshire tick of the year in the shape of Roller last Friday. Literally arrived home from two weeks of fruitless sea-watching in Cornwall (save for Balearic S. and Basking Shark) interspersed with some boarding. The surf dude shorts stunned the Roller into sitting on the beach motionless for hours.

Cheers for the wetherby up date, not sure the roller counts as yorkshire, but such a stunning tick I wont begrudge you counting it!

I don't know if this is the area but I do know that the Harrogate RSPB Wildlife Explorer group have a bit land out the A1 way which they have been working on for several years. A farmer donated a bit of land and they have dug ponds and generally worked on the area with a view to making it into a small sanctuary. This might be what you are seeing. If you contact the Lodge you'll be able to get the details for the Harrogate RSPB Members group who should be able to clarify things.

Cheers Keith - just what I'm after!

I think most birders (and Yorkshire Birding publication) work to the old boundary of Yorkshire which includes parts of Cleveland - anything south of the Tees. It's up to the individual but this includes South Gare as it's south of the river.

okay, I stand corrected

Dewsbury Sewage works
 

Anyone know how to get to this site? How to work it and whether it's 'safe' enougth to take the full digiscoping kit?

Thanks :t:

At work now so can't type for too long but I have visited the site once and will provide directions later.

Ironically it is totally safe as you are behind a fence inside a works. The knack is getting in. It is private property and basically most/all records come from same bloke who works/did work at the site. It's almost like his own reserve - can't be bad!

I happened to hit lucky because the gates were open and I met a worker who knew the birder and he happened to be out birding on the reserve so I wandered down and met him.

On another day, the gates could have been locked or even if open, I imagine I could have been challenged as to why I was there.

Even though I've been I'd probably feel a bit awkward if I went again. Having said that, the messages come out, so why put them out if you don't want people to come? You can view a lot of it from outside, but as the old beds are sunken, you can't really see the birds without getting in amongst them.

Seems a bit of a weird one. Will write more later too

Went down to rodley today there was nothing there. Bumped into Peter Colley and he aid they'd had a green sand through last week, someone has put water rail on the board...

Best i could manage was 12 teal and 20+ Sand Martin

Might head somewhere new tomorrow maybe Tophill low, not sure. Need cheering up after today

Jimmy, I'd go to Filey Brigg if I was you. Roosting Roseate Terns are daily at the moment, and it's a great place for digiscoping Purp. Sands etc. I'm hoping to get there myself this weekend if I can. Check tides though for access to Brigg.

Steve, do you think there are purps there at the moment? Wasn't sure if it was too early? The dams may hold the odd wader too.

Really need it after the tedium of Rodley today!

Marcus....if you go to Filey don't forget that the Leeds Festival is on this weekend and the A64 will be packed Sunday night as the popfans go home. Best bet would be to come over North of York to Wetherby and then you should miss the traffic.

Sorry for the late message. You've probably set off to wherever you are going. Although evening is best for the Roseates if you haven't gone yet. Purps. will defo. be there. I got some there about a month ago and got some nice summer plumage shots + nice shots of summer plumage Sanderling and Knot. It is one of the best places in Britain to see Purps. just about all year round.

I wish I knew how to add photos to these messages - I could show you some of my efforts.

You have to get into the place. You get there and initially think nothing is about, then small waders just start popping up around you.

As for Dewsbury Sewage Farm - it is at grid ref. 221224. Saturday morning when a skeleton staff are working and the birder is likely to be birding his patch is probably best. Good place for wintering Green sand and excellent for Water Pipit.

Good birding.

Keith checked them out, and their land is higher up near Ripley. Still can't track down who is creating hopefully my new local patch. I think next step is Harrogate Borough Council.

Got to do a little bit of birding this weekend as my girlfriend is back in Essex for a while.
Tophill Low was relatively quiet yesterday, with only Garganey, Green Sandpiper, Ruff and Snipe of any real interest. Highlight for me was a Grass Snake basking on one of the compost heaps. Still waiting to see an otter there (reports in log book regular).

Braved the thunder storms and drove to North Cave Wetlands after work today. Spotted Redshank, Green and Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plover and a pair of Common Buzzards were the best birds. Still waiting to see a bloody Turtle Dove. I'm sure all the reports in the log book are written just to mock me!

Stopped off at Paull Holme Strays on way back, but spent more time talking to a local birder than actually birding. According to the bloke there used to be two hides looking over the reserve, but they were both destroyed by vandals. Could have done with a hide today to shelter me from the wind. Birds noted at Paull included Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Redshank.

Not a bad few days. Also got a great view of a sparrowhawk in my garden.

Great sightings esp the grass snake.

Soooo is it true what they say about essex girls?

Just had over 400 house martins moving through the valley by the office (Nr sicklinghall) in a 20 minute period. Followed by a rain shower.

Not a regular here so quite a large movement.

Only half true. Trying to turn her into both a birder and a Yorkshire lass- failing miserably at both.

It was the second Grass Snake i've seen at Tophill Low in as many visits. Only place I know they can be found within an hours drive of Bridlington.