Red-footed Falcon Tophill Low NR
 

Report of Red-footed Falcon at Tophill Low NR on the southern marshes. Hope someone checks the underwings!

http://naturenorth.blogspot.com/2011...et-rescue.html

There was certainly one doing just that on Sunday!

Didn't see the owlets; odd flutter and the blue darters(?) are just appearing.

Good views had apparently but only for 2 minutes and as yet not confirmed

Hope the RFF at tophill is a stayer can't get away until next Wednesday at the earliest.

Bet Lawts is hoping it's not a red foot 8-P

Re the RFF - I hope someone is keeping an eye on those underwing coverts...

Ken and I were talking last night at Old Moor and we both haven't seen a snipe so far this year... is it just cos we ain't good birders or are the little cryptic beggars in short supply?

RFF reported to be a female and seen by 2 birders who saw the Amur. Not seen this evening but Hobby still around.
Snipe may be another bird knocked backed by last winter. However saw plenty on Swinemoor a few weeks back.

Only seen 2 this year, compared to 18 in early 2010.

plenty around Nosterfield NR north lake and a few around main lake on my last few visits and on Kiln lake at the quarry site

coincidentally i've seen 8 all of them at old moor

Purple Heron at Fairburn, anyone got details?

Plenty still showing on main reserve to right of main hide and north lake on Thursday.

One east over the main bay at 7.10 (birdguides)

Suspected a flyover when no updates followed. Heading your way then, cheers.

Oh bugger - I was driving by Hickson's on the way to work at 7.10. Wish I had t'interweb in the car.

Just logged in to Birdguides and see that quail is down for Swilly today...anybody got any further gen?

no sign of purple heron today once we arrived but did have a lovely looking little stint right in front of lin dyke hide around 12 o' clock.


dropped on a short eared owl on the way home through the peak district tonight too

I went to Wheldrake Ings today and was going to have a quick look at Bank Island and Cheesecake farm afterwards but the gates from the Bank Island carpark were chained closed so I didnt bother. Does anyone know why the gates were locked, it is a public footpath afterall.

'elp
 

G'day
I dunno where I'm supposed to post this question-so here goes. I'm originally from Yorkshire, now living in South Australia. This will either attract derision or compliments (or both) I'm visiting family in Huddersfield in late Oct-November of this year was seeking advice on Winter birding in Yorkshire in general and more particularly the east coast.

Cheers

John Mc

Could be an interesting time to visit, have a look at the Spurn Observatory site and you'll see the birds seen there at the same period over the last six years. So much will be weather dependent it's difficult to say at the moment. Work out a shopping list and stay in touch.

Just back from Portugal - have I missed anything? I saw there had been a Least Sand, which fortunately I didn't need - got the Blacktoft bird. Has there been any other Yorks. goodies - Birdguides round-up suggests fairly quiet nationally?

Portugal was good - not the Algarve. My daughter lives near Porto in the north - breeding Sardinian Warbler, Black Redstart and Serin from her kitchen window. Some great Hoopoe photo opps. - six together in the same field at one point. I had a day at a national park - just into Spain, (will need to check where it was as her boyfriend just drove us there to see a volcanic spring where you can swim in the hot water). The scenery was breath-taking - hard to say but it made the Scottish Highlands a second best. Unfortunately, no real time for birding, but several Crag Martins were nice - a far cry from Pugney's! Several new butterfly species photographed which I need to identify.

Don't think you've missed too much Steve! I've just go back from a couple of weeks in Cyprus, gradually adding trip report details and photos to my blog.

Lots of interesting butterflies over there too!

Bolton Abbey area today
 

Following the 'meet report' from Keith D last weekend, my family dragged ourselves out of bed at 3am this morning and from 5.15am to 9.30am walked from Barden Bridge to Cavendish Pavillion and back on the other side of the river. It was a grim and rainy morning but we saw 40 species including:
kingfisher (three different sightings that we thought were possibly two birds), dipper, common sandpiper, wood warbler (several heard but great views of one), pied flycatcher (fantastic regular views of lots of individuals), redstart and tawny owl (outstanding views of a bird in a dead tree 20 yards from us, which we were able to watch for ten minutes and move on leaving it still sitting there). A couple of close up views of young GS Woodpeckers were another highlight as were some close encounters with herons.

The hoped for otter and deer didn't materialise, and my older girl (aged 11) woke up with a cold that didn't get any better for being up painfullly early and out in the rain, but we had a great time in some superb countryside. Haven't been there for fifteen years but will be back.

Beacon Ponds
 

Cracking couple of half days at Beacon ponds this weekend, highlight was the red necked phalarope and little stints.
Supporting cast included little egret, little terns, corn bunting and common waders.
More shots on the blog