anything at swilly today?

Found it twice in 3 visits last winter, none from 4 so far this time round including early morning and mid afternoon.

There were loads of gulls around the weir between 12 and 1 today but no RBG.

Did a coast run yesterday, Waxwing and Black redstart at scarborough. Fed bread to the med gulls then down to Filey.

Filey brigg was a bit disappointing with only common scoter and purple sandpiper to show for the effort before running down to Bempton for the very obliging Wheatear. Some gannets on the cliffs but little else.

Cheers for that Keith. I'll give it until 3 next Sat'.

Chris

Adult Iceland Gull over Bishopthorpe yesterday at 9am flying west, then on Harewood Whin tip, Rufforth, briefly this morning. Photos on blog, though bit rubbish as usual...
Cheers,
Jono

[quote=ChrisJB;2343910]Cheers for that Keith. I'll give it until 3 next Sat'.

Chris[/QUOTE
was watching the RBG at MIRFIELD today between 10 AND 11. .went onto the track and parked near the toilet , the gull was on the spit opposite

Adult Iceland in Swilly roost this evening. Also a Herring Gull with a lot of white in the coverts matching the pic on your blog. The same birds perhaps?

Desert Wheatear
 

Still present at Bempton RSPB today and showing down to a couple of feet this aft

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...r009edited.jpg

Just wondered if the Long eared owls are still at Old Moor, haven't been for several years but seem to remember them roosting along the embankment which was viewed from one of the hides.

Any help much appreciated

Does anyone know where West Pit is at Welton Waters?
There has been a smew hanging around for a couple of days originally reported as being on the angling complex but recently reported as being on West Pit?
any help much appreciated.

Are they one and the same? http://www.hullvalleywildlifegroup.co.uk/page14.html

All the angling pits are now named after birds: Osprey, Kingfisher etc. If West Pit is one of these, then you won't be able to get close to it. They are all fenced off & unfortunately access is only tolerated from paid-up anglers

[quote=bushycliff;2344011]Thanks for that Bushy. I have a very narrow window tomorrow morning and might bomb over with the kids.

Chris

Gave it another hour for the Ring-billed gull at mirfield today. No show between 10 and 11 a.m.
I'm starting to get mildly irritated by this bird.

Chris

Anyone know anything about the White Stork reported today in East Yorkshire, not sure whether it was a flyover like the Ravenscar bird on Monday or whether it was actually hanging around today. (Ravenscar bird is probably the same bird, thinking about it, which means it probably flew straight past where I live, irritatingly)

I saw the Smew at Welton Waters earlier this week. It was on one of the angling pits, the one which is probably the furthest west one, so it could be west pit, but was distantly viewable from the embankment at the side of the Humber, and, if you are feeling a bit sneaky, as you walk south down the east side of the pit, there a slightly open patch through the hawthorn where you can walk up to the top of the embankment at that side. Not sure how allowed it is, but there is a fence on the inside side of the embankment so presumably you are still outside of the angling boundary. Got to be careful not to disturb the birds though.

It was at Fraisthorpe yesterday at 4.15, someone reported it to the RSPB who then told the East Yorkshire recorder who put the news out, don't know if it was looked for today

Just wondering if the Desert Wheatear has been seen in the last day or two beacuse been off the map last two days many thanks

andrew

Anybody know off anything being seen over the last few days that has not been reported on the birdguides/Rare bird sites? Just thinking there has been no recent reports of the Taiga at Fairburn for an example. I have a day pass for tomorrow so if anyone knows of anything of interest please let me know, either on here or by PM if a bit sensitive.

Cheers

John

It was there yesterday Andrew. I think there will be less reports of the bird now as most of those who wanted to see it will have been there by now, but this does not mean its gone, good luck.

John

Cattle Egret still at Tophill Low today

American Wigeon, Smew and BN Grebe still at Anglers Ctry Park/Wintersett today

is the smew a drake ?

There were two on Monday both drakes, missed the BNG.

I don't believe they've been there for many years, not since the RSPB took over and started felling all the bushes!

On another topic, does anyone know where there are some bramblings in Yorks at the moment? I haven't seen any this year...

female brambling reported for Fairburn today, not by me though worst luck

I don't know if they are still there, but there were c20 under the beech trees around entrance of Garforth Farm on the hill at Nunburnholme just before Christmas