3 of my 'students' went out birding on their own after this morning's class & found a Wryneck on the old Hedon to Patrington Railway line - pics & more details on the blog

Annoyed with all the ignorant dogwalkers at North Cliffe Wood yesterday who refused to comply with the obvious signs, and who clearly have no regard for the ground-nesting birds, which should include Woodcock at this time of year - one woman had 5 on the loose! More pics of the offenders & their mutts on the blog

You've stolen my thunder a bit there. I've just got back from a week in Cumbria and have seen some great birds. Including a merlin taking a wheatear right under my nose.
On Sunday I was at Hodbarrow RSPB which is famous as the most northern breeding site for Sandwich tern and also important for Little and Arctic terns. I was the only birdwatcher on the whole site. I never saw another pair of binoculars or another scope. However, I did see about 20 dogwalkers and about 23 dogs, never saw a lead though. Same old tragic tale of ignorance rivalled only by newage cyclists.

New age cyclists? What's that all about?

Assuming we can rule out Moulton, recumbents and bikes made out of yoghurt I think mountain bikes might your answer Chris ;) As much as enjoy watching dogs running free and sniffing everything I can but not agree that irresponsible owners really get my goat (the one I keep tethered in my garden). Where's the nearest Korean restaurant?

I'm a cyclist and I'm wondering exactly what is being got at that's all. There are some that tear up the place where they shouldn't but plenty do use them correctly.

Can't answer that for you Chris. I'm very pro bike and I like dogs. Only guessing but it's irresponsible few that Waccoe is aiming at.

I'm glad I don't twitch anymore. The tales of 'silly people' (substitute your own words of choice) getting too close to birds, barging in front to get that 'killer pic' are rife. At the risk of sounding like a sanctimonious old git, it would be nice if people were polite and showed some respect. And that applies in many areas of life.

<end of mini-rant>

You should contact Natural England and show them these photos and tell them exactly what you saw. If you could get car number plates that would be helpful. I am a warden on a SSSI and I get this on a daily basis. If you try to speak to dog owners about their ridiculous creatures they act like you just called their mother a slag. This country needs to have a few high profile prosecutions and slap them in the dailys.

Think you have me confused with the Rovin' Outlaw.

Quite right Dave, my apologies. I shouldn't attempt multi-tasking when there's footy on the telly

Mega passage of Arctic Terns through the LDV yesterday afternoon, second highest count ever! Pics/details here.

Before I get half of you snapping at me I better explain. I don't have a problem with people riding bicycles as such but what gets annoying is that I spend a lot of my time walking the public footpaths of this county (Get it 'FOOT' and 'PATH', the clue is in the spelling, I know the law so don't argue without checking). While walking these paths I am constantly having to dodge out of the way, or step off the path because a group of anything up to half a dozen grown men (and I mean grown men not kids) are charging along the path as fast as they can. Are they the same grown men who constantly ride on the pavement, cut through red lights or go the wrong way up one way streets I wonder. I understand and accept there are many responsible cyclists in the world and for that god bless them. However there is a large number of ignorant cyclists who think the laws of the land don't apply to them.
There are many old footpaths in the dales that are now practically unusable because they are so rutted by cycles, and because the cyclists don't like riding over these ruts any more that I like stumbling over them, they ride beside the path which has the effect of making it wider. Muddy patches are just ridden straight through which has a derogatory effect on the path.
I wonder if these riders are trying to recapture something of their youth and in some cxases a youth they never had.

Next week I'll have a go at caravans

I like caravans!......





well actually it is bitching about the stupid bloody things I like.

Can anyone suggest places around South Leeds Sports Stadium where I could while away a couple of hours birdwatching next Thursday. Taking a group of pupils from a school in Halifax there for an event and rather than sit around waiting for them.
Regards
John

No idea where that is John but you could do a lot worse than popping down to the hide at Swilly.

It's just next to Middleton Woods, you could have a walk round there.

Er indoors fancied going to see the Puffins at Bempton yesterday and who was I to argue with when it involved a day at the coast - BIRDING! The north wind made your eyes stream at Bempton but it provided fantastic close view of Puffins, Gannets etc at very close quarters hovering around like harrier jump jets! Clearly I suggested a quick visit to S Landing for the 'insurance bird' before finsishing off at Danes Dyke where a Cuckoo was the highlight. Missed out on the Wryneck at Flamboro but that was my own fault, been a long time since Ive seen one too. Nevermind, had a good day anyway.

The report on today's Tyke Meet Dawn Chorus walk at Bolton Abbey is HERE

I've also had the Skua Cruise thread retitled to indicate that a date has not been set, that's HERE

Lovely male Whinchat on Calder Wetlands this afternoon. Also good selection of warblers.

Top stuff Rovin'. Reminds me of the Fast Show guy

A good couple of days. Went over for the insurance flycatcher yesterday - gave pretty good views. I had decided to wait for news as I thought the cooler temperatures and clear night might see it off.

Also present was Spot. Fly, Lesser Whitethroat, GSW, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Cuckoo, (heard). A Tawny Owl was peeping out of a nest hole, and a Short-eared was hunting the hillside above South Landing.

An extra bonus was a fox that spooked a Woodcock which sat out on the hillside in full view.

I concentrated on Gannets at Bempton and got some nice shots as they hung in the wind - as John says like Harrier Jumpjets.

I got the female Ring Ouzel in the gorse field by the lighthouse in the afternoon, but couldn't be bothered to go back for the Wryneck when news broke as I was enjoying discussing black and white flycatchers with Andrew Lassey - bit one-sided input though!

Today I wasn't going to bother but with a bit of sun at last, I had a quick trip down to Potteric. Loads of Blackcap, Willow Tit, and best of all - finally - after many hours at various sites - Cetti's on the Yorkshire listB (:

The bird working up and down the path by the Decoy Marsh Hide, regularly singing and being glimpsed occasionally.

Glad you had a good weekend Steve. Can't get too excited about a putative flycatcher that can only be identified by dna. But I am gripped that you scored the Cetti's's. Would be a Yorkshire tick

Yes seen plenty in my time but never in Yorks. Hopefully they are still increasing and moving north despite the winter before last being a block. I love the song. A pig to see though.