Went looking for twite today. First stop Whiteholme Res, where there were loads of waders - very odd! 1 Grey Plover, 1 Green Sand (year tick I think!) and 4 Little RP's. Got chatting to another birder up there and there had been a greenshank through today as well. Anyway Peregrne bosches through and we think it took out the grey plover. Certainly went for it, and then we find it on the edge of the res plucking... we watched it for another 30 mins and then it stands chasing possibly small insects around the edge of the res - it's running like a chicken -really interesting to watch. Gutted is was too far for the camera, as it then had a wash and a drink berfore flying off.

Tried Deer Hill and despite an earlier report there were only meadow pipits and a lone wheatear to keep me and the midges company.

Nice to have some sunshine for once.

I had a quick trip to Allerthorpe Common yesterday. Took girlfriend and her post op mum so wasn't expecting much. The area was very boggy and full of Common Lizards of all sizes. No Adders but didn't really have a good look for them.
A walk at nearby Pocklington Canal produced a Grey Wagtail and a huge Water Vole.

Filey Dams is one place I would never expect to see an Otter!
Having said that they are increasingly being seen in city centres such as York, Leeds and Newcastle.
I suspect the lack of fish at Filey Dams is the reason I have only seen a handful of Grey Herons at the reserve.

A quick look around the local forests this morning gave some decent views of a juvenile goshawk - a couple of shots attatched.

Dropped into Hilla Green briefly - all of the gorse along the river bank has been taken out, and the banks strimmed right back to give no cover at all.

Are the lizards at Allerthorpe easy to see Mike from a photography point of view - is it the fenced off nature reserve area?

Seems to have been a slow BHWeekend. No migrants or seabirds on the coast at all of note despite a few things in the South East. Lets hope it picks up.

Called in at Hilla Green myself this afternoon as I was in the area. A Dipper and 4 Kingfishers wasn't bad for a 10 minute visit.

Yes, Allerthorpe Common is the fenced off reserve. Usually I see 2-3 Lizards as I look for Adders, but views are brief as they scuttle away.

On Sunday I saw double figures and at least two Lizards allowed prolonged views. I'm sure they would have been much easier to photograph than Otters and Goshawks.

Had a walk along the Wharfe from Harewood Bridge towards Weeton this afternnon - a Sparrowhawk, a buzzard and at least 9 different Red Kites - one of which was extremely pale. Nothing seen on the river whatsoever.
rob

Nice to hear about another raptor-lover, instead of the chavs!
hahaha ;)

a tip for lizards is to go early (before 9-10am), or on a blustery day with only sunny spells, when they'll be trying to warm up by basking. They're also more sluggish when cool. They bask on stones/logs or, if it's cool, dark surfaces like molehills in cover. You can always try and 'bait' them by putting a big dark rock somewhere that will be a good basking spot. Not out in the open, but in long grass/scrub or at the foot of a hedge. Immatures are particularly approachable if you get them at the right time.

On a warm sunny day, they're mega quick and alert.

Oh, better be careful at Whiteholme Marcus - nearly in Lancashire you know?! We only live a mile or so from there - you could have called for a cuppa....... except we weren 't in 'cos we'd gone to Blacktoft. Lots of waders i.e.

Godwit
Redshank & spotted redshank
Dunlin
Green sandpiper
Greenshank
Lapwing
4 marsh harrier
Stunning dabchicks looking very bright in the sun
1 juv shelduck
3 avocet
gadwall
teal
c40 snipe
coot
moorhen

A dearth of little 'flitty' birds, except for a large flock of tree sparrows near the feeding station.

It was lovely to be out in the sunshine.

I met a local up there from Rochdale and he pointed out where Lancishire started. I'd have known from the smelll of course, but it was good to have it pointed out :t:

Had a cracking weekend on my patch, and while there weren't loads of birds the quality was high.

The fields are all waterlogged - more so than you'd expect to see in January, let alone August. Never seen anything like it. As a result much of the wheat is still standing and there's been very little ploughing yet. Found two different parties of 6 and 3 Greenshank using wet patches in fields - not bad considering my previous best was 2 in a day :eek!: A major bonus in the form of a juv Spotted Redshank - only my third one in the area. Four different Green Sandpipers would normally be very good, but seemed rather ordinary!

Generally quiet for passerines though, for me, a massive patch tick in the form of a party of 6 Crossbills. Just a shame it was only a moderately brief flight view but it's a good job they're so noisy or I'd certainly have missed them... also seen another Spotted Flycatcher, and a Wheatear stood on top of manure heap (only my third area autumn record).

Excellent tally of raptors - a female Marsh Harrier hunting up and down about a mile of fields kept appearing for over an hour yesterday. On Sunday had good views of a juvenile Hobby plus the briefest glimpse of possibly a second bird at the same time - most intriguing, never seen a bird in juvenile plumage in the area. The most spectacular sight of the weekend was a young Peregrine coming out of nowhere and taking out a flying Black-headed Gull. Awesome. Don't think I've ever seen one take out a gull before (though I know they do). I stood watching for 15 minutes and apart from feathers being blown across the field there were large chunks of flesh being ripped away... so it's safe to say it was a successful kill B (:

I've now reached my target of 110 species (111) for the year and it's only August. Having read there was an Osprey south over Tophill all I can think is 'I should have had that too' :-O

Marcus -

The local wasn't called Alan by any chance was he? A pal of ours spends a great deal of his time up there.

Hi Sandra it was Dave Oosey - nice fella.

Black Stork on Cawood ings at the confluence of the Wharfe and Ouse.

What now??

EDIT yep see it on birdguides

Saw some dodgy chavs walk past work today with a Harris Hawk. Must be the new "must have" and not Staffies anymore.:eek!:

got to the black stork twitch about 4.30ish just in time to see it go up, head east, return, then head off north east - looked like it was going down again when it dissappeared behind trees (just been reported back in same spot on birdguides as I write) - good luck to anyone who goes.
cheers
rob

Yeah I chickened out on the BS, fingers crossed for tom

ah cr@p, isn't it always the bloody same...nowt when you're on hoiday...get back to work a lifer pops up!

And the one I decide not to go for sticks like glue...

Which one is that Marcus?

I hope it sticks...Black Stork is one of my most wanted since I started birdwatching. Thinking of going first thing.

Me too James, although by first thing I mean about 7

What’s the chance of Storky heading towards the East Coast? Couldn’t really justify the time and fuel against the chance of a dip today. Plus I was knackered after a busy day at work. Tomorrow is another day. Good luck for those that go in the morning.

This is quite a difficult bird to pin down, not because it is flying around but because it is a very difficult area to view into from the east bank of the River Ouse from the floodbank.

Viewing is very difficult as there are very few sight lines where you can observe through the trees along the Ouse and into the fields that it frequents. Anyone going might have to be patient as it spends a lot of time walking through hedges etc and popping out somewhere else, though of course with plenty of people looking it has tended to get relocated fairly quickly but it is not a tick and run bird! It was still present at dusk when it got up and flew low to the north, presumably to roost somewhere nearby, but out of view.

Given that the ings on that side have dried out it is difficult to tell how long it might stick in this area. Hopefully it will move across into the LDV as most other decent birds found at Wharfe Ings have done over the years!!

Rob, didn't recognise you amongst the small crowd. I must have been there with you - was with my wife and brother. Feeling a bit guilty as I suggested Marcus keep his powder dry. Please back me up - it didn't look hopeful for a view without putting in some long hours as it flew away.

Glad to see it's back anyhow. Let's hope it sticks for pic's. but will be hard to get on the deck. Curious to know if seen only in flight later on, or actually on the deck.

Don't worry Steve, I'll nail it tomorrow :t:

Keith,

I spent half of Sunday and yesterday walking over fifteen miles through the swamp-forest of the Duna Drava in southern Hungary specifically looking for Black Stork and failing miserably while being eaten alive by giant mozzies. I arrived back late last night and there's one twenty minutes from my house. But I flew back into Luton for work and I'm not back in Yorkshire in daylight until Friday!

Graham

Steve,
I never got as far as the main huddle - was about 300 yards short when it went up and circled about east - watched it from there 'til it dissappeared - took the advice of another birder who told me you'd be hard pushed to see it 'til it flew - and buggered off as a result. shame I missed you though. but ticking the black stork does compensate!
hope it sticks for marcus et al.
rob

Showing intermittantly at about 6.30pm when i managed to roll up. Still quite a crowd there of about 30-40 people. Seemed to be a lot of RSPB wardens there.

mark

Could do with it hanging around til next wednesday when im back in Yorks. Typical, you move to Cornwall where they are fairly frequent, dont see one and one turns up on yer old stompin ground. Be good if it moves onto Wheldrake area for better viewing. What are the water levels like there at the mo?

I made two unsuccessful trips to lincs Keith and the gull flies. Think this one is gonna bugger and it sticks!

Stork still on this AM. I am waiting for Citreon to replace my car and then I wll be heading straight for it - probably about 5ish...

On Wheldrake Ings? - too high/deep at present, but probably going to become superb as they start to drop as the Derwent goes down, so we should be in for a week or so of superb birding....and hopefully a decent bird or two as well..
the Black Stork would look so much better on Wheldrake!!

If anyone can bear another trip to Thorne there are some interesting guided walks coming up this Autumn

http://www.thorne-moorends.gov.uk/te...walks_2008.pdf

Just been on yer website Marcus. Looks really good, some great photos. May i make a suggestion? The photos would be easier on the eye if the text about each one was underneath it, rather than a line above? Do you know what i mean?
Looking forward to the Rare bird photos.

I have PM'ed you Paul

Hi Steve I was there around 18:15 - 19:15 hrs, seen at distance on the ground, reasonbale scope views for a bird of its size, had a few flights, but I didn't get my scope out, as there were plenty of peeps, letting you have a look thro theirs (thanks JMT et al)

Cheers

Daz

Got back from my fortnight in Aberdeen on Friday had a few good days out and about around the area, managed to see NETHY and DESHAR the Loch Garten Ospreys before they started heading south also the adult Male was still around too unfortunately the Female had left 2days prior. God knows how many Buzzards I saw but it was well in excess of 60 for the 12 days!! Also called in at a place called Huntly Peregrine wild watch! its a good place and worth checking out if your in the area! also managed to get to Fowlsheugh RSPB reserve, similair to Bempton in a way just hell of alot more picturesque! Will update blog when I get round to it! Thanks to the 'couple' of people who offered me advice before I went! Appreciated