You might get the woodpecker from the A64 bridge - there is a footpath as I saw a jogger head over it. Not ideal though.

Marvellous.

Seriously, James, it went really well. I hunkered down in cover for a good while with both the Smew and the Red-Breasted Geese and was rewarded with cracking views. I actually lost the distant Smew for five minutes before realising it was with some Coot just 25 yards away!

Geese took more finding, and I then had to walk about two miles round to avoid silhouetting but eventually found an approach and a seat in the dunes where I watched for an hour or more eventually down to around 70 yards.

Both geese and duck were fantastic in the winter sunshine - having the drake Smew and a drake Goosander sunlit in a tight scope view together was unforgettable.

Tried some bunting hunting later but managed only 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Rock Pipit, 5+ Mipits, 20 Skylarks and a dozen Linnets. Also 1 Sprawk, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 8 Gadwall, 15 Goldeneye, 3 Dabchick, 20+ GC Grebe, 3 Goldcrest, 100s Redshank, 100s Lapwing, 100s Golden Plover, 10s Knot, 10s Dunlin, 10s Oiks, 5 Little Egrets, 100s Shelduck and 1000+ Brent inc min 3+ light-bellied.

I might start a Lincs thread, you know!

Graham

Sounds like you had a rather good day Graham.

I was happy this morning to see a Tawny Owl outside my parent's house for the third time in as many weeks. Seems it has a favourite perch in a small tree opposite the drive way. My parents also have a Barn Owl that sits on the garden fence post every evening and good numbers of Roe Deer feed in the field next door. They won't let me move back home.

Eight Common Cranes flew west over South Cave at 13:00 today!

Was anyone present? I was a mere 5 miles away argh!!

I assume someone was present, unless one of the cranes called it into Birdguides himself? But no, I was elsewhere also. Eyes to the skies though - they're up there somewhere!

Meanwhile, what's Marcus playing at? Off enjoying his birthday and not posting a trip report. I need to decide whether it's worth a near two-hour trek tomorrow. May just do Wheldrake or go see folks instead - Firecrest and Water Pipit on my local hot-spot of youthful yore.

G

Did anyone see the Cranes this summer near West Carlton? They were there a good while. Some folk even suggested it could be the start of an East Yorks population! Not sure if I was a forum member then.

Some flaming whatnot has had the cheek to find an American Wigeon at heldrake after i went down the other day and grilled em. Grrr!!! Cant even go and see it for a few days.

Accompanied my Dad and his Springer Spaniel for a walk along Fraisthorpe Beach this afternoon. Didn't expect to see much, especially with the dog bouncing all over the place. Apart from the usual gulls, I saw a pair of Stonechat, Turnstone, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and a flock of Snow Bunting similar in size to the numbers we saw at the Filey Meet, i.e. One individual!

The area is worth a second visit, especially early in the morning before it gets busy. Wouldn't be supprised to find a Shore Lark or Lapland Bunting next time.

Graham,
Your private message box is full so I can't send you a PM!
If the weather is ok I'm going to head to Bubwith Ings and N. Duffield Carrs tomorrow afternoon. Feel free to call me if your in the area (same goes for anyone else). Should be there from 1 -1:30pm. Cheers.

I think you'll find that I PM'd you this exact phrase not three days ago - "And there must, must, must be at least one AGP, American Wigeon, or Green Winged Teal with that many birds about, Viewing of so much of the valley is so poor I reckon one could overwinter undiscovered."
I'm down south but I'll go hunt for it with you when I'm back of you like - hopefully we can find the AGP and the teal as well!

Graham

Thats the galling bit graham. I really went through all the flocks as thoroughly as i could. Admittedly the Wigeon were most tricky due to the sheer numbers and the fact loads hid in the tree lines.

Like I said, James, i reckon that bird could stay all winter and not be seen again. So many birds, so much water. I just enjoy the spectacle and hope I notice a funny-looking one!

Finally got my Green Woodpecker for Yorkshire at North Cave today. Plus I flushed 8 Red-legged Partridge from a hedge and a local tried to string them as Grey Partridge. I saw them in the bush but at dusk he called them from flight silhouette (twice the distance i was). They went in the log book, lol. I tried to string a little grebe as black necked but even my dubious morals failed ;) Loadsa ducks. Nothing else flash although numbers are building up nicely.

Not been to North Cave for a while, although I might be tempted by Black-necked Grebe or even Grey Partridge! I've heard about the Green Woodpeckers there, although never seen them myself. I think one was killed on the road a year or two ago.

Are they quite scarce in Yorkshire? They were my favourite bird when I was a kid, but I only saw one (don't even remember where, but most probably N.Yorks). Here in north Notts they're really common as the habitat is just right (remnants of Sherwood Forest). On my local patch I see them on 9/10 visits... probably would be 10/10, if I actually tried to see them. One morning I saw 6+, and sometimes they venture into our estate (like this morning |=)|).

Dont think they are particularly rare but are my yorks bogey bird. Sorry were.

I don't think I've ever seen a Green Woodpecker in Yorkshire, although I see them all the time in Essex, including the garden of my girlfriend's auntie. As James said, I don't think they are rare. They are certainly recorded regularly at many sites in the county. I just think they arn't as conspicuous/numerous as in other parts of the country.

When I grew up in Bedfordshire, I literally never saw Great Spotted Woodpeckers, but saw Green every time I went birding and a lot of times when I wasn't. I was really surprised to find the reverse in Yorkshire, and a Wakefield ex-birder friend of mine had never seen a Green Woodpecker until he played golf with me in Leighton Buzzard. Green Woodpecker are definitely less common in Yorks but I have seen them recently at Swillington Ings, Potteric Carr and Fairburn Ings.

BTW, today I had in my scope at the same time 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Red-Legged Partridges and 3 Pink-Footed Geese. Can you guess where I was?

Clue - I then panned left for Little Auk!

Graham

No but I'm suitably jealous- guess it wasn't Bedfordshire!!

Spurn?

Just found out im off 2moro and the better half isnt coming home. I feel a day out birding coming on.

Snettisham. Wow! Also great views of Black (eared) Kite sparring with a Buzzard, 6 close Shore Larks, 2 sunlit Barn Owls, a confiding Scaup, loads and loads and loads of ducks and waders, a precocious weasel and 2 brown hares. Absolutely ruddy marvellous!

Hope the weather's good for you, James. Got anywhere in mind?

Graham

Not really sure, torn between searching for the am. wigeon at wheldrake or going further afield.

SIX SHORE LARKS! I'm sorry Graham but thats just greedy. Glad you had a good day.

I'm alive!




Just

Good birthday?

Colossal.

Think I drank so much I came close to spending Christmas in the homeless shelter.

I love it when people try to drink their own body weight in beer. Never works and always antagonizes the misses. Did you get out birding?

I tried but I was so hungover I was cautious travelling miles so stayed local. When I got there the cold wind blew into my face and I thought my eyes may bleed, so I retired to the boozer for four days.

Good work!

Nice one Marcus- glad you had a good birthday. Its a sure sign your getting old when a heavy night effects your plans for the next day (especially birding plans). As I'm only a couple of weeks younger than you, I know the feeling all too well. The only thing to do is to drown your sorrows and head for the pub again!

Just got back from Wheldrake Ings. No Am. Wigeon (only 1,000 normal ones left on compared to 4 times that the other day). Also no Scaup but did with (i presume) Russell Slack's help got on to the Iceland Gull in the roost. Several thousand gulls and a few thousand Starlings into roost. Also got a patch tick in the form of the duck we do not mention by name incase people with guns and google come looking. Other stuff included plenty of Goldeneye, a couple of Goosander and Redwing as a pach tick (!). Im sure ive just missed it off previously. Onto 98 for the patch so im wondering what 100 will be. Water Pipit or Scaup would be good.

I haven't managed to get out anywhere decent for ages due to work and baby commitments, but I was in London today and popped into Hyde Park to see the Yellow-Legged Gull.

I also saw the parakeets. Do these count as a tick yet or are they still in the escaped budgie category?

It can't be long before they move up to colonise the parks in Leeds.

Jon

You can tick away. The parakeets are on the british list category C (introduced species like canada goose, little owl, pheasant, red legged partridge etc). I believe their are a handful in Leeds already. Where i have no idea.

I think they're being noted regularly somewhere around Manchester, but it's equally possible I'm just imagining that... I wouldn't hang around there if I was a parrot!

Cheers,
Bob.

There were reports of ring-necked parakeets in a garden in Armley, Leeds last year. It/they were around for a fair few days before departing.

No, and I would'nt hang around Armley if I was a parrot either!!!!!!