Dave, Filey Brigg and the Dams are well worth a trip at this time of year The watchpoint at Wykeham is also worth a look

Came across this very obliging male Blackcap whilst walking the dog this morning.

Richard

Many thanks for that. Will certainly try around Filey Brigg and the Dams.

i remember once asking you for some information on the derbyshire thread. your response was no i'm not telling you.

i wonder how you would have felt were you to recieve such a response on here

Some might find this a useful resource (if you were not already aware of it).
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk...s/default.aspx

Ooh I like that! Graphs and everything.

I was up on the moors yesterday and all the reservoirs I saw were overflowing so everything that drops today will be in the rivers.

all the usual areas on the ressers round here where species such as little ringed plover and common sandpiper nest have been 5 foot underwater since february. i'd hate to see what the overflows are like as they were running full before this bout of rain started. it's going to be a dismal failure of a breeding season in the peaks i reckon

Flamborough and Filey.

Hang on a minute. If I was you I would check back on the posts. I seemed to recall that you asked about the location of a rare breeding bird called Nightjar. I wasn't prepared to reveal the location which I believe I was correct in doing so. Anybody else would have said the same.

Ask anybody here in Derbyshire and I'm one of the most helpful. I also recall bumping into you at Carsington last year in Sheepwash Hide and being rather helpful with some questions you had. Next time I might not be.

you remember something i don't about carsington then as i've never met you as far as i am aware, what do i look like

You was up there one day last year with your good lady. You were taking photos whilst in Sheepwash Hide. I pointed out the adult Yellow-legged Gull and other bits and bobs. We were chatting and you said you lived in Glossop. Later on you posted on the Derbyshire thread and it tallied with what we saw.

i retract everything i have said then, yes you were very helpful that day, i've obviously just picked up the wrong impression form the previous dealing. my apologies

No problem. Something else I remember about that day was the Yellow-legged Gull had got some sort of prey and it looked like an eel.

yeah it was an eel, or looked like one from the photos.

Looks like we'll have to complain to t'Met Office.................... all this rain's washed us in Yorks further south.............. :-O

Cor Blimey!

Does anyone know what the conditions are like at Fairburn at the moment? In particular I am wondering about the car park and footpaths at the Lin Dyke end of the reserve.

Thanks

Owen

Had a welcome distration from work earlier this morning (non-bird) in the shape of a bat flying around the top floor of our 3-floor office block in Horsforth. Don't have a clue as to the ID (I don't think my boss would have been keen on me leaving work to try & ID it!!)

Richard

Seems to have been a major fall of chats at Spurn overnight. I've never seen so many Wheatears in Spring & 4 male Whinchats too

I've tried to summarise my sightings in just 2 hours on the blog: http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.co.uk...-even-150.html

Love the wheatear on the woodpiles Michael. Must have been amazing

Cheers. I tried to download it on here, but the file was the wrong size. The large version of the 7 Wheatears on the woodpile is on the blog ;)

Still extensive water on Hickson's but I reckon the paths should be walkable.

Great shot indeed. You can always upload from the URL code if the picture is too big.

Sounds a bit technical to me!

Reserve open, but still some areas of inaccessibility at the west - ie Lin Dyke - end.

Talking about overnight falls of Chats, my friend woke up this morning to the sight of a very bedraggled male Wheatear on his front lawn, which is in the middle of a small estate here in Fev. He brought us a not very good pic, taken thro' the double glazed window, but it was enough for us to give it an identity, he wasn't sure...
Not a bad garden tick ..eh...?

First Swifts of the year for me this morning with good numbers over the fields & river between Burley & Otley.

Richard

Got my first Swift yesterday - just the one. Also a Hobby which is the first April record for me :t:

I know long-term weather forecasts aren't particularly reliable but I heard someone earlier saying that the 10 day forecast was iffy. None of the dependable sites I use would venture that far. Any suggestions where to look? Planning a few days out and don't want to get soaked if possible.

This website http://uk.weather.com/ gives a ten day view of the weather. I have generally found the forecasts here to be reasonably accurate, but it is worth checking what they say reasonably often, especially the further out you are looking.

Cheers

Owen

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