The LDV & Skipwith NNR is 3 miles away, which is a pretty good place:t:

Within 15 mins of there are Heslington East, Fulford Ings, Wharfe Ings, Bishop Wood plus any number of random sites that are never watched so plenty of potential to distract you on those visits to your relatives.

With a lot of luck Escrick itself is probably the last remaining site at which it is possible see Hawfinch in the York area!

Thanks, didnt know there was a reserve in skipwith, no wonder my grandma used to get such good birds in her garden!

Skipwith is well worth a visit.

More info: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/our...r/1460432.aspx

Fascinated re Hawfinches at Escrick;have any being reported in recent times?Paul.

Paul, several birds were in Gashouse Wood in the early part of the winter - they are elusive and presumably roam the mature patches of woodland either side of Queen Margaret's School/Escrick area - as much of this is out of bounds they are hard to pin down.

This is the general location:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X...2677&A=Y&Z=115

as anyone been to wykeham forest rvp lately, are the honey buzzards showing and which other raptors can be expected?

Thanks Paul

I was there all day Tuesday. It was very disappointing. Only distant Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk & a Kestrel. Best thing there was a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly: http://www.eybirdwatching.blogspot.c...reen-gold.html

We were there last weekend,3 Common Buzzard was the best we got,Peregrine at Sutton Bank on way home was a bonus

I'm a bit puzzled. Since putting up some feeders earlier this year I have noticed a change in activity. At first it was adult birds presumably taking food back to their nests. Then it was adults collecting food for the fledglings in the nearby tree. Eventually the fledglings cottoned on and started coming to the feeders.

The puzzling bit is that only juvs are visiting now. The parents are probably busy on their second brood. But this begs the question, why aren't they coming to the feeders?

Any thoughts?

[quote=northernloon;2484348]I'm a bit puzzled. Since putting up some feeders earlier this year I have noticed a change in activity. At first it was adult birds presumably taking food back to their nests. Then it was adults collecting food for the fledglings in the nearby tree. Eventually the fledglings cottoned on and started coming to the feeders.

The puzzling bit is that only juvs are visiting now. The parents are probably busy on their second brood. But this begs the question, why aren't they coming to the feeders?

Any thoughts?[/QUOTE

Greater abundance of natural food available now ?

That could be the answer as the nearest nesting sites are some way away. I'll keep looking

Aren't parents which have finished breeding, now hiding away as they moult? This seems to happen in our garden every year for a few weeks. Robins & Blackbirds have just finished with their 3rd broods here.

Probably because they are collecting natural foods for their chicks, and because of the wet weather I guess there is plenty to go around with enough to feed themselves too. I've noticed my blue tits have dissapeared, but my goldfinch numbers have increased (to my delight) from 1 to 3!

Thanks for that;if we ever get a clear evening might have a go for them;have seen hawfinch in Poland but major bogey bird for me!

Called in at Stanley Marsh Tuesday evening but it was very quiet other than a couple of grey herons, little grebe, possible gadwall calling, blackcap, chiffy, 20 odd canada geese (mostly juvs), moorhen, 3 coot, mallard. Large areas of the circular path are underwater so wellies are a must, and fly spray too - i've got the bites to prove it!

Q@Spurn, answer yer email :P

Ken and I had a drive down to Potteric today, didn't see the wood sandpiper that had been reported yesterday but did see 3 green sands. The dry spell and then the rain have had an unfortunate effect of covering most of the mud with vegetation, so there could have been a wood sand present but it was hidden in the greenery.
Following a bacon butty and a short time watching squirrels at the feeders we headed up to North Cave and had a short walk around the reserve, Ken finally bagging a yellow-legged gull as a county tick.

Does anyone know if the G Phalarope is still at Old Moor - not seen any reports since 1pm??? If its still there is Old Moor open till 8pm?

Cheers

John

Yorkshire List
 

Does it currently stand at 447?

It was, but I believe that Ring necked Parakeet was recently added so that would mean 448

Are they the one's you keep in your shed? If I don't get a tick this autumn I might have to add Black Swan.

Grey Phalarope seen yesterday and today on the Mere at Old Moor, this is from the Barnsley Birding web site and from Dave Simmonite who reports on Old Moor RSPB web site......just enough excitement to get me over there early tmrw
Joe

G Phal still at old moor at 7pm this evening. Also 2 Arctic terns. Nice to see 2 G Partridge by feeders opposite car park with not a care in the world!!!

No grey phal on Old Moor yesterday .. It was found at 6:45 this morning ... :t: Still on at dusk by the way ...

Which part is the Mere?

You can get a map from the Visitor Centre to help you navigate your way around .. The Mere hide is the first one one on the left as you go along the main path through the reserve (known as Green Lane) ...

Yes, sorry Dave...got my days mixed with Thrs and Fri.....went this morning (why don't RSPB sites open early...had to wait 'til 9.30...:C ..) Triple dipped on Grey Phal...Little Gull and Arctic Tern....but did have excellent close views of a Hobby snatch at a Linnet sat on a thistle right in front of the hide, the Linnet escaped but the views of the Hobby twisting and turning in front of us were really good. Then later we had a juv. Peregrine doing the same trying to get amongst the BH gulls and Lapwings, worth the trip for those two....other birds seen were, Green and Common S/piper,BT Godwit, Lit Egret, Greenshank, Redshank, Buzzard,along with the usual com water birds.
Joe
PS... IMHO... this has now developed into a really good reserve for both birders ( with recent highlights e.g. Bitterns successfully rearing 3 young) and families..

Thank you.

Hi Joe,
Nice to meet up with you again. As you said, missed out on a few but had a good morning anyway. Highlight for me today, apart from the Peregrine were the two young lads sat beside us , full of enthusiasm and with eyes that work (I think we would have missed the Hobby without his help). It's good to see youngsters that have made their own decisions to go out there and not have been dragged along by parents. Will pm you for Nightjar walk, hope we get some decent weather.
Dave

Semi-p
 

Shame about the "Semi-p" this morning - thought I was going to sort out a bird I need for Yorkshire and have dipped on previously. It was distant but clearly too big - bossing the Dunlins as it fed. Ah well - here's to the next one.

Good sightings today at the wykeham raptor view point:

A honey buzzard having a brief tussle with a goshawk. Also sparrowhawk, red kite, common buzzard, a peregrine & i missed a hobby.

I've made 3 visits there & seen goshawk on all 3 & honey buzzard for the 1st time today.

I spent afew hours last night in the forest but i didnt even hear a nightjar. Would anyone know why?

Chris

I've a feeling it might be a bit late in the year...but then I've never tried nightjarring this late.

I had two birds three weeks ago in a large area of clearfell. Driving from Wykeham village, you get to the T junction with a car parking area in front of you. You would go left to the raptor viewpoint, go right instead down the road marked 'Unsuitable for motor vehicles' (drive at 3 mph and dodge the potholes with care!) After maybe a mile you get to a large area of clearfell on the right; that was where I saw them.

Thanks for that. I'll probs wait until next year then. I thought you had a good chance of seeing them anytime between june & august. What is the best time for next year?

Nightjars
 

Went out last night on Nightjar watch along with Joespy, Mick , and Barry. A very good evening was had by all, we heard probably 5 or 6 churring Nightjars and had four very good views. These were possibly the same bird but it kept coming back right over our heads. At one time it hovered right in front of us to catch an insect ( I didn't realise they did that) it then momentarily settled on a post right in front of us. They started to become active at about 9.30. On the way back we had a Tawny Owl calling, but it never showed itself.
GO FOR IT TYSON.

Yes, excellent views Dave, thanks for that. The best I've had and so close, and after well dowsing with anti-midge stuff.:eek!:..no consequences this morning...:t:
Cheers Joe

Wykeham very quiet today, little about. Kestrel and sparrowhawk seen by Ken and I, with gos seen by someone earlier in the day.

Plenty of summer plumage waders at Spurn: More pics on the blog

Where was this please?

Osprey
 

There were two Ospreys showing at Welbeck Raptor Viewpoint yesterday
along with a Peregrine mobbing one of the Ospreys, apparently they have been
there around a month.