I figured that....just been looking at a decent scale map of the area.
Shame I'm working tomorrow and Saturday...Might try and have a look on Sunday when I take my youngest to his badminton tournament in Harrogate.

There were 4 goosander and 12 teal there also - you could see them from the road. Only stopped becuase I thought the cold snap might have convinced something to stop. Wow, I am really chuffed with finding an inland LTD on one of 'my' local patches!!

Wow! Wonder if it's the bird that was at Hay-a-Park a few months ago? Makes me want to go to Losh, but I'll check out your pond first I think.

Neat find... LTDs often stick as well.


Cheers,
Bob.

Still present this morning, along with 7 goosanders, 3 snipe, 9 teal, 2 cormorants and 4 pochard.

If you saw the size of the pond you would wonder how they all fit!

Well done Marcus, brilliant find and some very good shots, definately one of my favourite birds. I always wonder why these hardy sea duck often end up inland often on small ponds like this!
Derek

Nice find, I reckon that might be just about bikeable too, if I set off early tomorrow.
Just weighing up LTD vs lie in...

I got to Rodley in the end, btw. Its not a bad site actually- and all the regulars and staff and people seemed really helpful. I said I might be able to do a bit of volunteering if they needed me. Got good views of two kingfisher and a water rail.

It must be good eating (unlike Losh!) Will be having a glance for the LTD and Goosander first thing tomorrow morning, armed with camera.

LTD - very close to home. Tempted to have a drive out there this weekend.

Was in Scarborough with work this afternoon and thought it would be rude not to check out the Black-throated Diver in the harbour. Parking my van on a loading bay I was able to find the bird within seconds and watch it for about fifteen minutes. It was good to see the plumage details close up in contrast to the brief appertiser we had last Sunday.

Did you rule out Pacific Diver ;)

Cheers,
Bob.

Went down to Spurn this morning, the road to the point has been washed away again, will be closed for the next 7 days according to the warden on the gate. Hoped to get the Pallas Warbler, not a sniff, knew I should have gone to Scarbourgh for the Black Throated Diver!! After spending an hour stood waiting for the warbler that was not there, we set off to walk Beacon Lane. Usual Birds spotted, Dunnocks, Great and Blue Tits, Robins, Blackbirds and Starlings. Not a sniff of a Snow Bunting or Brambling ended up at the Hide on Beacon Pond. Mute Swans, Brent Geese, Widgeon and a lone Sanderling.
On the way back to the car we came accross a pair of redpoll, pretty sure they are not Mealy!

Yes, Lesser Redpoll.

I made it across the pennines safe and sound. I called in at the pond at last light and the bird was still there. I would say that the first birder threre will get the glut of birds and then everyone else will just get the ltd and maybe some snipe or teal.

If continue past the lake you get to a stubble field where I have flushed jack snipe before now. There a loads of winter thrushes in the hedges and the odd brambling knocking around too. You will of couse see red kite and you should see buzzards. Keep eyes peeled for little owl as they are not infrequent.

If you walk past the pond into the field and turn left (actually following the path) you will get to a style - scan this field for deer and hare both of which should be around if you have kept noise down. Good luck.

Here is the pond at last light, this tree holds all the winter thrshes and usually something else interesting - GSW or Sparwk!

Saw my local Tawny for the first time this evening. As a few will recall i had some trouble ticking tawny in the first place. The local bird used to call on frosty nights from the aerials on houses across the road but when i noticed this (as indoors) i was usually drinking wine and far too sozzled to move. Today as im at work in the morning and its the first frosty night here i was compus mentis enough to go have a look and behold 4 doors down across the road the owl was calling in all glory. One for the bird atlas i feel.

Good one James....I'm hoping that my local tawny owls start their calling a little bit further east of my house..that way they will be in my tetrad, if it's west they won't be. LOL

In my tetrad im pleased to say. Just been readying myself for my first visit to one of my tetrads and my house tetrad has got a stream involved and a local 'moor'. So Short eared Owl then !

Marcus's LTD was still present this morning. I biked across the Harewood estate and arrived at the little pond at about 11. I saw it straight away out in the middle of the pond. It came quite close and I got a fairly good view. Not much else there.

It was good to see Long-tailed Duck, its one of I've been after for a while cos I've seen them before but it isn't on my lifelist. (Sounds stupid I know, but I never kept lists as a kid- so I have ten or so years worth of birds not on record.) Anyway, its there now. Thanks for the information, Marcus.:t:

I connected with the LTD this morning. Also present a few Snipe, half a douzen Red Kites, Water Rail, Willow Tit, and loads of Fieldfare.

Inspired me to go to Losh - not much I'm afraid:

53 Mallard
Little Grebe
1 drake Teal
2 Tufted Duck
Small gull roost of Black-headed & Common
2 Moorhen
1 Hare

Hopefully some nice shots of the duck, but unfortunately rather dull.

Had a nice day at Wheldrake, pleased the sun got out in the afternoon. Highlights were a few Redpoll along the riverbank and a merlin turning up to harrass the wildfowl. Quite a few goldcrest about with one displaying to a couple of others which was nice. Other than that pretty quiet.

Just looking at the forecast for the week ahead, easterlies on Monday to Wednesday hmm... http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...cast_wind.html

I managed to get to the pond today and the L T Duck is still present, along with about 200 fieldfares 3 or 4 snipe and a handful of teal. Couldn't hang about for long so didn't go as far as the stubble field, but if there is a chance of jack snipe then I will return when more time available.

Today I saw a Barn Owl out hunting in the early afternoon. Nothing unusual about that apart from the fact it was very windy and absolutely pouring down with rain. Also saw a Sparrowhawk and a good sized flock of Goldfinch- not bad going considering I spent the day shopping in York!

Today it has rained, rained and more rain, spent the day working on my new website not live yet but starting to come together.

Went over the bridge into Lincolnshire, Saw Great Northern Diver in summer plumage and a Slav Grebe at Covenham, then had a Long Tailed Duck at Huttoft Pits and on the way home stopped off at Worlaby for a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Short-Eared Owl

Sounds like a good day John. Today i mostly saw rain.

It was yesterday James, Today I have seen snow!!

Good one. I would be interested in hearing more about Coveham and how to work that area.

Hi Marcus, its easy, just park up on the North West Side, there is a car park -off road. follow foothpath up to Res bank, there is a footpath, all the way round. I've only walked the West & South bank. There are plenty of places nearby to bird. Donna Nook, Rimac etc etc. C link below.

http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/


__________________________
Cheers
Darren

Hi Marcus, just to add to what darren said keep an eye on the concrete sides as you get waders feeding around the edge and snow buntings have been seen on the banks recently

Couldn't get there this weekend, as had stuff to do at home Saturday & had the hangover from hell on Sunday B (:

What do you reckon the chances are of it still being there this coming weekend?

Wouldn't want to call it Richard. They can be stayers so there is a possibility of the bird hanging around. I'm probably going back on Thursday with scope etc to have a good nose around, weather dependant of course. I'll post something Thursday night.

At Flamborough, Filey, Bempton and Spurn this weekend just gone. Highlights included a Pomarine skua over my head at Spurn point. And a Little auk on the sea at Flamborough, lots of other things too.

Pictures and more are on my Blog below:

Long tailed duck still present today.

Also 17 Snipe, Water Rail, Willow tit, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, 5 Goosander, 200 fieldfare and 11 Brambling.

Thats was inside 40 minutes! I will get a decent pic if the sun ever shines...

Nice bit about wildlife on the Aire in Leeds
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...m&asb=1&news=1

..and is that Cas 40 seconds in?

Thought it was a while since I last dipped Lapland Bunting so I braved the bad weather and headed to Flamborough for an hour this afternoon.
Plenty of birds about including Rock Pipit and a huge, grumpy Peregrine soaring against the wind, defending it's air-space from the Herring Gulls.
I soon found a mixed flock of birds in the bunting field that included Starling, Skylark and good numbers of Snow Bunting- also RL Partridge. Unfortunately the smaller birds were only visable when in the air. When I thought they were going to hit the deck close to the path a Merlin shot out from nowhere and sent them back up again! I couldn't really complain.
Needless to say I didn't get a confirmed Lap although some of the birds in the flock were probably this species.
As the rain started to get faster I drove to the lighthouse just in case a SEO was hunting the set-aside. No such luck although I did see a pair of Stonechat.
One good thing about my bogey Laps- I see some great birds while searching for them.

Yep looks like 'Allisons' mill by the weir. I reckon the cameraman was on Lock Lane bridge. Different view there now as the new footbridge over the river runs from just this side of the mill, with a central column in the weir race itself.

Stalked the little beauty today, and I am chuffed with these.

Also 1000 fieldfare, 7 redpoll and one snipe.

Marcus - Views/shots as good as that, at least you will be ready next time:t:

________________
Cheers
Darren

Interestingly, the bird did flew two complete laps of the pond today so the bad news is it may clear off at any point, but the good news is that it is in the pond out of choice!

Leeds to Pechora Pipit, 5 hours 9 mins.

That's too much for me, but I was tempted enough to find out. I am going to try and find a Pallas Warbler somewhere, but not sure where yet!