My first thought was golden plover but once I saw more of it I realised is wasn't and it was probably close to the size of the wagtails. The strange thing was although I could see the details of all the other birds this one seemed always to be slightly out of focus despite being a different colour to the background (bare earth). It showed no particular behaviour to give it away and it sometimes looked as though it hid in depressions. May have been one of the commoner local species but nothing came to mind. Anyway I've sent my email address to you about the woodcock as I'd like to see it and add it to the local list as well as the life list.
Thanks,
Chris.

I'm thinking of going for the Hatfield RN Grebe on Tuesday. I was just wondering where is the best place to park (English Nature Car Park?), how big is the lake (guess there is a clue in the name?!?) and any other tips please. Thanks.

Mike I'll pm you with details I sent on to Daz.

RNGrebe 4/3/08
 

Quick record shot at distance....
Cheers Steve!


________________________________
Best

Darren

Called in at the Dalby Forest feeding station this afternoon to see if the snow had attracted any Bramblings. I wasn't disappointed.
Three males showed well at the feeders and a large flock was seen from the exit road.
Photos courtesy of my girlfriend.

Attachment 133429 Attachment 133430

hi all, went to swillington ings for a stroll and saw a large pipit (song thrush sized) in the grass along the fence near where the scrub starts on the other side of the fence. what is it likely to be if its that sized. had a pale stripe above the eye and its back was quite well patterned. i assume its too big to be a meadow pipit and looked too light in colour to be a rock pipit.

Redwing or Skylark?



Cheers,
Bob.

definately not redwing although similar in size. primaries and secondaries were all separately visible and not uniform brown like on a song thrush. didn't have the shape of a skylark. seen through 10x bins at about 15-20 yards.

Hi Knocker,

There was a Water Pipit not far from where you describe December into January but I think it is long gone, and anyway would not be as large as you describe. Scandinavian Rock Pipits do pass through the site in small numbers but again, although chunkier than a Meadow Pipit they're not nearly Song Thrush size.

Richard's Pipit is a much, much scarcer bird, especially away from the coast, and normally turns up in late Autumn, but is the largest pipit which could conceivably occur (Skylark-sized) and which roughly fits your description. It is, as I recall, on the site list from a long time ago and so is not impossible, but the likelier explanation by far is still a slightly odd-looking Skylark.

Graham

Hi Guys
As far as I'm aware, the old record was from the early/mid 90's past the hide, plus 1 record from last year, both fly over calling birds.

______________________________
Darren

Failed in my efforts to make an early start on Sunday and regretted it when I found myself driving into a blizzard in the Washburn Valley which initially foiled my planned walk. So for the first few hours I was limited to brief sallies from the car at Thruscross (showy Redpoll, bedraggled Fieldfare, small flock of Golden Plover, Greylag goslings in snow,) and Hardisty Hill (Stonechat singing in blizzard, Sparrowhawk chasing pigeons) Deciding eventually to brave the blizzard I managed about 400 yards and two Mistle Thrushes before being told to "get 'orf moi land" by a farmer who needs to take up his issues with Ordnance Survey.

So by 5PM, apart from a few curlew, lapwing and gulls I'd had a poor afternoon and when the snow stopped I didn't hold much hope for finding much birdlife on the walk around john O'Gaunt reservoir I had planned. But I did find a Little Owl, my first Willow Warbler of the year, another Sparrowhawk, Snipe, a GSW, Song and Mistle Thrushes, a flock of around 150 Fieldfares and lots of other common stuff, and the dam wall between John O'Gaunt and Beaver Dyke was alive with birds, presumably having sought out a rare source of insects in the conditions: 9 Swallows, 3 Redshanks, 2 Grey and 10+ Pied Wagtail, and a flock of over 100 Meadow Pipits which steadfastly refused to contain any Rock, Water or Tree Pipits. Biggest surprise of the day was a lone Tree Sparrow at Bank Slack, which I think is a very unusual bird for the area?

Finished with a Snipe and 2500 jackdaws at Fewston and 2 roding Woodcock at Timble.

Nothing too exciting, then, but nice to get out again and would recommend the Beaver Dyke walk - should be good for Redstarts soon by the look of it.

BTW, i never see Dunlin on the moors - am I missing them or are they just not that common this far south?

Graham

Just had a really 45 mins pleasant stroll around my local patch in Burley in Wharfedale down to the stepping stones on the Wharfe.

Nothing too exciting seen, but did get Blue, Great & Long Tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Goldfinch, Wren, Goldcrest, Robins, Blackbirds, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Curlew & Kestrel.

All without bins as well!!

On my drive to work this morning I had the sort of sighting that really brightens up your day. Just coming down a hill and I saw a bird at the foot of the hill, land after it had flown across the road. 'That's pale for a pigeon' I though, so I slowed down and had a look at it as I drew level. Only a freaking barn owl! And the little beauty took off, pounced and came up with what looked like a vole in it's beak. Why have I never got a camera with on moments like that? All this happening less than 12 foot from the roadside.
So I'll be paying a little more attention now on the morning commute, hoping for another sighting.

evening everyone,been round local patch this weekend and not too bad,willow warblers have just arrived,a pair of peregrines that I have been watching for the last 4 years are nesting,hope to have found a new fox den(so should be good for a few photo's) the chiffchaffs are singing there hearts out,plus a good sighting of a little owl,so all in all not a bad weekend concidering the weather

Had a meeting in Copley, so took advantage of being over there to pick up Twite at Deer Hill Res. this evening. Twenty-nine of the liitle beuts. buzzing away, a lot sporting their plastic bling.

Also, several Curlew, Lapwing and Meadow Pipits. The weather then closed in and from watching them in sunshine, my walk back was in a snowy blizzard.

Two days late and a mile off course...

19:18 08/04/08 Velvet Scoter Lincs Barton-upon-Humber Pits
drake on Sailing Pit;

That Velvet Scoters been there at least a week. The're a secretive lot over the bridge

I took a day off work today to go and see the Red-necked Grebe at Hatfield Moor- what a cracker!!! The bird was very vocal and frequented the far side of the lake from the car park.
After visiting a couple of other places (had the missus with me) we called at Clumber Park in Notts for a walk around the lake. I really wasn't expecting to find the GG Shrike and was more than happy with the pair of Mandarin we spotted with the other ducks on the water.
Just when I had given up hope, I saw the Shrike sat on top of a small tree and was able to watch it for a good while before we walked back to the car.

A good day.

A good blog for over the bridge...
 

http://pewit.blogspot.com/



_________________________________
Darren

Saw three "unusual" birds in the garden this morning before going to work. Tried to get close to them as they were on the feeders. Looked like they were goldcrest sized or slightly larger, no goldcrest on heads and one obvious wingbar. Overall colour was a dirty yellowish greeny grey and the calls were a chittering kind of sound. Would have done better if I'd had my bins with me as I realy need my eyes testing again.

Chris, could they have been female type Siskin?

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Darren

Seems I did jinx it for Yorkshire! But two pretty good birds have turned up - DEJunco and Little Crake. Plus a smattering of bluethroats etc.

My gut is considerable and fairly reliable after all ;)

Osprey at Elland gravel pits yesterday, didn't find out until after dark and no news on calderbirds if it's still around. Probably call on the way home.

I'm desperate for one to stick in Yorkshire. Eleven through so far this Spring, including today's Langsett bird. If I'd have known how long I'd be waiting, I'd have clocked the Thryburgh bird a few years back, (but wasn't actively Yorkshire listing then) that starred on Look North.

Surely the Washburn must be suited to a pair!?

That's the only thing I can think of, could have done with some background so I would have seen better. I'll have to get down to specsavers.

Description does sound like female Siskin, Chris, especially the 'chittering'. I still have two pairs in my garden hanging around from the February influx. I'm hoping they may just stick around to breed.

Graham

Only had a couple of hours spare today so had a brief visit to Swillington Ings. Not much about but the sight of a red kite carrying nesting material over the woodland bodes well for the future. As does the presence of a couple of buzzards. One of the lads in the hide was saying there were 4 buzzards up in the air yesterday so they obviously like the area.
There were loads of sand martins and a good handful of swallows but I couldn't find a house martin among them.
Among the ducks on the lake, a single female goldeneye was the last of the wintering birds I reckon, as I couldn't find another in just over 2 hours of watching.

Looks right for sure... presumably those resrs are well stocked with trout?

Am going to make extra effort to spend some time looking around the fish farms at Wansford this year. Would love to add one of these beauties to my local list - and if I'm honest mostly to be rid of anguish of having missed one there by this >.< much... :'D


Cheers,
Bob.

There was one through Pugney's on Saturday.
I was there on Saturday.

There were three through Brockholes on Sunday (darkside I know)
I was there (with Jim and Keith) on Sunday

There were two at North Duffield on Monday
I was there Monday

The two Yorkshire visits were on spec, and I found out later so I guess my timing sucks...

... evil birds.

Both Fewston and Swinsty are stocked with brown trout (and rainbow trout I think).
Lindley Wood, not sure about this one.
Thruscross has yachting and windsurfing so I don't think it is fished, so probably not stocked.
I have seen osprey on one occasion using the Washburn Valley, but it was 8 years ago so hardly up to date info.

Called in at Elland this afternoon but nothing obvious, no bins in the car with which to have a good look so came away. Keith, what is a good pair of bins to have in the car?

I think I missed on a nice tick for J27 patch. Went up last night to find the feathers of a woodpigeon scattered around a post. No body left so that was probably taken away once plucked but a sparrowhawk isn't big enough for that is it? Peregrine?

I see there has been a grip back.

Osprey
 

Well I must have been very fortunate with this species in Yorkshire, first was a Yorkshire Tick over Leventhorpe Sep 99, the next two were at Wykeham RVPoint, first two self found, and the last was Spurn May 01, but the local CB/Radio played a big part in that…….
_________________________________________________

Daz

Me too, been lucky with quite a few self-found Ospreys over the years in Yorks, also had Osprey on the house list. Not much skill involved with many of them, just the right place at the right time, eg just getting out of the car at Wheldrake Ings and one flies over my head or driving along the A64 near Castle Howard and one goes over the car etc. Often just luck.

The first I ever found was in 1981 when I was a young schoolboy. I'd gone for a cycle ride after school and reached some local ponds and there was an Osprey sat in the dead tree when I got there - I cycled to the nearest telephone box as excited as anything and called the late Michael Clegg, who lived in the same village as me, to come out and verify my sighting. He duly did and the bird attracted quite a crowd over its two-day stay and I even went back for 2nds the following morning before school. Those were the days!!

I'd say that the Swarovksi EL 8.5 x 32 would be a good pair to have in the car.... only trouble for me would be that the bins would be worth more than the car.
Seriously though, I've not thought about this... maybe a relatively cheap pair if they are going to be a permanent thing in the car, no point in going over the insurance cover that you have got.

Female Sparrowhawks are known to take Woodpigeon.

There have been Osprey seen at Hay-a-Park (Knaresborough) through on migration. (Also I'm pretty sure it had a White-tailed Eagle once in the late 80s/early 90s.) Osprey are apparently recorded every year at Farnham.

I think the mystery feeder birds are good for female Siskin. That's the kind of description I'd give. Have had them in good numbers throughout the day on the feeder every day since Jan 1st, starting with 1, up to 22 a few weeks back in the snow, then down to the final 1 on Monday this week. Like Graham, I was hoping they might stick around to breed nearby with the great numbers we've had this winter.

Had a Red Kite 1 mile south of Market Weighton today being hassled by crows, as well as at least 6 different Kestrels. Snowed under at mo but hoping to get out and find some migrants on friday afternoon. Can anyone disclose any info on BNG site via pm?

lets ask Turko, as I also want to know the best for snow :t:

James, tried but your private mail box is full.

I've had a couple from Spurn during the time i was there a fair bit when at uni, but my most recent yorks records have both been from Harlow Carr, 1 very high spring bird heading north (luckily there was a guy walking through the plant centre that let me borrow his bins - it was that high), the second was a bird heading south in the autumn - low, no bins required as it was tree height! Luckily i was just out the front of the shop/plant centre as it flew overhead, cracking view!!