[Hotspur]

Originally Posted by knocker7800

plus i might go early, see if i can string apom or a Little Auk.

Decent day today although the lack of cloud meant stuff didn't stay long. Large movements of goldfinches, mipits & skylarks. A yellow-brow went unseen in the churchyard. Lots of goldcrests thrushes and a few Siskin. The borrow pits held a poorly looking female Common Scoter and female Scaup. A great spot south was a bonus. Nothing on canal scrape save for the tonnes of redwing. Beacon lane held blackcap. Bumped into John, graham & jim. Seconds on the ducksapplies fly through twite and then canal scrape for jack snipe and ring ouzel. Sammys held nowt. John had left by now but the rest of us headed to holmpton and we eeked out 2 yellow broweds. Nice day. Shame it was just too nice weather.

[Keith Dickinson]

That was Graham as in Bitterntwisted was it?

[birdieboy123]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

That was Graham as in Bitterntwisted was it?

The very same, A real rarity these days

[Keith Dickinson]

Hope the guy was okay and he had notes from his mum about his absence from so many meets,

[Hotspur]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

That was Graham as in Bitterntwisted was it?

Indeed. We were pratting about at holmpton after hearing a strange call. Jim played YBW as a joke and two replied!

[bitterntwisted]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

Hope the guy was okay and he had notes from his mum about his absence from so many meets,

Apologies, all. I was immersed in the dissertation for several months, but with that out of the way I'll be along in future, although not tomorrow. I didn't actually realise you would all be at Spurn tomorrow until after I got there with Jim today. I would have taken the tent and stopped over. As it is, I think another 5AM start is beyond me.

Hope you have a good day; today was perhaps underwhelming by comparison with last autumn's Spurn spectaculars, but we still saw plenty of good birds and it was just great to be out in the sunshine watching the common migrants pass through.

[Keith Dickinson]

Now Graham - Ken, Rob and I are the laid back section of the group, we won't be heading out until 6.00am, can we tempt you now?

[The Rovin' Outlaw]

Been just over the water at Far ings today. Got Ferruginous Duck. See you in the morning

[northernloon]

Fingers crossed there should be a yellow-browed wobbler still knocking about

Edit to add I've just seen Andy's post about 16! at Flam. Not one for smilies but

[bitterntwisted]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

Now Graham - Ken, Rob and I are the laid back section of the group, we won't be heading out until 6.00am, can we tempt you now?

Too tired, Keith, really. Working week for a change plus this morning's start mean I couldn't be out of bed by five again. Also have things to do which were neglected for the many months I was procrastinating over the studies. I will be at the next one, though.

Our YBWs were on School Lane, Holmpton, along with a good number of Goldcrests, Chiffs, Blackcaps etc.

Hope you also stumble upon the Hawk Owl we fully expected to self-find today but inexplicably missed.

[Keith Dickinson]

No worries Graham, see you soon. I'm for mi bed now.

[Keith Dickinson]

too knackered to write report now but have totted up the scribbles and it would seem that we hit 70 species today. Will get my act together and put the list online tomorrow.

[northernloon]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

too knackered to write report now but have totted up the scribbles and it would seem that we hit 70 species today. Will get my act together and put the list online tomorrow.

Rob and I can add Jay to the day list from Otley Road

[Richard G]

I can add Red Kite, plus Fox & Hare at either end of the day, all around Arthington.

[AndyK]

Looking forward to seeing the complete list. Had a fantastic day yesterday, many thanks to everyone who helped a relatively new birder with ID's all day. 15 lifers, wow!

[Trystan]

My own list came out at 67, thats not counting the merlin which I just wasn't happy with from what I saw and the woodcock which I didn't see at all.

Great to get another lifer, will have to do these meets more often!

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by AndyK

Looking forward to seeing the complete list. Had a fantastic day yesterday, many thanks to everyone who helped a relatively new birder with ID's all day. 15 lifers, wow!

Would just like to echo what Andy said. Fantastic day, thoroughly enjoyed myself & thanks for all the assistance provided by the more knowledgeable members who were there.

Managed 7 new UK lifers yesterday myself.

Richard

[northernloon]

A fine day with good craic and a some quality birds. Nice meet Andy on his first outing and see Richard and Rob joining the fray again along with several of the regulars.

These trips are always a treat for me as a non-driver. My quick tot-up came to 69 spp which isn't bad considering the complete lack of action on the sea plus a few birds I missed during the day.

Strange as it might seem, despite the quality birds early in the day, my highlight was the skein of Pink-feet in-off. Always hugely evocative to see these birds returning for the winter. The sight and sound never fails to thrill me.

[Keith Dickinson]

Well the list is done, total of 75 (note no 43 and 64)

1. Little grebe
2. Cormorant
3. Little egret
4. Mute swan
5. Pink-footed geese
6. Brent geese
7. Shelduck
8. Wigeon
9. Scaup
10. Common scoter
11. Red kite
12. Marsh harrier
13. Sparrowhawk
14. Kestrel
15. Merlin
16. Pheasant
17. Oystercatcher
18. Ringed plover
19. Grey plover
20. Sanderling
21. Dunlin
22. Jack snipe
23. Woodcock
24. Bar-tailed godwit
25. Curlew
26. Redshank
27. Greenshank
28. Turnstone
29. Mediterranean gull
30. Black-headed gull
31. Common gull
32. Herring gull
33. Great black-backed gull
34. Feral pigeon
35. Stock dove
36. Woodpigeon
37. Collared dove
38. Barn owl
39. Tawny owl
40. Short-eared owl
41. Skylark
42. Swallow
43. House martin
xx. Meadow pipit
44. Rock pipit
45. Grey wagtail
46. Wren
47. Dunnock
48. Robin
49. Stonechat
50. Blackbird
51. Fieldfare
52. Song thrush
53. Redwing
54. Yellow-browed warbler
55. Goldcrest
56. Blue tit
57. Great tit
58. Red-backed shrike
59. Jay
60. Magpie
61. Jackdaw
62. Rook
63. Carrion crow
64. Starling
xx. House Sparrow
65. Tree sparrow
66. Chaffinch
67. Brambling
68. Greenfinch
69. Goldfinch
70. Siskin
71. Linnet
72. Lesser redpoll
73. Reed bunting

[birdieboy123]

We had a meadow pipit at chalk bank while you were in the hide and surely someone must have seen a house sparrow

[BirdFlower]

Originally Posted by birdieboy123

We had a meadow pipit at chalk bank while you were in the hide and surely someone must have seen a house sparrow

There were House Sparrows in the Blue Bell car park

[Richard Scott]

You must have seen Knot as well Keith.

[Keith Dickinson]

I'm gonna have to get a secretary, one that can take dictation. My handwriting is the pits. Cheers Richard I think that explains what a certain scribble is meant to be.

I've just posted the report and its not here! I'm gonna have to do it all over again.

[zacatzooba]

bullfinch & coal tit chez Rob

good to meet up with the new faces - but what happened to you Rovin' - one minute you were looking at Jack Snipe through my scope, then :-( 'no further sign'??

[Trystan]

Mallard, Pochard, Golden Plover and Lapwing