[Hotspur]

Good work, i take it the Izzy wasn't overly obvious!

[Lawts]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

Good work, i take it the Izzy wasn't overly obvious!

No. As I say whether I was just having a bad day, but previously with really tricky species if you've been there a while, I find you can instantly pick out a bird as familiarity grows. However, when the Wheatears dispersed, I kept finding myself watching pale Northerns by mistake, before I got back on the Izzy. I was into the sun all the time which didn't help.

[Lawts]

Quick visit to Loshpotts this morning:

8 Cormorant over
At least 6 Little Grebe
2 Wigeon
Pochard and Tufted numbers high - didn't count them
Large flock of Blach-headed Gull
Large mixed group of Canada and Greylag Geese
5 Teal
5 Coot
5 Lapwing
8 Red-legged Partridge
1 Tree Sparrow
4 Skylark
2 Pied wagtail
1 Hare
1 deer species? (no streaking or spotting, long-legged, very black and white mouth)
No sign of LRP

[skink1978]

Originally Posted by Lawts

1 deer species? (no streaking or spotting, long-legged, very black and white mouth)
No sign of LRP

Roe Deer? Almost fits the description, although don't really have long legs. They are the only species found around East Yorkshire- not sure about your neck of the woods.

[Lawts]

Does anybody know good/recent sites for Raven in Yorkshire? Along with Osprey it is my Yorkshire bogey bird. Unlike Osprey though, as it breeds there is no excuse.

Thanks.

[Jono L]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

Good work, i take it the Izzy wasn't overly obvious!

Bit random this - just looked at your blog - yes, your photo is a ruff, probably a female ("reeve"). I could not work out how to email you, so thought I would put it on here!

All the best,
Jono Leadley
www.indybirder.com

[bitterntwisted]

Originally Posted by Lawts

Does anybody know good/recent sites for Raven in Yorkshire? Along with Osprey it is my Yorkshire bogey bird. Unlike Osprey though, as it breeds there is no excuse.

Thanks.

Steve,

I climbed Ingleborough on the hottest day in July, heading up from Clapham and past Gaping Gill. At Gaping Gill I watched a Raven down to about thirty yards before it flew off west. I din't see another person the whole way up, which may help as I believe they are very sensitive to disturbance.

I hesitate to call this a "good" site on the basis of one record, but if anyone else has encountered a Raven up there please post and we may be on to something.

Word of warning - it is a hike just up to Gaping Gill from Clapham, let alone up Ingleborough. I did a circuit from Ingleton so covered 15 or more miles - I don't suggest you do that on the off chance of a Raven!

If you can find another day like July 25th it would help. It was still warm enough to sunbathe at the top at 6PM, with a view out over the whole of Morecambe Bay - about as good as life gets!

Graham

[Lawts]

Originally Posted by bitterntwisted

Steve,

I climbed Ingleborough on the hottest day in July, heading up from Clapham and past Gaping Gill. At Gaping Gill I watched a Raven down to about thirty yards before it flew off west. I din't see another person the whole way up, which may help as I believe they are very sensitive to disturbance.

I hesitate to call this a "good" site on the basis of one record, but if anyone else has encountered a Raven up there please post and we may be on to something.

Word of warning - it is a hike just up to Gaping Gill from Clapham, let alone up Ingleborough. I did a circuit from Ingleton so covered 15 or more miles - I don't suggest you do that on the off chance of a Raven!

If you can find another day like July 25th it would help. It was still warm enough to sunbathe at the top at 6PM, with a view out over the whole of Morecambe Bay - about as good as life gets!

Graham

Thanks Graham. I've been meaning to do a walk around Ingleborough, so I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Sounds like you had a good day.

[Geoff Pain]

Originally Posted by Lawts

Does anybody know good/recent sites for Raven in Yorkshire? Along with Osprey it is my Yorkshire bogey bird. Unlike Osprey though, as it breeds there is no excuse.

Thanks.

Often get them flying across the valley here where I live.

[Lawts]

Originally Posted by Geoff Pain

Often get them flying across the valley here where I live.

Thanks Geoff. I've heard the Settle area can be good. If I get up on the tops above Langcliffe I may stand a chance.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Just had a peregrine from the office (well barn) window in sicklinghall flying into the valley. First of the winter.

[skink1978]

Originally Posted by jimmy2faces

Just had a peregrine from the office (well barn) window in sicklinghall flying into the valley. First of the winter.

Nice one. Peregrines are one bird I will never tire of seeing. My favourite place to see them is down in Essex where they hunt pigeons over the Thames industrial area. Even seen one from a traffic jam on the the M25!

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Originally Posted by skink1978

Nice one. Peregrines are one bird I will never tire of seeing. My favourite place to see them is down in Essex where they hunt pigeons over the Thames industrial area. Even seen one from a traffic jam on the the M25!

cool, also on my way home so a dead badger, which was unexpected. a colleague told me she had nearly run one over too so must be some in the area, and I suppose dawn and dusk are nearer rush hour now.

[jonjyfisher]

Originally Posted by jimmy2faces

cool, also on my way home so a dead badger, which was unexpected. a colleague told me she had nearly run one over too so must be some in the area, and I suppose dawn and dusk are nearer rush hour now.

One ran across in front of us on the road from Sicklinghall to Linton about 6 months ago. I've also seen them near Golden Acre Park. Apparently they follow the same trails most of the time so if you drive past the place where your friend saw one often enough you may get lucky.

[jonjyfisher]

Does anyone know whether New Swillington Ings is open to the public and, if so, how you get in?

Apparently there's a Great White Egret knocking around and so I may pop down at the weekend if it's still about.

[Keith Dickinson]

New Swillington Ings is open to the public at weekends but only from the other side of the canal to the reserve. You can walk along the canal side but not cross over. The hide used to be locked, you could get the combination from any of the local birders who were around. I've not been down there for quite a while so have forgottewn the combination.

[Chris-Leeds]

You've confused me a little there Keith. Do you mean there is a part accessible beyond the fence? I usually look in from the chain link fence or from close to the hide. Haven't used the hide in years because I'm usually on the bike, though when I did I felt as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit.

[Keith Dickinson]

Not been for a while Chris....from Fleet Lane I used to walk along the canal side for about 100 yards going towards Astley Lake....can't remember there being a fence last time I went but quite feasible that one mayt have been put up. Know what you mean about the hide though....I only went in a few times...more conversation to be found inside a morgue than in there. Such welcoming folk they were...not.
From what I can gather the entire area is going to be part of the new RSPB St Aidan's reserve,they are developing at the old open cast site....they aim to be link up all the reserves along the valley in to one large super-reserve.

[Chris-Leeds]

The lake where the old power station used to be would make a good part of a super reserve but the last time I went down there it resembled Beiruit. All kinds of junk and an overturned camper bus on the roadside, bit too close to some very dodgy areas.

[Keith Dickinson]

You mean Skelton Lake......that used to be a good site. The pied billed grebe turned up there in the mid 90's....at that time you could drive a car around the lake and use it as a hide...got some good birds there. Sadly the jet skiers caused so much bother there that the access was blocked off for an awful long time. I only went once after that...didn't get more than 100 yards from my car before a couple of low-lifes put in an appearance and started to pay a little bit too much attention to the car...so I gave up and returned to the car before something went missing from it.
It would be nice if the RSPB plans include Skelton Lake but I think they stop by the Aberford road.

[Lawts]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

You mean Skelton Lake......that used to be a good site. The pied billed grebe turned up there in the mid 90's....at that time you could drive a car around the lake and use it as a hide...got some good birds there. Sadly the jet skiers caused so much bother there that the access was blocked off for an awful long time. I only went once after that...didn't get more than 100 yards from my car before a couple of low-lifes put in an appearance and started to pay a little bit too much attention to the car...so I gave up and returned to the car before something went missing from it.
It would be nice if the RSPB plans include Skelton Lake but I think they stop by the Aberford road.

Be careful around Skelton Lake. Only one way in and out. I've heard reports of birders driving in, and there exit being blocked by vans containing blokes who.......let's just say they weren't there to conduct a wildfowl census, but were still keen to "borrow" your optics.

I can't remember the combination for Astley either but you can just about view from the bank or from outside the hide door - especially if you're dealing with a Gt. W. Egret.

[bitterntwisted]

I'm a member of the New Swillington Ings Bird Group, but only of a few weeks standing, so I'm not sure if I can/should advertise the hide code on here. I'm sure, though, that there will be plenty of people about and no trouble being let in if the egret hangs about. The report said it was on Astley Lake, and could therefore be viewed from anywhere on that bank anyway. If it moves on to St Aidan's, as I woudl have thought likely, it will be hard to see whatever - the Little Egret was on there for 3 weeks and I only had good views a couple of times - but the extra elevation of the hide might improve the odds - that said it faces the wrong way and you need a good powerful scope.

I'll be there at dawn tomorrow with my fingers crossed. I was gutted when I saw the news - at 11AM I had a last minute change of heart and drove straight past Fleet Lane and on to Fairburn for a change. So I traded being at the find of a Great White Egret for a WillowChiff and a Mallow Tit in the pouring rain!

I think it depends who is in the hide what the atmosphere is like. I've found two of the members very friendly and welcoming but others have been less chatty. But likely they are quiet rather than rude.

Maybe see a few of you down there. (I'm the giant with blond hair and a beard)

Graham

[bitterntwisted]

Hurray! GWE found at 0740 this morning, sailing past the sunrise, marvellous!. Although it cleared off fairly sharpish thereafter it might still be worth a look at Skelton Lake? I tried Leventhrope Hall but it was too foggy. Also had a Marsh Harrier through west before 9AM. A fine start to the day - sorry the GWE didn't hang around but I would think it'll turn up somewhere in Yorks or Lancs very soon.

Graham

[Keith Dickinson]

No GWE for me today but a lunchtime walk around Golden Acre Park did give me nice views of greater spotted woodpecker, red kite and jays. What was even more noticeable was the absence of finch flocks....a solitary chaffinch rather than the flocks of greenfinch, chaffinch and linnets that I would normally see.

[Chris-Leeds]

Hi Graham and Keith, how do you get access to Leventhorpe? When I've cycled past the vineyard the road that leads to Leventhorpe looks to be private with no public access.
Chris.