[bitterntwisted]

Originally Posted by Lawts

I see there are a couple of Bean Geese at Fairburn with 40+ Pink-feet. I may try for those in my dinner hour on Monday. If anyone knows where exactly on the reserve they are showing please let me know - it would give me a fighting chance of making it back to the office in time for a butty.

Steve,

I'll try and take a look tomorrow and will let you know if still around - quite likely to be just passing through, or even over, though? That's quite an unusual record for Fairburn, isn't it?

Graham

[Keith Dickinson]

Anybody know anything about Southern Washlands NR, seems to be just east of Wakefield. There's a smew reported on Birdguides at the site. Fancy a trip down there maybe on Thursday if it's worth a visit.

[Den]

Hi Keith
The link below will take you to a list of Wakefield Birding sites with directions to the South Washlands reserve.
http://www.wakey.com/birds/
If you need better directions or a map send me a message.

[bitterntwisted]

Searched all the flashes at Fairburn first thing and then the whole area north of the canal from the Castleford side back to Lin Dyke. There were at least half a dozen other people looking. No sign, just one pinkfoot with the Greylags and Canadas. Couldn't find out who had seen them yesterday, either. I'll be interested to see if they make the official records as I believe they are a very unusual bird for the Aire valley.

Graham

[Lawts]

Originally Posted by bitterntwisted

Searched all the flashes at Fairburn first thing and then the whole area north of the canal from the Castleford side back to Lin Dyke. There were at least half a dozen other people looking. No sign, just one pinkfoot with the Greylags and Canadas. Couldn't find out who had seen them yesterday, either. I'll be interested to see if they make the official records as I believe they are a very unusual bird for the Aire valley.

Graham

Thanks for your efforts Graham. I can enjoy my lunch tomorrow now without the proverbial wild goose chase.

[James Thomas]

There was a report of the Beans (4?) flying out some time in the morning but around the same time a regular down there saw 4 Pink Foots flying out. Either way it looks like they're gone.

Also gone is Lindyke path, or at least some of it. No gullies in the path meant that as soon as Lindyke overflowed it ripped deep gouges through that hardcore path, the membrane on which it was laid is certainly exposed. It will be interesting to see the condition when the water subsides but I think a fair bit of work will be needed.

Unfortunately not gone are the bloody dog walkers. Loads of 'em down by the boards.

[flippsy]

Originally Posted by Den

Hi Keith
The link below will take you to a list of Wakefield Birding sites with directions to the South Washlands reserve.
http://www.wakey.com/birds/
If you need better directions or a map send me a message.

Great site! thanks for the link! Hope you don't mind me copying the message to Keith! Must take a look sometime soon..
frances

[Keith Dickinson]

Originally Posted by Den

Hi Keith
The link below will take you to a list of Wakefield Birding sites with directions to the South Washlands reserve.
http://www.wakey.com/birds/
If you need better directions or a map send me a message.

Thanks for the info Den
I'll have a ride out there on Thursday, call in at Pugney's on the way back.

[Keith Dickinson]

Anybody any ideas where the night heron in Northallerton might have sprung from, assuming it's an escape? Last record of one in Jan goes back to 1959 according to Rare and Scarce birds in Yorkshire, bulk of the records are for late spring to early autumn. Is it worth the trip on Thursday if it is still around?

[Hotspur]

Just got back from Filey. Managed a Slav Grebe which was a first for me plus 4 GND's in the bay. A nice assortment of other bits and pieces including a flock of Great Crested Grebes, a few common scoter, a Pink-foot on its own on the old tip, grey partridge, flypast of 50 Shelduck on the Brigg and failed to see the pair of Long-tailed Ducks present (safe in the knowledge that i got the female last time). Also no Red-throated Divers, must all be at Eccup.

[markobrien]

Hello, huddersfield chap here looking forward to getting to know a few of you fellow yorkshire birders,I shall chip in with a few comments here and there but for now a big hello to you all

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Originally Posted by markobrien

Hello, huddersfield chap here looking forward to getting to know a few of you fellow yorkshire birders,I shall chip in with a few comments here and there but for now a big hello to you all

Welcome aboard, plenty of fellow West Yorkshire birders on here

[Julian Sykes Wildlife]

Originally Posted by markobrien

Hello, huddersfield chap here looking forward to getting to know a few of you fellow yorkshire birders,I shall chip in with a few comments here and there but for now a big hello to you all

Hi Mark

Good to see you on Birdforum from a fellow Huddersfield man, although now living in warmer climes.

Looking forward to hearing any reports from my 'old stamping ground'.

Cheers Jules

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

1st-winter at the junction of Primrose Bank and Primrose Lane appx. SE119385

YIKES!!!

[bitterntwisted]

Originally Posted by jimmy2faces

1st-winter at the junction of Primrose Bank and Primrose Lane appx. SE119385

YIKES!!!

Looks like a long lunch for me. See you there?

[Hotspur]

My effin car is in the garage again. Enjoy.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Originally Posted by bitterntwisted

Looks like a long lunch for me. See you there?

I saw you there!

Cracking bird, have seen them in the states before, but in the Yorkshire drizzle they look loads better!! I am sure it will hang around

[Hotspur]

I hope so. Gonna go on friday hopefully.

[Keith Dickinson]

That's settled things, Bingley tomorrow for me, try for both the robin and the firecrest.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

That's settled things, Bingley tomorrow for me, try for both the robin and the firecrest.

Good luck Keith. The Robin sat up nicely for me when I was there and it was snowing so I am sure you will be fine. Firecrest is a smasher too so I hope you have fine weather.

[Keith Dickinson]

Cheers Marcus, neither bird is a lifer, got the Grimsby Yank robin just before the sparrowhawk did ... LOL ... but it will be nice to get it on my Yorkshire list, Firecrest would be a UK tick as only seen them abroad before.

[Lawts]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

Cheers Marcus, neither bird is a lifer, got the Grimsby Yank robin just before the sparrowhawk did ... LOL ... but it will be nice to get it on my Yorkshire list, Firecrest would be a UK tick as only seen them abroad before.

I'll be there Saturday morning. I got the Grimsby bird too, but this is a potential blocker for years to come on any Yorkshire list if you miss it. Like Marcus says it should hang around but as we saw with the Cornwall and Grimsby birds, Sparrowhawk's are rather partial to them. To think I nearly travelled to Aberdeen all those years ago, and was about to go for the Cornwall bird just as the Grimsby one turned up.....I needn't have gone for any of them if it does stay. Here's hoping.

[Keith Dickinson]

Hope you get the bird Steve, I went today and got fleeting glimpses. Not enough to get any pics but enough to be satisfied.
The firecrest was very flighty, keeping up to it with bins was hard enough, didn't even attempt to get a picture of it.
As the robin is a first for Yorkshire you can expect large crowds at the weekend, if it manages to avoid cats & sparrowhawks. One of the latter took up perch in a neighbouring garden this morning, thus keeping the birds down for quite a time.

[jonjyfisher]

I managed to sneak out of work and see the American Robin and Firecrest this afternoon. Both are lifers for me. I have to say that I was far more excited by the Firecrest - I hadn't appreciated how stunning they are up close.

There were still 2 Sparrowhawks around so I'd get there quick before they strike.

[Lawts]

Originally Posted by Keith Dickinson

Hope you get the bird Steve, I went today and got fleeting glimpses. Not enough to get any pics but enough to be satisfied.
The firecrest was very flighty, keeping up to it with bins was hard enough, didn't even attempt to get a picture of it.
As the robin is a first for Yorkshire you can expect large crowds at the weekend, if it manages to avoid cats & sparrowhawks. One of the latter took up perch in a neighbouring garden this morning, thus keeping the birds down for quite a time.

Keith decided I couldn't wait for the weekend. I've booked tomorrow off work to miss the crowds. The plan is to watch England get beat again in the morning. The rush hour should have cleared and then I'll hopefully get the Robin. With your reports on Sparrowhawks about I'd have never settled tomorrow at work so I'm glad I did book it.

My non-birding other half will be with me so I'll probably give the Firecrest a miss. I've seen several in Yorks. so not as pressing but he would have been nice as well. However, I'll settle for the Robin.