[knotsbirder]

Originally Posted by Jambo_Cops

I asked a few pages back about Cleethorpes, and been as the lincolnshire part of this forum is erm, quiet shall we say, I hope you don't mind giving your views on this.

Purple Heron.

This morning we went for our daily stroll on the beach, binocs at the ready, sadly no scope, and only the ole SLR, so no photos.

About 400 metres out there was a sandbank, full of Gul, Cormorant and Oystercatcher.

On the same Sandbank was a bird that I have not seen in person, that for us had an awful lot of aspects of a PH. The neck and how it moved resembled what I have seen on video etc. It looked the same size, the same colour, and there was a juvenile Cormorant quite near it, so I hadn't mistaken it for one of them(my dusty eyes cannot be blamed). I am not classing it as a tick on ye olde list, as I am not sure that it would be one, thus me posting on here to ask opinions.

Would we have one here?
Would we have one where it was?
This time of year?
What else could it be?

As I say, I'm not crossing it off as a sighting, would just like to know various opinions.

Well it could be. As it was on the beach it would suggest a new arrival. They are quite scarce at anytime in the UK and most records are in the summer. Also the winds at the mo dont favour birds coming from the continent. Also, I dont mean to be derogatory, but have you considered Grey Heron? They are very common in the UK and I notice that you didnt mention it.

Sam

[James Thomas]

Purple Heron isn't impossible at this time of year but I can't imagine one being sat on a sand bank.

[knotsbirder]

One more question, when was the bird seen? There was a crane seen in Lincs yesterday morn on a sandbank along the coast which then headed NW...

Edit:- one seen at Budle Bay, N'berland this afternoon...

[DOC REED]

Originally Posted by Jambo_Cops

I asked a few pages back about Cleethorpes, and been as the lincolnshire part of this forum is erm, quiet shall we say, I hope you don't mind giving your views on this.

Purple Heron.

This morning we went for our daily stroll on the beach, binocs at the ready, sadly no scope, and only the ole SLR, so no photos.

About 400 metres out there was a sandbank, full of Gul, Cormorant and Oystercatcher.

On the same Sandbank was a bird that I have not seen in person, that for us had an awful lot of aspects of a PH. The neck and how it moved resembled what I have seen on video etc. It looked the same size, the same colour, and there was a juvenile Cormorant quite near it, so I hadn't mistaken it for one of them(my dusty eyes cannot be blamed). I am not classing it as a tick on ye olde list, as I am not sure that it would be one, thus me posting on here to ask opinions.

Would we have one here?
Would we have one where it was?
This time of year?
What else could it be?

As I say, I'm not crossing it off as a sighting, would just like to know various opinions.

Please try and describe what you saw, but in more detail.Not impossible, but there are possible confusion species.If you took any images,no matter how poor they might seem,please post them!!

Paul

[Jambo_Cops]

Originally Posted by knotsbirder

Well it could be. As it was on the beach it would suggest a new arrival. They are quite scarce at anytime in the UK and most records are in the summer. Also the winds at the mo dont favour birds coming from the continent. Also, I dont mean to be derogatory, but have you considered Grey Heron? They are very common in the UK and I notice that you didnt mention it.

Sam

Thanks for the reply. And no problem with the derogatory part of it, as you say I didn't mention it! It wasn't a grey heron, Looked smaller (we had been watching two grey heron about an hour before ransacking a fishing lake).

The colour of the neck stood out to me, more colourful than GH, along with a more darker appearance.

The bird was out from near Thorpe Park, from the beach it was more or less directly in front of one of the sea forts.

The bird was quite static, with not the easiest of views to see it straight on. Distance not helping matters obviously.

The bird looked lost, if that makes sense, preening and looking at it's surroundings. We watched it from around 10:15 to 10:30am.

Sorry if that's vague!

Thanks for the comments guys.

[JSlee]

Originally Posted by geoff dobbs

I believe it is a juvenile Arctic also
Arctic can show two crescents e.g. http://www.avesymas.com/paja77.JPG
The base of the wings are too narrow, and the overall colouration, especially around the head and collar, is too gingery


Geoff Dobbs
East Yorkshire Recorder

at the risk of waking sleeping dogs:

could someone explain to me why the skua in flight here ("http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery12") is an Arctic and not a Pom?

and just to cheer folks up, here's some more folks who find skua ID hard:http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/kev/skua.html

[DOC REED]

Originally Posted by JSlee

at the risk of waking sleeping dogs:

could someone explain to me why the skua in flight here ("http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery12") is an Arctic and not a Pom?

and just to cheer folks up, here's some more folks who find skua ID hard:http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/kev/skua.html

Cracking articles...again makes me feel less inept.So i might have seen a Pom, but will never know it!

Have a scary post for Yorkshire birders later!

[DOC REED]

Here is the scarey one!If you missed last Winter on this forum then you won't have a clue!.They are back at Redhouse,mixed flock 100+ Lessers/siskin/Goldfinches.I'm glad to see them, one of joys of patch watching!
I promise will only post on 'yorkshire redpoll ' forum, unless i find a true goody!

[northernloon]

Good luck Doc, maybe this year. Keep 'em comin'

[DOC REED]

Originally Posted by Jambo_Cops

Thanks for the reply. And no problem with the derogatory part of it, as you say I didn't mention it! It wasn't a grey heron, Looked smaller (we had been watching two grey heron about an hour before ransacking a fishing lake).

The colour of the neck stood out to me, more colourful than GH, along with a more darker appearance.

The bird was out from near Thorpe Park, from the beach it was more or less directly in front of one of the sea forts.

The bird was quite static, with not the easiest of views to see it straight on. Distance not helping matters obviously.

The bird looked lost, if that makes sense, preening and looking at it's surroundings. We watched it from around 10:15 to 10:30am.

Sorry if that's vague!

Thanks for the comments guys.

With lots of 'yank' birds around, might even be worth considering Great Blue, though that might be stretching it a bit!

[arthur heaton]

Been up Nidderdale and over to Swaledale for a draughty days watching and found this fellow-I'm thinking crested grebe but the colours don't seem right.Crap photo but the idea's there.http://www.birdforum.net/images/attach/jpg.gif

[BirdFlower]

Originally Posted by arthur heaton

Been up Nidderdale and over to Swaledale for a draughty days watching and found this fellow-I'm thinking crested grebe but the colours don't seem right.Crap photo but the idea's there.http://www.birdforum.net/images/attach/jpg.gif

It's an immature Great Crested Grebe

[arthur heaton]

Thanks ,Birdflower-must have been immature-it was hanging out with the swans!

[Brough Birder]

Anybody know if the Common Crane is still at Nosterfield? Heading up that way on Sunday with the family and thought of dropping in. If so, where is the best place to view it from?

[knocker7800]

Just seen c60-70 Barnacle Geese heading W over the A64 between hull and selby roundabouts. Feral or Wild? Thoughts?

Mark.

[pete seaman]

Originally Posted by Brough Birder

Anybody know if the Common Crane is still at Nosterfield? Heading up that way on Sunday with the family and thought of dropping in. If so, where is the best place to view it from?

Seemed to disappear a few days ago maybe disturbed by shooting part in the area.Last seen flying high and South.

[BirdFlower]

Originally Posted by knocker7800

Just seen c60-70 Barnacle Geese heading W over the A64 between hull and selby roundabouts. Feral or Wild? Thoughts?

Mark.

When this has been raised before it's thought that they originate from the Flamingoland flock which winter either around Whitton Sands on the Humber or around Hornsea Mere

[Hotspur]

Originally Posted by BirdFlower

When this has been raised before it's thought that they originate from the Flamingoland flock which winter either around Whitton Sands on the Humber or around Hornsea Mere

about 50 pairs breed in and around the humber - feral of course.

[mudman]

I think the feral flock on Whitton sands numbered over 500 after this summers breeding.

[Brough Birder]

Originally Posted by pete seaman

Seemed to disappear a few days ago maybe disturbed by shooting part in the area.Last seen flying high and South.

OK thanks for that

[knocker7800]

Originally Posted by mudman

I think the feral flock on Whitton sands numbered over 500 after this summers breeding.

Oh well! Still good to see.

Cheers.

[timmyjones]

Originally Posted by knocker7800

Just seen c60-70 Barnacle Geese heading W over the A64 between hull and selby roundabouts. Feral or Wild? Thoughts?

Mark.

Sounds like the Uni flock, around 75 birds and often go wandering over the A64. If you get a close look at them there is a hybrid Barnacle X Snow Goose and most of them have small plastic rings on them.

[pete seaman]

I remember a little while back a posting referring to some new paths at Fairburn Ings,my memory has failed me as to what was said and I have failed to find the gen by going through back threads.Can somebody update me on the location of the new paths as we are going next Thursday with a group and would like to have a good look round,any other up to date info would be welcome,Thanks.

[stuartg]

Adult Fin Whale stranded on Humber today -23.9 - attempting rescue from Skeffling - should be on Look North tonight

[Chris-Leeds]

Originally Posted by pete seaman

I remember a little while back a posting referring to some new paths at Fairburn Ings,my memory has failed me as to what was said and I have failed to find the gen by going through back threads.Can somebody update me on the location of the new paths as we are going next Thursday with a group and would like to have a good look round,any other up to date info would be welcome,Thanks.

From the visitors centre you can head up the path that takes you to the riverside trail. Ignore the left turn to that trail and carry on until there is the right hand turn which follows the river westward. This will take you to Lin Dyke and Hickson's flash.