Yorkshire Birding (76 Viewers)

[Jayel]

Best wishes for the new year to one and all. B

One mystery bird not sure what it is and frustrating not to be able to get closer Thought Kestrel at first but not sure anyone got any ideas?

And for John Bullfinch have a look at my blog http://zingsldv.blogspot.co.uk/

Bewicks are on the way down last seen south of Durham.

With Rusty coloured plumage and pointed black tipped wings, I think you're right first time with Kestrel Zing.....

Cheers Jay

 

[melodious]

Cheers John
Guess not worth submitting,though havinr read up on subject,seems even the call is being brought into dispute as a reliable indicator.

Suppose will have to let go....chiffchaff sp, undetermined race!!

Thanks again

Paul

Out of interest there are some good pictures of what looked to me in the field to be a classic Siberian Chiffchaff near Retford here;

http://birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?r=0&rty=0

 

[Trystan]

I was at the site at retford where the firecrest, lesser whitethroat, chiffchaff and siberian chiffchaff were around. Got the first 3 eventually but not the sibe. There was/is a very showy one at the buff bellied pipit site.

 

[Trystan]

Anyone know if the waxwing(s) at harewood dale are reliable and if so where they are favouring?

 

[northernloon]

Anyone know if the waxwing(s) at harewood dale are reliable and if so where they are favouring?

Judging by the pics on Scarborough Birders fb I'd say they are reliable. Virtually daily since the 4th according to their website near the church.

I'm not familiar with the area so the map is a bit of a guess :smoke:

 

[Pete Mella]

Launch event for Sheffield Bird Study Group's new Breeding Atlas is on 22nd January:

The eagerly awaited launch of the Group's new Breeding Atlas will take place on Wednesday 22nd January at 7.30 p.m. in the Jessop West Exhibition Space at the University of Sheffield. The venue is on Leavygreave Road, opposite the Henderson's Relish building and 100m W of St George's church. Professor Tim Birkhead will present the Atlas, with contributions too from David Wood and Richard Hill, the co-editors. This will be followed by an opportunity to obtain a copy (£20) over light refreshments.

 

[melodious]

Any link to gen on this?

Some interesting new information here;

http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/01/09/calls-of-thayers-kumliens-and-iceland-gulls/

 

[northernloon]

Some interesting new information here;

http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/01/09/calls-of-thayers-kumliens-and-iceland-gulls/

I'll have a proper look later. At first glance I don't see anything to suggest Scots are different to Geordies or Irish.

 

[melodious]

My first thoughts too; e.g. has comparable work been done across the range of say Yellow-legged Gull or the Lesser Black-backed group? How relevant call is to speciation in gulls is also a moot point; a very different call (and call posture) doesn't prevent Caspian Gull freely hybridizing with Yellow-legged and Herring Gulls for example. However I'm certainly keeping an open mind on this and think this could, at least potentially, be a fascinating new line of enquiry.

 

[Trystan]

Judging by the pics on Scarborough Birders fb I'd say they are reliable. Virtually daily since the 4th according to their website near the church.

I'm not familiar with the area so the map is a bit of a guess :smoke:

Couldn't get on here yesterday when I tried but thanks for this, should have thought to check that site. Going for an east coast run tomorrow so I'll try for them if they are reported today.

 

[Lawts]

Some interesting new information here;

http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/01/09/calls-of-thayers-kumliens-and-iceland-gulls/

I thought the link was going to be to something that suggested they could all be lumped. This is still supporting separation.

 

[melodious]

I personally don't think its providing clear evidence either way yet (for the reasons i noted above, and as the author concedes, the very small sample size). However, as I say, its an interesting line of enquiry.

 

[northernloon]

If I read another paper about mtDNA I will thcream and thcream. Can I swap all my Redpolls and Crossbils for a small Canada Goose?

 

[melodious]

Throw in half a dozen large white-headed gulls and a Pacific Diver and its a deal.

 

[northernloon]

Throw in half a dozen large white-headed gulls and a Pacific Diver and its a deal.

I've got a Red-headed Bunting going spare if that will suffice

 

[melodious]

If its post Asian cage bird importation ban i'll bite your hand off for it

 

[yorkshire83]

Green winged teal on hicksons flash at fairburn, flew towards spoonbill flash around 1pm

 

[melodious]

Some interesting images from Chris Gibbins showing how Kumlien's can resemble both Iceland and Thayer's Gull extremely closely, the former to such an extent that I doubt it would even be picked up as Kumlien's in a European context, the latter requiring the noting of very fine detail to separate the two.

http://chrisgibbins-gullsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/2013_02_01_archive.html

 

[WACCOE]

Three Goosanders on Pontefract lake this morning.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Three Goosanders on Pontefract lake this morning.

Is this the lake in Pontefract Park?