Yorkshire Birding (26 Viewers)

[Pete Mella]

The RSPB reserve at Blacktoft is lucky enough to have what appears to be a breeding pair of Montagu's Harriers, only visible from the far eastern hide. They are usually very distant and I was lucky to see them yesterday for a brief period. The photos are very heavily cropped so not the best quality. Normally wouldn't report a sighting like this but it is well known about, the area the birds appear in is inaccessible and RSPB highlight the sighting on their website.

Yeah, there'd be no point the RSPB trying to keep these secret as they're visible from a public hide of a busy nature reserve. They have 24 hour protection in place.

 

[pete seaman]

Has anyone been to Stainburn Forest outside Beckwithshaw recently,last year it was good for Woodcock and Nightjars, are the Nightjars back ? I seem to have volunteered for an evening club field trip next month (some of us never learn !!)

 

[melodious]

Has anyone been to Stainburn Forest outside Beckwithshaw recently,last year it was good for Woodcock and Nightjars, are the Nightjars back ? I seem to have volunteered for an evening club field trip next month (some of us never learn !!)

I don't know that area but Nightjar have been back in the South Yorkshire Peak District since 16th May, and on the Humber Peatlands (Hatfield and Thorne Moors) since at least 13th May, so if it's a good site birds should be present by now. However the current cold windy weather appears to be effecting behaviour (and perhaps the number of birds that have returned so far); churring can be limited and intermittent, and birds may resort to more or less 'perch hunting' - making very short flights from sheltered perches, so are not as obvious as they might be.

 

[melodious]

The RSPB reserve at Blacktoft is lucky enough to have what appears to be a breeding pair of Montagu's Harriers, only visible from the far eastern hide. They are usually very distant and I was lucky to see them yesterday for a brief period. The photos are very heavily cropped so not the best quality. Normally wouldn't report a sighting like this but it is well known about, the area the birds appear in is inaccessible and RSPB highlight the sighting on their website.

Give it a month or so and (hopefully) both adults will be bringing food in so should show much more regularly then currently. Always a good idea to go later at the publicised Honey Buzzard sites too; food flights can be as regular as 40-45 minutes in August, rather then the 3hr plus waits between flights typical of earlier in the season, even in optimal conditions.

 

[Duckwoman]

Anyone seen/heard a wood warbler this year at Bolton Abbey? I took a group there on Saturday and didn't hear any hint of a song while walking from Barden Bridge to Cavendish and back again. Lots of pied and spotted flycatchers and redstarts though (and lots of birders). After last year's single singing male I half expected there wouldn't be any this year but I was still very disappointed. Brilliant views of cuckoo, osprey and SEO on the moorland above though so that made up for it.

 

[Richard G]

Anyone seen/heard a wood warbler this year at Bolton Abbey? I took a group there on Saturday and didn't hear any hint of a song while walking from Barden Bridge to Cavendish and back again. Lots of pied and spotted flycatchers and redstarts though (and lots of birders). After last year's single singing male I half expected there wouldn't be any this year but I was still very disappointed. Brilliant views of cuckoo, osprey and SEO on the moorland above though so that made up for it.

We didn't hear a single one when Keith, Ken & I were there a couple of weeks ago. I revisited last Thursday, didn't hear anything, and was speaking to another birder who was in the same position.

Impressed with the number of Redstart there this year though

 

[Chris-Leeds]

There had been some sightings in late april apparently but when I went on 11th May there was no sign at all and it was a decent enough day weatherwise.

 

[Duckwoman]

It was a good day on Saturday too so I guess that's it for this year. Fingers crossed we get them back and they haven't receded permanently. Otherwise, the place was really buzzing with migrant birds with great views of flycatchers and redstarts for my group. The Washburn Valley was also good for redstarts but seemingly not as many pied flycatchers as last year.

 

[malskelton]

Made a late decision after work yesterday to head down to Kilnsea Wetlands for the Red Necked Phalarope - really pleased that I did

Got some brilliant directions from Andrew Barbour on Twitter which really helped as I've not been down there since the wetlands opened

Saw 3 Barn Owls en route - which is always a bonus - walked round to the Sound Mirror and quickly found the Phalarope along with a beautiful Yellow Wagtail in the evening sun.

While watched the gorgeous little Phal I had a moment where in my bins I had Phalarope, Avocet, Yellow Wagtail and Barn Owl all at the same time .... in my eyes four of the most beautiful birds imaginable

Another Barn Owl on the way home along with 1 I saw on the way to work made it the most productive owl day of my life topped off with the Phalarope

Beautiful bird - would recommend anybody thinking of popping to do so, it is gorgeous

If anybody has any pics they've taken of it let me know would love a nice pic to remind me

Mal Skelton

 

[pete seaman]

Anyone seen/heard a wood warbler this year at Bolton Abbey? I took a group there on Saturday and didn't hear any hint of a song while walking from Barden Bridge to Cavendish and back again. Lots of pied and spotted flycatchers and redstarts though (and lots of birders). After last year's single singing male I half expected there wouldn't be any this year but I was still very disappointed. Brilliant views of cuckoo, osprey and SEO on the moorland above though so that made up for it.

We were there yesterday and there seemed to be neither sight nor sound of Wood Warbler,still plenty of other stuff as usual.Great views of Nuthatch feeding young on a branch just behind the Strid Cafe.

 

[danlambo]

I took a trip to Strid Wood this morning. No wood warbler heard at all and I was listening out for one. Willow Warblers were aplenty but not as many as there were chaffinches which seemed to have one in every tree! A family of very young nuthatches joined me in a stone hut, posing for a few poorly taken photos. There was a pair of goosander on the river along with dipper, coal tit, blackcap and redstart in the area.
Was disappointed not to see a flycatcher but I suspect I was looking in the wrong places.

 

[tyson]

Are there any birds that sit on the road at night other than nightjars?

Ive just seen a bird too small for a nightjar but bigger than a skylark, it looked light brown sat on a country road in Shadwell at 11pm.

Thanks

 

[Trystan]

Snipe, Woodcock, Little owl?

 

[tyson]

Thanks Rob but no none of those 3. And not an owl species. It looked like a big skylark with a hint of a nightjar/Merlin about it(quite sleek).

I'll have to put it down as one of those I won't be able to identify I think

 

[halftwo]

Just had an Osprey fly past - going north into the Holme Valley - carrying a fish.
Could be the same one that showed in April twice - but where has it been since?!

 

[halftwo]

Almost forgot: yesterday pm at Shafton a Red Kite flew in from the east and returned high the way it had come from.

 

[Birder Gladys]

just noted the above thread and thought I would add also had a Red Kite on the drive up to Bempton this Sunday but due following the Tom Tom I don't know exactly where I was all I can say I was on the A614 and saw a sign for South Cliffe.

 

[dcweather]

Coming up from Essex for a couple of days to Bempton next week. Wondering if anywhere within say 30 mins of there we might also find Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Dipper, maybe Golden Plover in breeding plumage. Basically birds we don't get to see down here.
Ta, Dave

 

[melodious]

I'll leave it to people with more local knowledge to comment about short trips for your targets from Bempton but, if nothing suitable is forthcoming, there are plenty of options in terms of short diversions on your way there/home.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Can't think of anywhere within your time limit to get you all those birds, stretch to a couple of hours drive and you could head up into the Dales where you'd be able to get all of them at Bolton Abbey following the Strid Woods trail.

From an old BF popst about dippers close to Scarboro '

A good place for Dipper is Thorton Le Dale about 12 miles inland from Scarboro' just follow the A170 into TLD, park up just past the bridge near the the Hall hotel, cross over the road and watch the stretch of stream upto the bridge. Dipper often seen along here, '
I've put your post in the Birding Yorkshire facebook page so hopefully one of the more local guys will have more gen. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1490264181213866/

Consensus is that a side trip to Padley Gorge on youyr way up would net you all 3 birds relatively easily... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padley_Gorge

Coming up from Essex for a couple of days to Bempton next week. Wondering if anywhere within say 30 mins of there we might also find Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Dipper, maybe Golden Plover in breeding plumage. Basically birds we don't get to see down here.
Ta, Dave