Yorkshire Birding (2 Viewers)

[davidtucker]

Hi have "bit the bullet" and proposed the 27th of December for a meet, does this sound a good day and if so should I/we start a dedicated tread?

 

[davidtucker]

Thread started!!

 

[liverpool_bob]

Two waders, seen from a distance through 8 mag.

Had very clear lines: white belly, dark brown/slate grey uppers with rusty orange breast with whiter head. Clear division between the white of the bellies and orangey-ness breast/neck. MOST interesting was the waders' Snipe-like lines down their backs, very clear from the hide. Bill size medium from what I could see of preening activity, and they ran close to the ground. One stationary had a long neck which it now and again stretched and withdrew.

They were stood on the water line on an islet amongst wildfowl and a lone redshank. To guesstimate, half-ish a redshank's size?, a quarter a mallards(!) the nearest thing to them.

Any thoughts anyone? I wouldn't half love to have seen some pectorals!

Have you considered Ruff?


Cheers,
Bob.

 

[liverpool_bob]

There as a population [of Mandarins] on Hackness pond near forge valley so that would seem a likely source.

38 Mandarins at Hackness at the weekend!
http://www.racebirding.blogspot.com/


Cheers,
Bob.

 

[birdieboy123]

38 Mandarins at Hackness at the weekend!
http://www.racebirding.blogspot.com/


Cheers,
Bob.

Hi Bob, Can you tell me where this pond is, was in the area yesterday for the wheatear and was going to visit this pond but couldn't find it

 

[Hotspur]

Had 25 (yup twenty five) Marsh Harriers roost at Blacktoft today, no Hens (that i could pick up in the gloom) or Merlins but very satisfactory. No White-fronts at North Cave, in fact there were hardly any geese on the reserve. 20 siskins and greatviews of a Green Woody were good though.

 

[liverpool_bob]

Hi Bob, Can you tell me where this pond is, was in the area yesterday for the wheatear and was going to visit this pond but couldn't find it

I haven't been (er, that I can remember?) but it looks on the map as if it's next to the road that runs north from Forge Valley.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/#t=l&m...Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, YO13 0

If anyone knows any different...

Cheers,
Bob.

 

[liverpool_bob]

Had 25 (yup twenty five) Marsh Harriers roost at Blacktoft today

Sweet Jeebus - any idea what the record is there?

I dunno, it's just not the same - seeing ANY big raptor in Yorks used to be a special treat and now everyone is counting them in double figures. Mumble mumble, kids today, etc. etc. |=)|


Cheers,
Bob.

 

[peterpiper]

No Sat. Nav.?

For those who don't have sat.Nav. this may be useful
http://www.speedcameramap.co.uk/
luck,
pete

 

[Hotspur]

Dipped the Scaup at North Cave today, well i say dipped but it was pitch black when i got there! Will try again on commute tomorrow. A couple of Green Woodies in the gloom were good.

 

[Hotspur]

Picked the Scaup up on my way to uni, was trying to turn all these distant female Tufties into the bird but it was so different when i saw it. Sat lower in the water than the tufties and the bill was a different shape. Also loads of white around the bill base and a rounder head. Very nice.

 

[Lawts]

James, I see your Great Shearwater gets a few mentions in this quarter's Yorkshire Birding. It also sounds like a lot of the views from the headland were dots, so we did really well.

 

[darrenward]

James, I see your Great Shearwater gets a few mentions in this quarter's Yorkshire Birding. It also sounds like a lot of the views from the headland were dots, so we did really well.

Hi Steve

I was at Flam on the 11th, and had fine scope views.


_____________________
Cheers
Darren

 

[Hotspur]

Really must buy this yorkshire birding!

 

[darrenward]

Really must buy this yorkshire birding!

James - Try this link

http://www.yorkshire-birding.org.uk/index.html

__________________

Darren

 

[Hotspur]

I am off out tomorrow but lost on where to go. Had a ringing session cancelled and not sure what to do. Any ideas?

 

[Lawts]

I am off out tomorrow but lost on where to go. Had a ringing session cancelled and not sure what to do. Any ideas?

Well, if you haven't got the Desert Wheatear, I'd pick him up, followed by the Snow Buntings north of the car park, and a look at the Forge Valley feeders, finished off with the Black-throated Diver and Med. Gull.

Having said that the weather is going to be bad, so maybe a hide - I saw the Bittern at Potteric Carr today, (Piper's Marsh) - It showed very well. One word of warning though, it is easy to look through it, even though it was just in the reeds at the front of the hide. Also, Bullfinch and Willow Tit. Apparently Water Rails are showing by the feeders but I stuck it out all day on the Bittern - got a few decent head shots.

Enjoy whatever you do James.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

I am off out tomorrow but lost on where to go. Had a ringing session cancelled and not sure what to do. Any ideas?

Head for the hills, who knows whats lurking.

 

[Hotspur]

Think i might go to potteric then blacktoft for the raptor roost as ive seen the Dessie.

 

[Hotspur]

went to Potteric got wet. Went to Blacktoft, also got wet. In between some great birds. The Bittern at Piper Marsh was amazing- invisble 20 feet away in 6 inches of stubble! Only after a good look could you pick it up. Were Moorhens a few feet away which were easy to pick up but the bittern- man it was tough. Another flew across earlier in the day but i missed that, was too busy bacon sarnieing it. 50 or so Siskins in the Alders near the railway up to low ellers were cool as was amazing Water Rail that was under the feeders . Just wasn't scared of anything, dudes talking loudly, pheasants chasing it, fighting moorhens, it loved it. Id seen great views before but never this prolonged at close range, i didnt realise they had a vertical buff stripe on their rump until it was baring it in my direction. Also Willow Tit and Jay which was nice. A male Pintail was asleep at Low Ellers plus my first LBBG in a while, this was a graelsii job asleep on one of the islands. Didnt expect much up at Blacktoft due to the weather but headed up anyway more to warm up in the car than anything else. When i got there at 2 nothing but 15 shelducks, 2 Little grebe and a a few wigeon. All of a sudden in came 1,2,3 and then 4 Marsh Harriers fighting away, all looked to be juvs. Then a 5th Harrier came in, a ringtail Hen. This proceded to scrap with the Marshes for about 10 mins which is by far my best views of a Hen Harrier- just need a male now. So best ever views of Bittern, Water Rail and Hen Harrier in one vile day. Magic.