James Thomas
Well-known member
Nice to meet you, did you find the siskins?
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Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)
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davidtucker
Well-known member
Hi Jim
No had to give the Siskins a miss, as had to be home for 2pm.....
No had to give the Siskins a miss, as had to be home for 2pm.....
I do James, but I don't know how much time I'll have or if I'll have any of the family in tow so I'll go separately - I may try to build it into a walk with them.
I'm not a defo. but I'll look out for you.
If not, I'll give the Common Redpoll another bash.
Den
Well-known member
Nice to meet up with you again Dave and thanks to Jim for the info on the Siskins. I assume it was you who led me by car to their area!! I did see a flock of over 40 birds near the old locked car park by the side of the Showcase cinema. A pack of hounds were being exercised on the waste ground adjoining which made the birds very flighty. Despite the dull day and 'orrible wind, the Waxwings were stunning as ever. The security guard at the Mars factory came over and said the birds had been there a fortnight and he wondered what they were.
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James Thomas
Well-known member
A Gyr in Yorks! http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=106147. Hope it sticks around for a few days.
James Thomas
Well-known member
I think it might be foot down after work tomorrow if it turns out to be a white morph.
Anyway, I checked out the potential extension to my patch today- the back of Showcase cinemas J27. I've had my eye on this for the last couple of years without actually paying a visit but as the plantation is taking hold I gave it a good look round and it's very promising. It also means I get Waxwing as a patch tick.
The area is well planted, a good mix of Hawthorn, Alder, Willow, Silver Birch and a bit of Oak. At the far end there is mature wood where I have previously found wood warbler. A stream runs through with a number of small ponds, good for dragonflies, Reed Bunting and poss Sedge Warbler. Summer will be good there with plenty of habitat for Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap etc.
Bird count today was pretty small, partly due to the wind but there was Siskins, Bullfinches, wrens, blackbirds, robin, kestrel etc. Evidence of woodpeckers, both Green and GSW nest close by. I also found a cluster of owl pellets, not under a tree but out in the open well away from any trees and a cluster suggets it's a favourite perch, on the ground. Am I being too optimistic hoping there may be a SEO in the area?
So, if you're shopping at J27 park at the lowest point of the car park and pass through the gap in the fence - it's miles better than IKEA.
Anyway, I checked out the potential extension to my patch today- the back of Showcase cinemas J27. I've had my eye on this for the last couple of years without actually paying a visit but as the plantation is taking hold I gave it a good look round and it's very promising. It also means I get Waxwing as a patch tick.
The area is well planted, a good mix of Hawthorn, Alder, Willow, Silver Birch and a bit of Oak. At the far end there is mature wood where I have previously found wood warbler. A stream runs through with a number of small ponds, good for dragonflies, Reed Bunting and poss Sedge Warbler. Summer will be good there with plenty of habitat for Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap etc.
Bird count today was pretty small, partly due to the wind but there was Siskins, Bullfinches, wrens, blackbirds, robin, kestrel etc. Evidence of woodpeckers, both Green and GSW nest close by. I also found a cluster of owl pellets, not under a tree but out in the open well away from any trees and a cluster suggets it's a favourite perch, on the ground. Am I being too optimistic hoping there may be a SEO in the area?
So, if you're shopping at J27 park at the lowest point of the car park and pass through the gap in the fence - it's miles better than IKEA.
davidtucker
Well-known member
Not me but this is how it unfolded. I saw the early record of the Rough-leg at 08:30. I couldn't fight the urge, even though I shouldn't have been birding today. I set off at about 10:15 and was on site for about 11:00. I asked if it had been seen, and no became yes within a matter of moments. One of the team in a people carrier from Donny, (don't know your name and not sure if you check out the forum) had found it distantly.
Drove round to the road that runs north(?? - up the hill anyway) from Kildale. The Buzzard was seen hanging in the wind. Rang Hotspur. The white/black tail combo. could be seen. Very windy and still rather distant. It then took off back down the valley at great speed, and alighted in the obvious large conifer, (viewed from the Kildale - Commondale road) a favourite perch apparently. I 'scoped it there for a few minutes before it was off and back up the valley, hovering and showing the tail again. A Yorkshire tick!!
I got home and Judy (my wife) wanted to visit the churchyards at Kirkby Whiske and Newby Whiske as part of her family tree searches. So, I was heading north again, and was just outside Thirsk when Uncle Lawts rings and tells me about the Gyr. I get to what I believed to be the site at 4:00pm (which I think would have been about an hour after the first message). No sign of any birders or indeed any cars parked up. So it wasn't me. I did find a significant gravestone for my wife's tree in the fading light though which just about saved my neck!
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Marcus Conway - ebirder
Well-known member
Back from the Norfolk zoo, having had a really productive two days. Full report will appear on the blog. Highlights; Great Grey Shrike, Hen Harrier, Woodlark, Merlin, Bittern, Bearded Tit, Marsh Tit, (crippling) Lapland and Snow Bunts, Twite, Slav Grebe, Woodcock, Six Barn Owls, SEO, Redpoll, and WCSparrow.
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Mike Richardson
Formerly known as Skink1978
I've noticed Bewick's Swan has been reported at North Duffield over the last couple of days. Might try to pop in this week if I can get off work for a couple of hours. Does anyone know a good time to catch the Whooper flock at the reserve? Do they spend the night there or is it just a matter of luck catching them? Am I making sense?
Well done with your weekend birds everyone.
Well done with your weekend birds everyone.
The Bewick's is in with the Whooper Swan at North Duffield Carrs. For the most of it, the herd are roosting on the Carrs, arriving shortly before dusk, but lingering a bit longer at dawn. During the day, they are feeding on fields to the south of the car park (on the other side of the road) towards Derwent farm - they can be (and usually are) rather distant to view but it is possible to pick out the Bewick's at this range - although not the best views. They do come onto the Carrs from time to time , for example if they get disturbed off the arable.
So, inconclusion, best to try dawn or dusk on the carrs or viewing the fields during the day. Getting to be a really differcult bird in Yorkshire these days - this one could be the returning bird that wintered with the herd last year. Gone are the days when we got up to 300 in the valley!!
Anyone viewing the swan herd please keep on eye open for colour-rings - there has been one or two with yellow colour-rings on and we caught another 14 here in early November. There does seem to have been a degree of turnover going on, so any records useful
cheers
When you say the Carrs, do you mean to view from the hide? Also, the reports suggests there are two.
Ingsbirder
Well-known member
Yes, view from the hide - it will have to be the Geoff Smith Hide SE696368 as the furthest hide (Garganey hide) is under water.
I was watching the herd late morning yesterday by Derwent Cottage Farm to the south of the A163 and there was just the single adult with 45 Whoopers. As LDVbirder says it's a real shame that Bewick's is now such a scarce bird in the area/county.
liverpool_bob
scarce migrant to yorkshire
My January trip 'home' seems to have been well timed... no rain, mild, though a bit windier than is ideal... 59 species in total to belatedly get my year started including Peregrine, Green Sand., Kingfisher, Siskin, Woodcock (took till December to get last year).
Our day finished watching four different Barn Owls hunting, not quite all at the same time, and some crippling views of Grey Partridge - often heard but not had a lot of luck seeing them recently.
There's a Bar-headed Goose at Burton Agnes village pond - if anyone wants close views / photo opp. it comes to bread ... and no, it's not part of the 59 o though it is strangely pretty.
Cheers,
Bob.
Our day finished watching four different Barn Owls hunting, not quite all at the same time, and some crippling views of Grey Partridge - often heard but not had a lot of luck seeing them recently.
There's a Bar-headed Goose at Burton Agnes village pond - if anyone wants close views / photo opp. it comes to bread ... and no, it's not part of the 59 o
though it is strangely pretty.Cheers,
Bob.
Pete Mella
Getting there...
Are the waxwings in Batley at Ikea, then? My girlfriend loves Ikea, if they're still around at the weekend I may just be able persuade her to give me a lift
birdieboy123
All The Gear, No Idea
Did anyone else see any Pink-Footed Geese on the move today, I saw about 100 over East Hull mid morning
darrenward
Ace's High
Me 2 - I had +55 over Leeds city centre @ 09:05 going west, while driving to work, wound the window down for a quick listen..
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Darren
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Darren
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