Yorkshire Birding (2 Viewers)

[Lawts]

Due to being laid-up with a case of (Man)flu I've not been out for a few days and so was able to read the latest issue of Yorkshire Birding with a bit more attention than normal. I see they are reviving the Yorkshire Listers League, and this time it will be online.
They've also clarified the area that constitutes Yorkshire for listing purposes, as well as going strictly BOU for the list.
For the list ' the bird itself must be in Yorkshire but the observer need not be. Yorkshire means basically from Humber to Tees, taking in Vice Counties 61, 62,63,64,65 with a few minor exceptions in the south and west. ' 'Birds at sea are in Yorkshire if they are within the UK Fishery Limit, which is roughly the halfway point between the UK coast and any neighbouring country. So trips on the Yorkshire Belle are okay' It also turns out that Dunsop Bridge falls within this area, so in the unlikely event that the BOURC accepts the eagle owl onto the list then if you saw them there, you get an armchair tick. However it does mean that the Pacific Diver and Brown Flycatcher from last year aren't ticks yet.. neither are on the BOU list.
If you'd like a copy of the list to be used in the League then pm me and I'll give you the e-mail address.

I'm glad they've revived this, although it would be better I think if they used BUBO and we were all in one place and of one mind. I've about three different Yorkshire lists on the go!

I agree with most of the recommendations. The Pacific Diver and Brown Fly. aren't in my totals and won't be until BOU accepts, hence the reason Caspo is my latest lifer and not White-crowned Sparrow.

I still think the Lesser White-front from Stamps Pond was likely to be suspect, so even though I saw it, it isn't on my list. I also think Ring-necked Parakeet in the right circumstances should be allowable.

Dunsop Bridge was a surprise. I wouldn't have clocked that as part of our VC. The detail re. the boundaries is still a bit confusing. I'm still not sure on the south of the Tees bit. Clear at the river mouth near South Gare, but less so inland near Portrack for example. I suspect if a bird lands on the southern bank at Portrack it isn't countable. From memory I can't recall Yorkshire Birding reporting on the Yellow-legged Gull in their round-up totals, yet its preferred lampost is on the southern bank.

 

[Hotspur]

Steve it is countable at Portrack on the south bank (but the old river course runs south from portrack, as does the boundary). This can be seen on OS maps. The reason me and Marcus were able to tick it was it sojurn down river when you guys headed over the barrage.

 

[Lawts]

Steve it is countable at Portrack on the south bank (but the old river course runs south from portrack, as does the boundary). This can be seen on OS maps. The reason me and Marcus were able to tick it was it sojurn down river when you guys headed over the barrage.

But when we cross the barage, are we not on the south bank then?

 

[Lawts]

Marcus, tried to PM you but your storage is full. Are you able to clear any?

Cheers.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

But when we cross the barage, are we not on the south bank then?

Unfortunately not. When they constructed the barrage the line of the river was moved slightly north..... when you look at the map you can see the old course of the Tees which means that a small area of land south of the barrage is not in our Vice County. Get away from the barrage and by Portrack the river is back on normal course, so if the bird was on the south bank there...it's in Yorkshire.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Marcus, tried to PM you but your storage is full. Are you able to clear any?

Cheers.

All clear now Steve. Update on my birding activity (all out of county) to appear shortly.

If anyone else got a train today I feel for you. I have only been to Cambridge and I am using the free wireless on the train now. I left at 7AM today its been a bugger of a day...

 

[Hotspur]

But when we cross the barage, are we not on the south bank then?

Yup, but only the new south bank, which is north of the old north bank.

 

[Hotspur]

Down at Wheldrake this afternoon and evening. Lots of common passerines singing away including Goldcrest and Song Thrush. Infact saw 4 turdus sp. but still no Mistle Thrush. Also a couple of pairs of Goldeneye displaying on the pool. Lots of Shoveler about and singing Curlew. Still a few Pintail as well. The gull roost was very interesting. I tried it from Swantail for a change and was rewarded with excellent views of at least 3 immature Glonks and an Iceland Gull. Also a couple of other interesting gulls, a Herring Gull with a bicolour bill like a Glauc and a gull that was identical to an Iceland 1st winter but the very tips of the primaries were black - very different to the argentatus that were around it. I really thought it was an Iceland until it was swimming entirely side on and then it was the very tips that were black (similar to a BHG). One of the Glaucs (a huge one- much bigger than the other 2 and possibly a 2nd winter) circled the hide a few times which gave me astounding views. Walking back I flushed 3 Jack Snipe including one which gave good flight views (in silhouette alas). Nice afternoon.

 

[Martin Standley]

Do you think we have a conclusion on the redpoll debate?I'm guessing the general opinion was that it would be unsafe to call any of those redpolls in my recent photos as mealey?
By the way is there a likelihood of a photo opportunity for the nightingales at crowle moor or is more likely that they will be heard and not seen?

 

[Lawts]

Do you think we have a conclusion on the redpoll debate?I'm guessing the general opinion was that it would be unsafe to call any of those redpolls in my recent photos as mealey?
By the way is there a likelihood of a photo opportunity for the nightingales at crowle moor or is more likely that they will be heard and not seen?

I think the safe thing to do is leave the Common Redpolls.

As for Nightingale, probably difficult to get shots on Thorne. There's a place in Lincs. they show quite well for photographs - I'll pm you when I remember the name. The best place is Paxton Pits. They just shown in the open there for ages.

Also on Thorne, I'll be bins only. It's a tough ask carrying your scope and pod.

 

[Lawts]

Brent Geese

Anyone know if the two at the Brigg are Pale or Dark-bellied?

Thanks.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Good question Steve....as I see they are split on the League list

Anyone know if the two at the Brigg are Pale or Dark-bellied?

Thanks.

 

[Mike Richardson]

Anyone know if the two at the Brigg are Pale or Dark-bellied?

Thanks.

No mention of them being Pale-bellied on the FBOG website so would guess they are Dark-bellied.

 

[James Thomas]

Had a quick walk around J27 patch this afternoon, patch list now up to 40 with the addition of Rook and Teal, the latter being very nice because they were flushed from the beck so not a flyover and hadn't really been on my 'expecting to see' list.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Skua Cruises 2008

Just got the leaflet through about this years Skua cruises, dates are

Saturday 30 Aug, 6, 13, & 20 Sep

Sunday 7, 21, & 28 Sep, 5 Oct

ALL morning cruises so chance of further birding afterwards.

Cost £12.00 or if you can get into short kegs £6.00

As I'm normally working on Saturdays, I'd favour any of the Sundays if we are going to go again.

 

[James Thomas]

Do they have the sailing times for each date or do we make a guess based on the tide tables? Would prefer the earliest start I think.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Earliest sailing is 8.45 on 28 Sep
latest is 10.00am on 13 Sep and 5 Oct
30 Aug is 9.30
all the others are 9.00am
So it's not really that much difference this year

 

[birdieboy123]

Here's a list of times and dates
http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/eastyorkshire/events/

 

[Hotspur]

Id like to go on the cruises again - a good chance to reacquaint with sooties if nothing else.

 

[Hotspur]

Been going through my list and have culled a few records. The only one of UK consequence is the Great White Egret I saw from the train near wressle in the autumn. I have chopped this because I would never get it past a records committee and thus it doesnt get past the internal record committee upon review. Despite this I still believe it was one but... Also im considering the Dusky Warbler at Easington as i didnt get amazing views of this but more pieced it together plus diagnostic call. Have posted a thread on peoples opinions of this type of record and will review it once others have aired their opinion. Other non-Yorkshire losses have been Desert Lark in Egypt (no optics), Semi-p sand and least sand as they were too distant to be sure with just bins (although i believe that I may have gained Western Sand plus the aforementioned sp with a scope), Shiny Cowbird (cant remember the sighting) and Grassland Yellow-finch (very rare and cat C plus previously unkonown confusion sp.). The last four are all from barbados.