Yorkshire Birding (2 Viewers)

[Mike Richardson]

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.

I will have to go through my Australia list (before I was a birder) and I bet I will end up chopping 25% of the birds. Will still get to keep most goodies, for example cassowary is hardly a confusion species.
On my UK list I glad to confirm the Essex Ring-billed Gull in Feb as my initial sighting was 3 years ago, also I was happy to see proper 'wild' Mandarin as I was about to chop the village bird from my list (honest).

 

[chris3871]

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.

I'd really like to get out on the Skua cruises again. I missed them last year, but went on a couple the year before.
What's the usual plan with them?

 

[liverpool_bob]

Been going through my list and have culled a few records. ... 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.

Either way, unless you suddenly develop a fear of coastlines or stop twitching altogether you're bound to cross paths with another one sooner or later... it'll make a nice compensation when you're dipping a Rubythroat at Spurn


Cheers,
Bob.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

I'd really like to get out on the Skua cruises again. I missed them last year, but went on a couple the year before.
What's the usual plan with them?

What we did last year was agree on a date and then all book separately, meeting up on the day at the harbour wall before we got on the Belle.

Anybody been to Fairburn today?
Are the LEO's still there, and where are they. I want to go tomorrow before the visitor centre opens.

 

[Lawts]

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.

Healthy and worthwhile exercise this James. I did it several times in my early birding years. There's no point having nagging doubts. They eat away. I got the birding bug at a very early age (unlike some of you guys) and had to make several reassessments of my list. I remember having Common Gull on my list on the basis of it being common and it being a gull so I must have seen one. I took it off, and promptly walked to the nearest playing field and it was placed back on by the afternoon! Not forgetting the Storm Petrels (House Martins) breeding on the cliffs at Flamborough. Not quite what you're doing James but I was a kid.

My biggest regret is not taking good notes on birds years ago. All slightly different now with digital shots to confirm and remind. Having said that I still see young birders turning up at twitches now, watching a bird for five minutes, no notes, no camera and I know twenty years from the sighting they will rue their actions - speaking from experience. I have some get out in that most of mine back then were seen with Unclelawts, a keen note-taker.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

I've got my notebooks going back to 1986, before that I didn't really keep good notes, just logged new species. It's amazing how the notes jog your memory, I can read some of the old books and almost relive the day again.

 

[Lawts]

I've got my notebooks going back to 1986, before that I didn't really keep good notes, just logged new species. It's amazing how the notes jog your memory, I can read some of the old books and almost relive the day again.

Yes I know what you mean Keith. Mind you I could never, and still can't draw birds. Some of my early efforts are incredible. Some perching birds look more like dinosaurs and birds in flight look like Boeing 747s.

I used to keep a "can u b sure" list. I wouldn't take them off my life list, but wanted to see another one. Even now I have a "seconds" list; no string, but where I'd like to see another. In no way doubting the record, but just fading memory. For example Nutcracker - I can remember nearly standing on it, but the memory has still faded and another would be nice.

That's why any digital shot no matter how poor is better than nothing.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Finally updated the blog http://www.freewebs.com/ebirder/blog.htm

Still smarting from the Troon dip, hopefully that has put an upcoming trip in the successful bank!

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Are the LEO's still there, and where are they. I want to go tomorrow before the visitor centre opens.

Two still today. You have to arse around at the visitor centre to find out where they are

 

[WCA]

In the light of a White Stork in East Lancashire today, does anyone know the current situation regarding the Harewood House White Storks of which I'm currently assuming that where the Lancs bird is from.

Cheers,

Bill.

 

[James Thomas]

I think there's a good chance the bird is from Harewood. There was a report of a White Stork at Ilkley earlier in the week so it could well be the same bird continuing in that direction.

Having a day out tomorrow, going for the LEO at Fairburn and doing the York area. So I don't have to trawl through these pages can someone remind me where the Corn Buntings and Water Pipit are please? Anything else of interest around York most welcome.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

I could be mistaken but I'm sure I heard that the Harewood storks are now all sporting rings.

 

[Lawts]

I could be mistaken but I'm sure I heard that the Harewood storks are now all sporting rings.

They didn't used to be Keith unless you've heard something new. There were adults that were free-flying. Some had rings but at least one didn't. I used to track them and keep LGRE up to date with info. for several years but I've lost touch.

If I go this year I'll have a look at the bird garden assuming they are in residence, (the Storks not Lord H.)

 

[Lawts]

I think there's a good chance the bird is from Harewood. There was a report of a White Stork at Ilkley earlier in the week so it could well be the same bird continuing in that direction.

Having a day out tomorrow, going for the LEO at Fairburn and doing the York area. So I don't have to trawl through these pages can someone remind me where the Corn Buntings and Water Pipit are please? Anything else of interest around York most welcome.

Jim, the Corn Buntings can be found as follows. At the roundabout that leads down to Wetherby, where B1224 joins the A1237, go over roundabout towards York. Take next left and pull up. Cross over and view setaside.

For the Water Pipit, take the road to Catterton from the A64 and where the sharp bend is by the Ebor Way footpath, view the flooded field.

 

[Lawts]

6 Red Kites in the air this afternoon along the stretch of A61 from the Grammer School roundabout to the Harewood House lights.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

I was down at Fairburn this morning dipping the LEO .... again. It's supposedly still at the Lin Dyke end of the reserve but roosting now on the Hicksons side of the embankment.

 

[James Thomas]

Thanks for those snippets, youngest now feeling under the weather and may need looking after tomorrow. Never mind, should be able to sort something as I've the next two weeks off!

 

[liverpool_bob]

Hopefully a few Sand Marts and maybe the odd Wheatear has arrived this weekend as I've got another long weekend ticket for birding coming up for Easter |=)| and it takes a week or so for the first ones to trickle the few miles north of Tophill (bad timing meant I failed completely on Wheatear last year).

Here's a weird tale.

Spoke to my old man earlier. A neighbour opened the curtains one morning last week to find a Little Grebe apparently stuck on his lawn. Nearest suitable habitat about 1km away. Sounds unlikely? He then went out and caught it?!?! and showed it to my Dad who confirmed what it was. It was taken and released on running water, dived immediately and appeared 20m away then not seen again. Job done. Interesting garden tick though :eek!:


Cheers,
Bob.

 

[Lawts]

Martin/Hotspur, I see our old friend the mealy has turned up at York Uni. again today. I wonder if it is our bird?

 

[Hotspur]

I bet it is and to be honest i have pondered it a lot and am convinced it was a Mealy albeit a drab one. Think the pale bird was just a washed out lesser.