Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Mike Richardson]

To be fair it doesn't seem like people there on Saturday who saw the bird can cast much light on the ID either

Whilst photos of this record shot quality don't rule out Great Snipe they don't support it either. Where is the mid-wing pannel, where are the pale tips to the coverts framing the midwing panel, why is there a broad white trailing edge to the wing, why is the underwing pale, why does there appear to be a band on the underwing, why do the belly and underparts look pale? If the photos are all that people (who weren't there) have to go on then they are bound to ask such questions.

I'm sure if someone who was there (you?) can answer these questions then the folk who comment on the photos will be able to put these features down to being an artefact of the pics.

Perhaps the bird in the photos is not the bird that was originally found?

I must say that with recent developments in the Flamborough Great Snipe Debate, I will be feasting on humble pie for dinner tonight. I stand corrected.

In all fairness to Steve, he was unhappy with ticking the snipe from the onset and his gut feeling proved to be right.

 

[Hotspur]

The Snipe is showing on the deck and Im glad to reveal that Lawts has connected and is looking at its head right now.

 

[Mike Richardson]

The Snipe is showing on the deck and Im glad to reveal that Lawts has connected and is looking at its head right now.

Great Stuff!

 

[davidtucker]

Had a boost to my "Bubo" listing today, when adding the "Great Snipe" I noticed that I had missed entering the divers for this year to date, Black Throated at Scarbourgh, Redthroated Spurn 2 weeks ago and a GND today 2 passed Flambourgh and the "bronxie", from 2 weeks ago....bounus my year list now stands at 236!

 

[Hotspur]

first waxwing in today at spurn- wonder if its gonna be a good year

 

[davidtucker]

Waxwing + Wryneck.......

 

[birdieboy123]

Went home via Spurn after seeing the Great Snipe and found a very obliging Wryneck

 

[Keith Dickinson]

What's the chances of the Gt snipe lasting till Sunday afternoon?

 

[Mike Richardson]

Went home via Spurn after seeing the Great Snipe and found a very obliging Wryneck

It's a bloody good job I had such good views of Wryneck on Saturday!! How are you going to top a proper Great Snipe and a tame Wryneck on your next birthday?? Enjoy the rest of the day mate.

 

[Lawts]

The Snipe is showing on the deck and Im glad to reveal that Lawts has connected and is looking at its head right now.

Yes, I got him! You could see the top of its head in the middle of the green field, and when it was flushed (from about two metres) at about 6:00pm, the initial view was of huge white outer-tail headlamps as it got up. It flew off low and straight (as the FH bird did).

I spoke to a couple of the Flamborough locals and it does look like that bird is struggling for acceptance.

What a crazy day and week. A 1,000 thank yous to James for letting me know there might be a second flush. It wasn't confirmed as I set off but took the chance.

Well I deserve a bit of luck today - I do work for HBoS!

 

[Ingsbirder]

I must say that with recent developments in the Flamborough Great Snipe Debate, I will be feasting on humble pie for dinner tonight. I stand corrected.

In all fairness to Steve, he was unhappy with ticking the snipe from the onset and his gut feeling proved to be right.

Don't worry about it, it's all part of the birding learning curve. Everyone, and I mean everyone, makes mistakes, it happens. Just because 'very experienced' observers say it is a such and such don't be lulled into believing them - they'll probably be right 99 times out of 100 but every so often they too get it wrong

In the present digitial age/online forums all rare birds are coming under close scrutiny which can only be a good thing surely? In the past these would all have been accepted without question by the rarities committee based on the observers concerned (the York swift would have been accepted by now if it wasn't for the pics, several recent early Pallid Swifts would have been accepted, it goes on).

Birding isn't about listing it's about enjoying the birdingB

 

[Pete Mella]

Went home via Spurn after seeing the Great Snipe and found a very obliging Wryneck

I'm jealous! I hope to return from Flamborough on Sunday with some similarly impressive shots of... well... anything interesting really!

 

[davidtucker]

It appears that the "Wilsons Phalarope" has been roosting at Blacktoft sands for the last 48 hours, and disappears by 08.00, if it roosts tonight, and is out on the "pager" in the morning it may be worth an early trip to Blacktoft on Saturday? Or am I just chasing "pipe dreams"????

 

[Martin Standley]

More shots of the Spurn Wryneck.
Well done John on your proper great snipe.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Is there any chance of goshawks being on the move at the moment? I mean by looking for territory or just passing through places. Unfortunately due to poor light and a bit of distance ID was difficult but I managed to pick out a large bird of prey on the edge of a local wood at 6:30 pm. It was perched on a fence post eating something that I couldn't make out. Initially thought buzzard because of its size but some things tie in with goshawk but again the poor light made it awkward, it looked to be dark greyish, long yellow legs and white under the back end. There has never been any sign of them just spawks, buzzards, kites and kestrels in the area and would be a first for me. Unless I see something again I'll just dismiss it but I'll keep an eye out in case.
Chris.

 

[KayD]

Just got back from a very enjoyable birding trip to Yorkshire...here's a few highlights...will do trip report sometime soon for my blog.

Saturday we went on the RSPB Bridlington Harbour Skua/Shear Cruise. The cruise was ill-fated from the start when departure was delayed for two hours due to the low tide and rough sea. When we did eventually get out we were enveloped by fog once on open sea, so didn't see much. No Shearwaters at all :C. We did get one Bonxie (lifer) and two Arctic Skuas briefly. Apart from that just Fulmar, Kittiwake, Gannets, 1 Razorbill, 2 Little Gull, 1 House Martin and a few Common Scoter and common wader species.

Straight to Flamborough after where things picked up considerably with 2 Wrynecks (lifer), a Little Stint in a puddle, the bay brambles full of Whinchats and a few Stonechat. Then there was that Booted Warbler saga....

Spurn on Sunday....we missed the Palla's GW as we heard too late and there was confusion about the release. Got the juv RB Shrike and Shorelark (lifer). It was a fascinating experience towards the end of the day with the place gradually filling up with migrants; Redstarts, Whinchats and Mipits everywhere with smaller numbers of Spotted Flycatchers, Wheatears, Willow Warblers etc. The waders on the estuary were a great spectacle too.

Flamborough again monday morning, migrants everywhere, highlight being the supurb male Red Breasted Flycatcher on the cliff face (lifer) Velvet Scoters flying past (lifer) and also a BF lifer - ie Hotspur - nice to meet you James :t:

Blacktoft was good on Tues....at least 7 Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Avocet, Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, Bearded Tit, Wigeon, Water Rail, Barn Owl, 3 Weasels.

Spurn again yesterday. Had a Bonxie at Sea, plus a mystery Skua, which I think may have been dark phase Long Tailed...(will have to do an ID post on that one) 7 Red Throated Diver, Common Scoters and Razorbill. Also a late Swift. Migrants galore again on Triangle walk and a nice selection of waders on mudflats, most notably a Curlew Sandpiper. 4 Little Egrets at Sammy's Point and some very confiding Spotted Flycatchers.

Green Withins Reservoir today (thanks to Jim - we got our Twite :t:....about 15-20 of them). Also c30 Goldfinch, 5 Reed Bunting, lots of Mipits and one Tree Pipit, Skylark, Peregrine and Kestrel.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

It appears that the "Wilsons Phalarope" has been roosting at Blacktoft sands for the last 48 hours, and disappears by 08.00, if it roosts tonight, and is out on the "pager" in the morning it may be worth an early trip to Blacktoft on Saturday? Or am I just chasing "pipe dreams"????

The "reserve" does not open until "9AM"

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Is there any chance of goshawks being on the move at the moment? I mean by looking for territory or just passing through places. Unfortunately due to poor light and a bit of distance ID was difficult but I managed to pick out a large bird of prey on the edge of a local wood at 6:30 pm. It was perched on a fence post eating something that I couldn't make out. Initially thought buzzard because of its size but some things tie in with goshawk but again the poor light made it awkward, it looked to be dark greyish, long yellow legs and white under the back end. There has never been any sign of them just spawks, buzzards, kites and kestrels in the area and would be a first for me. Unless I see something again I'll just dismiss it but I'll keep an eye out in case.
Chris.

pulled this from BWPi for you Chris

Partially migratory in arctic and subarctic, dispersive or resident further south; moves less than other west Palearctic Accipiter. Some individuals winter far north in Siberia and Europe, even to 70°N in Norway, but northernmost populations mainly withdraw below Arctic Circle in Fenno-Scandia and below taiga zone in USSR. Moves farther south and in larger numbers when tetraonid populations at low level (Mueller et al. 1977). Dispersal begins soon after young reach independence, and continues well into winter months; southward movement most marked late September to November, juveniles preceding adults. Latter start return to breeding grounds in February, reoccupied March–April. No evidence of sexual differences in timing of movements.

You never know it could have been a gos!

 

[James Thomas]

Flamborough again monday morning, migrants everywhere, highlight being the supurb male - ie Hotspur - nice to meet you James :t:

Pleased you had a good trip and glad the twite were there, 15 minute detour?

 

[666taz]

Went to Old Moor today had a great day Osprey in a tree top this morning peregrine over the scrape hide at dinner and 4 little Egrets on the scrape all day plus all the regular bits and bobs so a great day for me just thought ide share .Phill