Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Keith Dickinson]

Nice list there Phil, I can think of at least one BF member who'd dearly love to have seen that osprey! Not me, I've got my Tyke osprey in the Washburn Valley a few years ago.
Used to go to Old Moor regularly when it was in Barnsley Council hands, not been as much since RSPB took it over.

 

[KnockerNorton]

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.

They do indeed move about and turn up in odd places at this time of year. While the buzzard size comparison is encouraging, the 'long yellow legs' sounds a bit of an alarm. Goshawks do not have noticeably long yellow legs (probably not longer than a buzzard, say), whereas sparrowhawks DO have notably long yellow legs. Size judgements can be very difficult, and buzzards can also have white under the tail, as they're very variable.

 

[KayD]

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

A different way back home but well worth the detour as we never get them round our way, good suggestion Jim....I can even forgive you for misquoting a lady :-O

 

[liverpool_bob]

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

It must be the start of uni term - I seem to have walked into week 1 of Post-Modern Birding 101

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Thanks for the info Keith and Knocker, it'll remain one of those mystery sightings anyway. If only there was better light and the bird being further away from the trees and nearer to me. Even if it was a spawk or buzzard I've not seen them with prey (whatever it was) so the sighting was good for that.
Chris.

 

[davidtucker]

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

Mmmm, it has been the "warden" putting the Phalarope out on the "pagers" at 07:30.............

 

[Hotspur]

male Red-footed Falcon at Tophill. Reserve opens at 0700 tomorrow so may have a look in on my return from work. Probably worth a shot for those headed to flam tomorrow

 

[Lawts]

It must be the start of uni term - I seem to have walked into week 1 of Post-Modern Birding 101

Talking of modern birding, I nipped down to Old Moor midweek to dip the Osprey in my lunch hour. I couldn't believe it. The car park for starters - thought it must be Cretzschmar's Bunting. Then inside upstairs I was looking for Gordon Ramsey. I didn't have my RSPB card and being a tight Yorkshireman I was trying to see the Cuckoo tree from the restaurant without paying.

I actually felt out of place having bins and scope. It was just full of "ladies what lunch". They must be serving up some decent snap it was heaving.

I retired to the birding sanity that Broomhill Flash brings and connected with a superb Hobby feeding on dragonflys.

Having said all this aiming to return to Hotel Old Moor as Ossie is still lingering.

 

[Den]

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

Nice to see you again at Old Moor today Phil. Didn't realise you lived only a couple of miles away. There we were, havin' a natter and whoosh!, along comes a Hobby ,catching dragonflies. That's birding.

 

[birdieboy123]

Mmmm, it has been the "warden" putting the Phalarope out on the "pagers" at 07:30.............

Don't be tight Dave. Pay the bridge toll and go and see it at Alkborough like I did tonight

 

[schiffornis]

male Red-footed Falcon at Tophill. Reserve opens at 0700 tomorrow so may have a look in on my return from work. Probably worth a shot for those headed to flam tomorrow

My mates just put his pics on birdguides, quite a smart bird by the look of it!!! I should really go for it but i saw 5 in the spring!!!

 

[mikejack82]

I'm liking this Idea of "Self-found" stuff, Although I never go to a "twitch". I have took info from this forum and found birds from that help.... I've never kept a life list...
But think I have a mental note. I know what I've seen etc.
The "self-found" thing, sounds like proper birding to me.
So... On that note... I'm wiping the slate clean!
Gonna start from ZERO.
Keep eyes out for a new blog, about my daily sightings, starting tomorrow... If I see a sparrow!!!
Or anything else!
Need a number 1
Place your bets now!!!

 

[Hotspur]

Black-headed Gull or Herring Gull over your house Mike

 

[mikejack82]

Black-headed Gull or Herring Gull over your house Mike

First thing in morning, I'm driving to the other side of town.
Going Hedon road way. Over Myton Bridge.
Good bet James, but, do you guys tick feral pigeons?
Personally I don't...
Just wanted opinion?

 

[Hotspur]

Feral pigeons are fine to tick so long as they arent flying around someones house or flying quickly in a flock as if racing. So if its eating your Big Mac wrapper is fine.

 

[davidtucker]

Don't be tight Dave. Pay the bridge toll and go and see it at Alkborough like I did tonight

John, I have no idea how to get to "Alkorough".......

 

[KnockerNorton]

Feral pigeons are fine to tick so long as they arent ....flying quickly in a flock as if racing.

Most racers don't tend to be in flocks for most of their journey, as they're all going to different destinations. These fast flocks you mention are probably commuting feral birds going between cities and outlying stubbles etc. You see it a lot in E Yorks (going into/out of Hull and probably also to/from Flamborough). If you look at the make-up of them (different types of plumage present) it's the same as you see in the towns, and if you find them on the deck then very few are ringed. The numbers in these flocks also increase in autumn, when the fields are being sown/harvested, as they're cashing in on the food. It's the same with the feral Canadas in Hull - they head out onto the surrounding fields at harvest/sowing time.

Racers also tend to have much larger ceres, and slightly longer wings, as they've not been outbred with the ferals (yet!).

 

[KnockerNorton]

I'm liking this Idea of "Self-found" stuff, Although I never go to a "twitch". I have took info from this forum and found birds from that help.... I've never kept a life list...
But think I have a mental note. I know what I've seen etc.
The "self-found" thing, sounds like proper birding to me.
So... On that note... I'm wiping the slate clean!
Gonna start from ZERO.

not as easy as it sounds, mate. What if you're in East Park or on a reserve somewhere, you walk past a brider and they say "hey, there's a such and such from the next hide/round the corner", which is exactly where you were heading and couldn't have missed it. It would have been self found if you'd not met him, but now it isn't cos he's told you about it. Whaddaya do?!

 

[bitterntwisted]

John, I have no idea how to get to "Alkorough".......

"Streetmap?"

""

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

"Streetmap?"

""

I "believe" that heading over the "bridge" is easier that taking the route past "Goole"