Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Pete Mella]

It was in the North East corner of the woods, right up the hill. Drew my attention to it by calling, but it just wouldnt sit still, right in the top of the trees but completely unmistakeable. Still made my day as it was a first for me

The complete opposite end to where I saw mine! Nice to have a reliable site within walking distance, though, I have to say.

 

[BirdFlower]

Would be grateful for any updates, I am heading up to my parents on Friday afternoon hopefully via Tophill and N. Frodingham - would be good to know in advance if I need to head somewhere slightly differently.

Unfortunately, Richard Hampshire the Tophill warden won't be there on Friday to inform you where to find everything, but if you go in visitor centre the board may be upto date. Maybe someone going to Tophill tomorrow could post what is around.

Cheers

 

[keith1200rs]

Is Wheldrake Ings worth a visit? My wife fancies going there tomorrow (day off) but we have never been before. I am not looking for any rarities, just a bit of telescope practice with a good mix of winter birds. Any particular spots which are good?

Thanks.

Keith.

 

[James Thomas]

Looks like another big day for Pink foot, over 20 reports on Birdguides. Saw 200-300 fly over A19 near Thirsk early afternoon. This morning 100 waxwing in Birstall.

 

[wilsonjonathan61]

Nosterfield

Hey Everyone

Just wondering which lake is called Kiln Lake. I presume it is not the one at the NR with the hide. Can anyone help me please. Thanks in advance.

 

[bitterntwisted]

Is Wheldrake Ings worth a visit? My wife fancies going there tomorrow (day off) but we have never been before. I am not looking for any rarities, just a bit of telescope practice with a good mix of winter birds. Any particular spots which are good?

Thanks.

Keith.

Wear wellies. You'll need the scope - huge area and birds distant. Loads and loads and loads of ducks everywhere.

Small birds concentrated in the car park at Bank Island on a recent visit - loads of finches and a hunting sparrowhawk.

Suggest starting at Bank Island car park and scanning from the platform - may not be worth the walk to the hide and is very wet.

Since the path from here along the river is very muddy and not very productive, I suggest driving down Ings Lane and parking at the end and crossing the footbridge. Walk as far as Tower Hide at least (10 mins) for great views over the ings. If you like it, walk on to the further hides (another 10-15 mins) for much more of the same and some closer views.

Viewing platform just a coupel of miles further down the Lower Derwent Valley at Thorganby, SE691418, had more waders and winter thrushes etc. when I was there recently. Park in the car park and go through the gate and down the path to the rather exposed platform.

Good luck,
Graham

 

[Secret Twitcher]

Wentworth Hawfinch

Just wondering where the best place to park is for Hawfinch at Wentworth? Went last week but couldn't find the castle?! Parked near the church and junior school, had a good look round but dipped out on both the hawfinch and the crossbills. Also, does anyone know where abouts in Birstall were the waxwings today? might have a try for those too cheers

 

[James Thomas]

Waxwings were in the grounds of Brownhill school Howden Clough. I keep looking at the Rowan trees by Dewsbury bus station expecting them to be covered in waxwings, they'll get found soon I'm sure!

 

[tophillbirder]

Would be grateful for any updates, I am heading up to my parents on Friday afternoon hopefully via Tophill and N. Frodingham - would be good to know in advance if I need to head somewhere slightly differently.

Never tried birding with a 11 month old in and wife in the car - not sure how patient they are both going to be

Mal Skelton

Was at Tophill this afternoon and had redhead Smew on Watton NR. Good chance of Brambling at feeders but may need a wait. The Bewick's are still on the road between N.Frodingham and Brandesburton. As your heading from Tophill, after turning right in N.Frodingham watch for the 'chicken factory' on your left then check the fields on opposite side of the road.
Report of ad Ring-billed Gull in Queens Gdns, Hull but stuck at Tophill so couldn't check it out. Interestingly another Ring-billed was reported on Hornsea beach on Friday.
Just had the sad news that Henry Bunce died recently. Probably unfamiliar to younger birders but Henry was a Yorkshire recorder for many years into the 70's. His biggest interest in the latter years were Honey Buzzards and it was him who originally found the birds at Wykeham.

 

[Ben M]

I'll be heading north from Nottingham for an overnight stay in York tomorrow night with the missus. She says she's fine to stop off somewhere for an hour or so on the way so I can do a bit of birding. Here are the requirements to keep her happy:

• Drive somewhere roughly on the way north to York (not further north). East coast is a possibility, but not Spurn!
• Do 1-2 hours' of birding.
• Mainly walking (no sitting in a hide for ages)
• Bins and camera only (no scope!)
• Wellies not required

Am I sounding like a dude yet?

She looked up Blacktoft and Old Moor (cos we have discount vouchers). Could these produce some results under this fascist regime?

I'm happy to see anything, but particularly birds I don't see on my local patch which is mainly Woodland, Farmland and a small lake.

Cheers.

 

[rstoff]

How far are you into your sentance?, when you get out for parol try Old Moor for a day

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Ben
why not give Potteric Carr ago, you can access the best bits without wellies, chance of bittern at Piper Marsh, the bacon butties at the cafe are f'n great, and you can usually see water rail at the feeding station by the cafe. Junction 3 on the M18, which is only a mile from the A1, so not far out of your way at all.

 

[Ben M]

Ben
why not give Potteric Carr ago, you can access the best bits without wellies, chance of bittern at Piper Marsh, the bacon butties at the cafe are f'n great, and you can usually see water rail at the feeding station by the cafe. Junction 3 on the M18, which is only a mile from the A1, so not far out of your way at all.

Thanks Keith - I think we'll try Potteric. I see the Caspian has been reported again, so worth a try. Caspo and Bittern would be lifers, but I'm not expecting either in a 5-minute stop at the hides.

However, I think she'd like to have a look at the lovely views of some chalk cliffs whilst we're up that way... surely won't be any birds there

 

[malskelton]

Was at Tophill this afternoon and had redhead Smew on Watton NR. Good chance of Brambling at feeders but may need a wait. The Bewick's are still on the road between N.Frodingham and Brandesburton. As your heading from Tophill, after turning right in N.Frodingham watch for the 'chicken factory' on your left then check the fields on opposite side of the road.
Report of ad Ring-billed Gull in Queens Gdns, Hull but stuck at Tophill so couldn't check it out. Interestingly another Ring-billed was reported on Hornsea beach on Friday.

Thanks for the Bewick's update - will be heading that way this afternoon ( fingers crossed for the Water Rail & Pintail at Tophill first ).

With regards to the Ring Billed Gull - spent 20 minutes in there this morning armed with some slices of bread. Saw Black Headed, Herring and Common but no Ring Billed Gull.

There was at least one Common gull that had bill markings - maybe some confusion, but I'm looking out for more reports as I work at the college at the end of Queens Gardens

Mal Skelton

 

[knocker7800]

Hey Everyone

Just wondering which lake is called Kiln Lake. I presume it is not the one at the NR with the hide. Can anyone help me please. Thanks in advance.

kiln lake is the furthest lake of the quarry complex. park just before you reach nosterfield, turn off on the right (look out for huge lorries). it is quite a walk to kiln which is the furthest lake, so i drove further down the road, parked just off the road and looked through the hedge. there is a map of the site in the car park.

mark.

 

[darrenward]

Hey Everyone

Just wondering which lake is called Kiln Lake. I presume it is not the one at the NR with the hide. Can anyone help me please. Thanks in advance.

Hi JW ~ This may help.

 

[keith1200rs]

Wear wellies. You'll need the scope - huge area and birds distant. Loads and loads and loads of ducks everywhere.

///snip

Good luck,
Graham

Graham,

Many thanks. I will post how we get on.

Keith.

 

[wilsonjonathan61]

nosterfield

Hi JW ~ This may help.

Cheers for that. Very useful.

Happy Birding
JW

 

[andy hood]

had a walk round our fields this morning, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Woodcock, 1 Curlew, 6 Grey Partridge, 7 YellowHammer, 6 Reedbunting, numerous Skylarks singing

 

[garydayes]

Seeing as the weather was dry and a bit warmer than of late i thought i would get the mountain bike out of winter hibination for the first time this year today and try and burn off the winter excesses, so with this in mind with bins round neck set off round the local roads of North Cave.

After about 10 mins i turned down track just west of the prisons (btw North and South Cave) and noticed a large raptor circling over the prisons, obviously a buzzard but unusual location as most of the local buzzards stay on the higher ground of the nearby wolds. After watching bird for a while, it banked a dark belly patch was noticed and as it banked the other the a pale upper tail was shown, it was a Juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard ! bird watched for c5mins before being lost to view heading towards South Cave. Possible same bird as reported over Skidby on Fri 13th and also reported over Rudstone Walk (btw North Cave and Walkington) on Sunday 15th. So appears to be lingering in the general area.
(I'll have a cycle round this weekend see if i can pin it down.)

Whist watching the R.L. Buzzard i got phone call to say the Green- winged Teal was back at North Cave Wetlands on Island Lake.

The first signs of spring down at the Wetlands this week with the following being seen;
Monday; Ringed Plover first of year, Oystercatcher first of year.
Tuesday;Ringed Plover.
Wednesday;Dunlin first of year.Whooper Swan(2),Redshank(24)
Thursday;Peregrine,Corn Bunting,Lesser Redpoll(14),Pink-feet 1100+
heading N.W. Oytercatcher(6), Redshank(66).
Friday;Green-winged Teal, Oystercatcher(9),Redhank(85)

The water levels are now being lowered around the site ready for the returning breeding birds, and is already reaping dividends, note increase in Redshank numbers!

Further news from North Cave Wetlands can be found by visiting the website(link below) usually updated weekly on a Sunday evening with the past weeks highlights just click on Latest News on left hand side.

Cheers Gary.