Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[tophillbirder]

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

How'd you get on. Had pair of Pintail y'day on O res, but the Water Rail is unpredictable. Also had a look for Ring-billed this morning, as did several others thro' the day. The bird was also seen on Monday and I'm told the observer is reliable so please keep looking. Also today did High Eske where I had 5 pinkies plus 17 Whoopers on Arram Carr. Did you manage the Bewick's as we had them late afternoon although originally well back from the road but did fly onto the nearby floods.
The Glauc was still at Barmston on Thursday.
Noticed today that Oystercatchers have returned to High Eske and Heron Lakes so spring may be on it's way!

 

[BirdFlower]

How'd you get on.

Mal's in Durham for the weekend, so may not get back to you straight away. Even tho' he's lived here for over 10 years. He never been to Tophill before! Hope he saw his first ever Pintail!

 

[John Bullfinch]

Think I will put my hand in my pocket and try for the hawfinch at Wentworth tomorrow - I see that 6 were seen today. I previously posted info on here about wentworth - one thing I forgot to mention is that if you are going in the gardens (£4.50) you get your parking fee included.

I am taking the 'in-laws' to see the Owls at fairburn tomorrow afty - are they still there and in the same spot?? Cheers for any info.

John

 

[DOC REED]

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

Ben
If heading to York ,why not try Lower Derwent Valley ?You could drop family at the 'Designer Outlet' ,Just south of York on A19,then head a fe wmiles south to LDV;this is a reserve made for walking and the desinger outlet will keep family occupied ,without actually entering the city etc.Its a nice place for some peace and quiet where you can find your own birds...worth considering.Either way, lots of luck !!!!

 

[K.D.R]

Think I will put my hand in my pocket and try for the hawfinch at Wentworth tomorrow - I see that 6 were seen today. I previously posted info on here about wentworth - one thing I forgot to mention is that if you are going in the gardens (£4.50) you get your parking fee included.

I am taking the 'in-laws' to see the Owls at fairburn tomorrow afty - are they still there and in the same spot?? Cheers for any info.

John

Good luck John i hope you see them...
i live about 2 miles from the castle, i walked the surrounding land quite a lot last year...there's a little wood thats full of chaffinches and a few Brambling in with them....aint never seen the Haw's though.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

HI K D R I see that you are a newbie to BF, I hope you enjoy things here, glad you found the best bit so soon.
Keep an eye out for any threads labelled Tyke Meet or Yorkshire Meet, that's your invite to participate in one of life's luxuries, a day's birding with possibly the jammiest crew of non-twitchers on BF. Next meet is at the end of next month and the thread is here, sadly I will not be there as I'll be in Scotland.

Good luck John i hope you see them...
i live about 2 miles from the castle, i walked the surrounding land quite a lot last year...there's a little wood thats full of chaffinches and a few Brambling in with them....aint never seen the Haw's though.

 

[Hotspur]

HI K D R I see that you are a newbie to BF, I hope you enjoy things here, glad you found the best bit so soon.
Keep an eye out for any threads labelled Tyke Meet or Yorkshire Meet, that's your invite to participate in one of life's luxuries, a day's birding with possibly the jammiest crew of non-twitchers on BF. Next meet is at the end of next month and the thread is here, sadly I will not be there as I'll be in Scotland.

Non-twitcher's Keith? What were the Amur Falcon, Hume's Warbler, Hawfinch, Rough-legged Buzzard, Yellow-legged Gull & Black Grouse?? Admittedly the Black Kite and Great Shearwater were luck.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

We didn't twitch the Amur, James..... it was still a red footed then...and anyway I was twitching the hobby that day...LOL
But we don't twitch.... we make the plan yonks in advance and take what comes....that ain't a twitch in my books. The Hume's was the exception, but even then it had been around for ages so hardly a twitch.
Now if we talk Alder fly.......

 

[Vespa]

Think I will put my hand in my pocket and try for the hawfinch at Wentworth tomorrow - I see that 6 were seen today. I previously posted info on here about wentworth - one thing I forgot to mention is that if you are going in the gardens (£4.50) you get your parking fee included.

I am taking the 'in-laws' to see the Owls at fairburn tomorrow afty - are they still there and in the same spot?? Cheers for any info.

John

I may be a couple of miles from Wentworth tomorrow morning and could squeeze in 2 hours. Does anyone know exactly where at Wentworth these were seen today? Reading the posts on this there doesn't seem to be a definite location, or are they quite mobile? I don't mind paying the parking if it puts me in the right area Any info appreciated.

 

[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 for the advise. At Bank Island you need a wetsuit to reach the hide. Ditto the next car park. Not too much at Bank Island from the viewing platform.

Thorganby, at the Village Hall, was good for winter thrushes as you said, some ruff, dunlin & pintail, plus some fairly common stuff.

North Duffield was good for shovellers, a pair of marsh harriers and a glimpse of a barn owl. Also a pair of stonechats. On the way home a barn owl gave us a far better view as it flew in front of the car.

Overall, a good day out and I appreciate the help.

Keith.

 

[Lawts]

How'd you get on. Had pair of Pintail y'day on O res, but the Water Rail is unpredictable. Also had a look for Ring-billed this morning, as did several others thro' the day. The bird was also seen on Monday and I'm told the observer is reliable so please keep looking. Also today did High Eske where I had 5 pinkies plus 17 Whoopers on Arram Carr. Did you manage the Bewick's as we had them late afternoon although originally well back from the road but did fly onto the nearby floods.
The Glauc was still at Barmston on Thursday.
Noticed today that Oystercatchers have returned to High Eske and Heron Lakes so spring may be on it's way!

Are you able to provide a bit more detail?

My queries:

1) Where was the Hornsea bird reported - no info. on the info. services?
2) If the Hull bird was seen Monday, why didn't news come out?
3) Why is the bird "reported" if the observer is reliable? An adult is relatively straightforward to id.

Thanks.

 

[ColinSev]

Great Grey Shrike

Can anybody give me pointers exactly where to find the Great Grey Shrike at Wykeham Forest. Any help would be appreciated.
Hope to get down there this week sometime

Cheers
Colin

 

[Hotspur]

Can anybody give me pointers exactly where to find the Great Grey Shrike at Wykeham Forest. Any help would be appreciated.
Hope to get down there this week sometime

Cheers
Colin

Head to the viewpoint in the forest (not the raptor watchpoint) an turn right along a woodland track - not sure if this is ok for vehicles at moment. Head to the second junction (i think) and turn right. Eventually you will reach a clearing on the right hand side with lots of felled wood around the side and a fenced area in the centre - this is where the shrike favours, often on the fenceposts or in the trees that remain in the centre.

 

[Hotspur]

Had a corking morning with birdflower and marcus conway-ebirder. Report on the blog. How did you go PM and was that you i saw behind keyingham at 5ish Headed back?

 

[John Bullfinch]

Managed to find 2 Hawfinchs at Wentworth this morning, several brief views, a lot of patience required. I think I was lucky compared to the other birders who arrived after me. The birds are being seen to the right of the castle folly in the gardens £4.50 inc parking - ask when you pay if you need directions - they are very enthusiastic about their special birds. Also lots of Nuthatches - beautiful bird especially when virtually landing on my head!!!

Took the 'in-laws' to see the LE Owls at Fairburn this afty - saw 2 birds that were showing well. Still lots going to see them.

 

[birdieboy123]

Had a good day out in Scarborough today, no sign of the Iceland Gull when I arrived so had a walk round Marine Drive where I bumped into Darren Ward who was watching a pair of Peregrine, On to Scalby where there were hundreds of Wigeon on the sea, also a Red Breasted Merganser and a Canada Goose (never seen one on the sea before), Back to the harbour where the Gull had finally turned up and gave cracking views

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

How did you go PM

like this

 

[K.D.R]

Managed to find 2 Hawfinchs at Wentworth this morning, several brief views, a lot of patience required. I think I was lucky compared to the other birders who arrived after me. The birds are being seen to the right of the castle folly in the gardens £4.50 inc parking - ask when you pay if you need directions - they are very enthusiastic about their special birds. Also lots of Nuthatches - beautiful bird especially when virtually landing on my head!!!

Took the 'in-laws' to see the LE Owls at Fairburn this afty - saw 2 birds that were showing well. Still lots going to see them.

John..what time was it when you saw them..?
i was gonna have a ride through tomorrow after my lads played football...
id be getting there about 1.00pm...
quite happy to pay in if thats the only way im gonna get to see them..

 

[Glaucous1]

Colin for the great grey shrike take the road north from the A170 at Wykeham - it's the yellow road on the left of the attached map, then as said previously head right at the viewpoint, and right again at the first proper junction.

The bird is basically above the S and T of the word FOREST on the attached map.

 

[Ben M]

Ben
If heading to York ,why not try Lower Derwent Valley ?You could drop family at the 'Designer Outlet' ,Just south of York on A19,then head a fe wmiles south to LDV;this is a reserve made for walking and the desinger outlet will keep family occupied ,without actually entering the city etc.Its a nice place for some peace and quiet where you can find your own birds...worth considering.Either way, lots of luck !!!!

Thanks for that, but the advice was nine hours too late for us this time!

We went to Potteric, had a nice walk around, nothing new for me, but two easy Kingfishers for the missus to see and loads of fish to see in the drain - Pike, Roach and Bream - I think. No Bittern in our 15 mins in the Piper Marsh Hide (didn't expect any in that time!).

Went on to Flamborough Head for an hour before driving back to York. Nothing to note.

Good views of Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Gyr, Eagle Owl, Harris Hawk, Griffon Vulture and, I think, White-headed Vulture at the Yorkshire Museum Gardens in York this morning. Shame they were all tied down ||