Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[chris3871]

Hi Marcus

I've spent a lot of time on their website - I also check the Hull Valley, Birdguides and Michael Flower's bird blog ........ each of which is very useful and has broadened my birding horizons immeasurably. I've added six to my life list in 2009 already ( Woodcock, LEO, RC Pochard, Smew, Bewick's Swan, Stonechat ) almost all because of information read and received from these websites and this Yorkshire thread.

The issue I have is that Spurn is a big-ish place, as I discovered the last time I went and walked end to end ( which was quite rewarding - as my grandad's WW2 ship was sunk just off the tip of the peninsula ).

What I'm afraid of is spending time looking over the humber estuary / marsh part of the peninsula, when I should be looking in fields to the north for eaxmple.

It's not that I'm being lazy and want the birds on a plate ( metaphorically speaking ), but I work full time and coach junior football on a weekend and have a daughter who is 11 months old - I just simply can't spend 3 hours walking the length of Spurn again, as much as I would like too.

My last couple of birding trips I'm at 25% for my target birds - I'm just trying to improve this by being better prepared before I head out

Mal Skelton

I don't think it is necessary to all the way down the peninsula, most birds can be seen from the top. There's a bench where, if you have a scope, you can have views of the vast majority of the birds on the mud. You can park at the Canal Scrape hide park (it may be a good idea to print off the map on the Bird Obv. website because lots of the pools have local names.) You walk down a path heading south west towards the humber there is the bench with great views across the estuary.

Beacon Ponds is worth looking at too. Don't do what I used to do and walk all the way down from Easington, walk upwards from Kilnsea, parking by the Bluebell.

 

[Hotspur]

Called in at Swinemoor on my way home - no Little Egrets (but lots of lone loafing common gulls in the distance-grr). What was there were a good number of Ruff, plenty of Goldies coming into summer plumage and plenty of Lapwings plus a couple Shelduck. On my way to uni had a Kettle(2) of Buzzards which was pleasant.

 

[garry1366]

Sorry for not replying sooner - didn't see your response and I've been offline ill.

I'm heading out on a birding day with my dad on 20th March ( they are down visiting for my daughter's first birthday on the 19th ). We plan on doing as many sites and seeing as many birds as possible - with hopefully some lifers among them.

One of our first stops will be Spurn ( we live near Hedon ) and I was wondering if you could give me some advice on where to start.

I've been to Spurn twice - the first time I wandered aimlessly to the point and back ( took me over 3 hours ) the second time I went to the triangle looking for a shrike that I never saw.

I would love to see the Brent Geese ( pale / dark / whatever ) if they are still around. Could you give me some guidance on where to start my search for them ?

Thanks

Mal Skelton

Hi Mal,
There's upto about 700 in the area at the moment so they shouldn't be too hard to find. The website says less than this because nobody really spends too much time counting the birds to teh north of the recording area.

The best place for good views is probabaly off the crown or down the canal bank around the tank blocks but the fields around long bank and beacon ponds can also be very good, smaller numbers get off the narrows and at chalk bank usually when the tide is up.

G

 

[sydney swillington]

Reported today at swillington ing's 4 iceland gull's a near adult , 2nd winter , and two 1st winter bird's.
Merlin , marsh harrier and a peregrine .
Happy birding.

 

[tophillbirder]

Did Welton Waters this afternoon. Both drake Smew and Great Northern Diver still on watersports pit. Also had sev Woodlarks in the county this morning.
Mal, I suggest you check the tide times for your trip to Spurn and to be there on a rising tide so the Brents will get closer. If you go at low tide they might be too far out for useful viewing. As far as where else to go, March is early and not classic migration time so ask any birders you see on the day for advise.

 

[Lawts]

Reported today at swillington ing's 4 iceland gull's a near adult , 2nd winter , and two 1st winter bird's.
Merlin , marsh harrier and a peregrine .
Happy birding.

Was the Merlin at rest or just belting through?

 

[BirdFlower]

Mal, I suggest you check the tide times for your trip to Spurn and to be there on a rising tide so the Brents will get closer. If you go at low tide they might be too far out for useful viewing. As far as where else to go, March is early and not classic migration time so ask any birders you see on the day for advise.

Mal, on March 20th High Tide will be at 12.26 at Spurn. It's a low high tide, if you see what I mean, so unless it's blowing a gale, it's unlikely that the road to the peninsula will be closed.

 

[garry1366]

In most instances a high spring tide at Spurn doesn't wash over the road unless it coincides with very strong east or north east wind. Strong winds frequently blow sand onto the road but the road only gets washed over on average every other year.

G

 

[Keith Dickinson]

My copy of Yorkshire Birding landed on the mat this morning...... guess who's the featured Yorkshire Birder this month?
No it ain't me!

 

[knocker7800]

Marcus?

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

My copy of Yorkshire Birding landed on the mat this morning...... guess who's the featured Yorkshire Birder this month?
No it ain't me!

Michael?

Just saw you avatar Keith and wondered why you had an ultrasound :-O. Now I see it's a Peregrine!

 

[knocker7800]

Keith,

Did you get to the watchpoint today?

Texted you last night late as i was watching leeds trounce yoevil at elland road. Long trip back for the southern boys.

Mark.

 

[knocker7800]

Managed to connect with the Long Tailed Duck finally on tuesday after dipping twice. Now i know why, it spent what seemed 90% of its time under water and was small and brownish at first glance. Also managed to see the Red Necked Grebe again, some returning Ringed Plovers and a cracking full breeding plumaged Lesser Redpoll which was my favourite bird of the day.

Mark.

 

[darrenward]

My copy of Yorkshire Birding landed on the mat this morning...... guess who's the featured Yorkshire Birder this month?
No it ain't me!

Lawts?

 

[chris3871]

In most instances a high spring tide at Spurn doesn't wash over the road unless it coincides with very strong east or north east wind. Strong winds frequently blow sand onto the road but the road only gets washed over on average every other year.

G

Sorry, didn't mean to misinform, must've just been unlucky...my last couple of March visits have been sandy ones.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

My copy of Yorkshire Birding landed on the mat this morning...... guess who's the featured Yorkshire Birder this month?
No it ain't me!

Geoffry Boycott??
You gonna tell us or what?

 

[knocker7800]

Are the iceland gulls at swilly roosting at St. Aidans or at Astley. Might have to give them a drop in after work one night.

Mark.

 

[grumps]

Very good view of the Long Eared Owl yesterday at Fairburn. Thanks Keith for the directions. Also Water Rail under the feeders - really good views too.

Hugh

 

[BirdFlower]

Geoffry Boycott??
You gonna tell us or what?

Just got back. It's Lawts - I assume!

 

[birdieboy123]

It is Lawts