Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Simmo1111]

Thanks Dave

Ok Marcus,

Using my limited knowledge and very recently found skills .. like 5 minutes ago ...

It appears that you need to look at SK306955 ?

If that makes any sense ......

Let me know if that sounds any good, if not I,ll take another look for you mate.

 

[Pete Mella]

Ok Marcus,

Using my limited knowledge and very recently found skills .. like 5 minutes ago ...

It appears that you need to look at SK306955 ?

Looks about right.

I'm hopeless as working out grid refs from maps, but here's a handy tool to do it from Google Maps if you ever need to... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/keith.balmer/BNHS/focuson/getagridref/html/index.htm

I'm jealous of those cuckoo sightings... I need a trip up to Wharncliffe very soon!

 

[Pete Mella]

OK, stupid Spurn question, but what's the best way to get to Sammy's Point? Is it park at the Humber Side Road car park and head East, or park at Kilnsea at head West?

Off on Wednesday with a rather long "shopping list" (yellow wag, corn bunt, black redstart, turtle dove, cuckoo and whimbrel being somewhere near the top!), so wish me luck!

 

[Simmo1111]

Looks about right.

I'm hopeless as working out grid refs from maps, but here's a handy tool to do it from Google Maps if you ever need to... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/keith.balmer/BNHS/focuson/getagridref/html/index.htm

I'm jealous of those cuckoo sightings... I need a trip up to Wharncliffe very soon!

Hi Pete,

Hope you are well mate, I,m pretty sure that due to 'territorial issues' if you hear a cuckoo nearby and call the way I described it will work every time. I just tried it on the offchance and was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. Obviously the same effect for an owl too should you get the chance.

Always available for a trip out to Wharncliffe if you want to get in touch.

Regards ...

 

[Pete Mella]

I just tried it on the offchance and was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. Obviously the same effect for an owl too should you get the chance.

I'm sure it does work, and the cuckoo is one of the easiest to copy! Do it with caution though, such techniques do stress birds out and can have adverse effects on breeding success if done relentlessly.

May give you a shout soon, but I'm in a bit of coursework hell at the moment and going on a couple of birding trips over the next couple of days isn't going to help...! Would really like a good look at the Wharncliffe cuckoos, though.

 

[Simmo1111]

Thanks for the advice regarding the stressing of the birds Pete, the last thing I would want to do is cause them any problems so I will certainly take heed of the info there. Seeing what I saw today was far more than I expected and I am quite content to leave them be from now on.

Cheers Pete.

 

[BirdFlower]

OK, stupid Spurn question, but what's the best way to get to Sammy's Point? Is it park at the Humber Side Road car park and head East, or park at Kilnsea at head West?

Off on Wednesday with a rather long "shopping list" (yellow wag, corn bunt, black redstart, turtle dove, cuckoo and whimbrel being somewhere near the top!), so wish me luck!

Hi Pete,

The best way to get to Sammy's Point is to turn off in Easington on the way to Spurn. Turn right at the large parking area near the church, take the winding road past the church. Carry on this "main" road which will take you past the riding school to the parking area at the Humber. You shouldn't have any problem with most of the birds on your list, but Turtle Dove & Black Redstart are the least likely.
Cheers

 

[malskelton]

Took my ten year old nephew to Bempton for his first visit on Sunday - managed to add Puffin to my year list at the same time.

I love the fact that everywhere we go he is chuffed to bits to add "9 more birds I've never seen before".

I explained the difference between House Sparrows & Tree Sparrows even before we left the car park - he was adament what he gets in his garden were the same.

At the cliff tops we added Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Puffin to his list - plus Kestrel & Skylark in the fields behind the cliffs.

Anybody remember when you just started out and such common birds gave such enjoyment and wonder ?

I love Gannets, could watch them all day - but I can't remember the first one I saw.

Mal Skelton

 

[malskelton]

OK, stupid Spurn question, but what's the best way to get to Sammy's Point? Is it park at the Humber Side Road car park and head East, or park at Kilnsea at head West?

Off on Wednesday with a rather long "shopping list" (yellow wag, corn bunt, black redstart, turtle dove, cuckoo and whimbrel being somewhere near the top!), so wish me luck!

Here's hoping you don't get all of your shopping list

I'm on 184 - you're currently on 183 - with a productive Wednesday at Spurn you might be leaving me in your wake !!

I'm hoping that I can add one or two in May - I'm up at RSPB Saltholme at the end of May, hoping the Garganey hang on up there ( also got a sneaky scheme that might see me find a Pied Flycatcher while leaving my wife and mother off shopping !! )

Mal Skelton

 

[Pete Mella]

Hi Pete,

The best way to get to Sammy's Point is to turn off in Easington on the way to Spurn. Turn right at the large parking area near the church, take the winding road past the church. Carry on this "main" road which will take you past the riding school to the parking area at the Humber. You shouldn't have any problem with most of the birds on your list, but Turtle Dove & Black Redstart are the least likely.
Cheers

Cheers Michael, and cheers also for the Sunk Island info which will be put to good use tomorrow morning.

I'm on 184 - you're currently on 183 - with a productive Wednesday at Spurn you might be leaving me in your wake !!

Corn Bunt, Yellow Wag and Whimbrel are three rather glaring bogeys that I'm hoping to mop up with ease tomorrow!

Today I had a day off work and, instead of doing coursework like a sensible person would, decided to check out the cuckoos Simmo mentioned. I soon got onto one perched in a tree at Wharncliffe Chase, and saw another one singing from a boulder near Wharncliffe Lodge, with at least 2 singing males later on (one may have been the same one from the boulder). I didn't get any redstarts, but loads of tree pipits around, plus FINALLY got my first swift of the year on the way.

I had a look down Hillsborough Park on the way back to see if I could find the unseasonal waxwings that are still loitering, and after a good while hunting saw them hiding among the leaves in a tree outside the Sheffield Wednesday ground. Also at least six swifts reeling around too - to see waxwings and swifts at the same time was very odd!

 

[Hotspur]

A wander round the south end of the village provided my first Whitethroats and Reed Warbler of the year plus a few Sedgies in the reedbed. Also a Kestrel that would have been a garden tick had I been at home, a Swift shooting through and probable breeding Grey Wagtails seemingly on feeding trips to a nest on the water treatment works. A large party of Bullfinches (probably the garden ones) were along the railway hedge and a pair of Gadwall look like they are breeding in the field next to the water treatment works. No Cuckoo there yet.

 

[Richard G]

I'm hoping that I can add one or two in May - I'm up at RSPB Saltholme at the end of May
Mal Skelton

Hi Mal,

You'll have to let me know what you think of Saltholme. My wife & I were talking about this as a potential reserve to take our two kids for a day out. Just wondering if it was suitable.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[malskelton]

Hi Mal,

You'll have to let me know what you think of Saltholme. My wife & I were talking about this as a potential reserve to take our two kids for a day out. Just wondering if it was suitable.

Cheers,

Richard

Hi Richard

I've been twice as my parents live near Durham, the first time was February and it was very disappointing. They opened it with only two hides open - both of which looked over new bodies of water and when I was there were devoid of birds.

The second time was last month with all the hides and walkways open and it was superb. The new hides open up what used to be Saltholme pools, which have long histories of attracting 'good' birds. The hides also allow you to look over the drainage channels in the fields - where I saw four different types of geese feeding.

It's only been open a couple of months and you can tell - it's quite barren and open ( as much of the countryside around the area is ) but over time will be a superb site.

I think more birds will be arriving over summer - check the RSPB website, the Durham forum on here or even Teesmouth Bird Club website for updates.

Mal Skelton

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Saw my first swift of the year tonight, high overhead and heading south! Don't blame it, bloody freezing in Leeds tonight.
Hopefully out tomorrow on BTO atlas work, if I wake early enough I might even do my BBS square as well.

 

[Simmo1111]

Took my first ever trip to Old Moor today ..

Loved it and didn,t want to come home ! Its the first time I have ever been to somewhere like that and I will be definitely going back for more.

At first I was a little unsure about what to do and if I should chat to other folk in the hides or remain quiet , I did eventually get chatting to a friendly guy who was quite understanding about my constant ... 'whats that' ...'whats that' .. whats that !!' ....

This 'water bird' business is all new to me ...

Saw Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Redshank, Greylag Geese, Garganey, Mallards, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Tree Sparrow, Bullfinch, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, Robin, Swift, Linnet, Kestrel, Canada Geese, Mute Swan and probably some which I have forgotten already ..

7 of the above were all first timers too which made it a great afternoon ...

'First timers = Lifers' is that right ??

A fox put in a brief appearance too at the far side of one of the lakes which was a nice addition to the afternoons entertainment.

Anyway, the only downside to the visit was that now I want a scope !!

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Took my first ever trip to Old Moor today ..

Loved it and didn,t want to come home ! Its the first time I have ever been to somewhere like that and I will be definitely going back for more.

At first I was a little unsure about what to do and if I should chat to other folk in the hides or remain quiet , I did eventually get chatting to a friendly guy who was quite understanding about my constant ... 'whats that' ...'whats that' .. whats that !!' ....

This 'water bird' business is all new to me ...

Saw Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Redshank, Greylag Geese, Garganey, Mallards, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Tree Sparrow, Bullfinch, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, Robin, Swift, Linnet, Kestrel, Canada Geese, Mute Swan and probably some which I have forgotten already ..

7 of the above were all first timers too which made it a great afternoon ...

'First timers = Lifers' is that right ??

A fox put in a brief appearance too at the far side of one of the lakes which was a nice addition to the afternoons entertainment.

Anyway, the only downside to the visit was that now I want a scope !!

Listing already! 3 Great stuff :t:

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Anyway, the only downside to the visit was that now I want a scope !!

This phrase of course means that you have become addicted, so sit down in the circle and when it's your turn, stand up and say those immortal words.....'My name is Dave and I am a birder!'
We'll give you all the support we can with your addiction ...... but we won't give you money for a scope...LOL

Glad you enjoyed t'Old Moor, it was always my late fathers favourite reserve and I don't visit it as often as I should do.

 

[Simmo1111]

Funny how it eventually gets you like that ...

I,m only on a paltry 87 at the moment though ....

Paltry !!! .... Can I count the chicken I had for tea ???

Well it nearly sounds the same ...

Great !! 88 now !!

 

[BirdFlower]

Anyway, the only downside to the visit was that now I want a scope !!

If you don't want to splash out too much on a scope at the moment, Aldi (or Lidl) are doing a scope for £26! Apparently it's perfecly adequate at 20x magnification, but is soft at x70. The only downside is you'd be paying more for a tripod or hide-clamp!

 

[Articuno]

Hey all! I'm new to Leeds, I moved here with my fiancé at the start of November, I live right in the city center and it's surprising what birds you can find! Our most precious sighting is Kingfishers on the river Aire right in view of our window!

Anyway, this might sound funny but I am looking for a good place around Yorkshire to find Stock Doves and Turtle Doves, I'm quite the pigeon lover all of a sudden (there are no gulls here! Argh!)

I'm also wondering where in Leeds there are good places to birdwatch and if anyone has seen anything interesting/rare lately. I have more time than usual so I would like to spend it finding birds if I can. Thanks for reading!