Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[peterpiper]

Andy, got male smew o'k, he's now moved up to village bay, saw him again, but couldn't find his missus'

Graham, will let you know about Kellington, as you say, best bet for bins will be in focus, have to go to harratts for some bits for car soon, will probably go through to Denby on same day,
as for bean goose, staff in visitor centre non-commital, but Lin Dyke path should be finished now, good luck

pete

 

[Ben M]

thinking of buying some nikon sporter binoculars, has anybody got a pair that I could compare my old russians against, as being tight fisted I don't want to be spending all that money on something that won't be any improvement.

Hi Pete,

If you haven't done so already then checkout some of the threads on the Sporters in the bins forum. I did before I bought mine and it's pretty much spot on... you will need to band them after about a month!

I got mine back in Oct and the cheapest 10x around were those in the sale at Warehouse Express. In hindsight I'd have gone for 8x now.

Cheers,

Ben.

 

[Mike Richardson]

I think the finder of those Corn Buntings should be congratulated. Well done, me!

Some tips for those going to Flamborough:

DO:
1) Get in place to watch the SEOs (lighthouse car park) by mid-afternoon. The birds did not show after 4PM, but were spectacular beforehand
2) Hang around until 5:20PM, when the Barn Owl showed
3) Check field just south of Thornwick Bay for >60 buntings inc. 3+ Corn. They get up on wires and bushes near the unmetalled road. (also Stonechat)
4) Wear wellies to walk between the SEO field and the outer head, on which Twite can be found.

DO NOT:
1) Take a 'quick' detour to see a single Waxwing thereby losing half the day looking for it when it had clearly gone.
2) Take a local's 'advice' that a 'short' walk from Ringbrough to Grimston could produce both Snow and Lapland Buntings. a) There aren't any b) you will have lost the other half of the day. c) the 'guaranteed' consolation prize of waders and sea-birds is a figment of your imagination.
3) Fail to check the leg-colour of slightly brown-backed, deep-calling, light-headed Pinkfeet when 4 of them break off and fly back south straight past you. They are still Pinkfeet but you will have a nagging doubt forever.
4) Waste the whole day wading through stubble fields and leaving no time to sea-watch - 5 scoter, 20 gannet and 500 guillemot at one of Britain's best seawatching spots is pathetic, even in February.

If someone promises me a Lapland Bunting I might even do it again on Sunday. If not hope all have as good a day as I had in the end yesterday. Glorious weather and those owls are just superb!

Graham

Well done with the Corn Buntings Graham. I take it the other buntings were Reed? I also assume you had a good look for the Lapland Buntings near the golf/ ploughed field? I've been told they are still around by at least two local birders, but finding the bloody things can be near impossible.

Hopefully the cliff top paths will have dried up a bit by now. If you are tempted to have a second look for the Laps can you text or call me, as I probably won't get another chance to check my PM before tomorrow afternoon (no internet at my new house yet!).

Have a good weekend everyone.

 

[Hotspur]

There must be a serial stringer who thinks he keeps seeing Bean Geese, more likely to be bar-headed.

 

[flippsy]

I think the finder of those Corn Buntings should be congratulated. Well done, me!

Some tips for those going to Flamborough:

DO:
1) Get in place to watch the SEOs (lighthouse car park) by mid-afternoon. The birds did not show after 4PM, but were spectacular beforehand
2) Hang around until 5:20PM, when the Barn Owl showed
3) Check field just south of Thornwick Bay for >60 buntings inc. 3+ Corn. They get up on wires and bushes near the unmetalled road. (also Stonechat)
4) Wear wellies to walk between the SEO field and the outer head, on which Twite can be found.

DO NOT:
1) Take a 'quick' detour to see a single Waxwing thereby losing half the day looking for it when it had clearly gone.
2) Take a local's 'advice' that a 'short' walk from Ringbrough to Grimston could produce both Snow and Lapland Buntings. a) There aren't any b) you will have lost the other half of the day. c) the 'guaranteed' consolation prize of waders and sea-birds is a figment of your imagination.
3) Fail to check the leg-colour of slightly brown-backed, deep-calling, light-headed Pinkfeet when 4 of them break off and fly back south straight past you. They are still Pinkfeet but you will have a nagging doubt forever.
4) Waste the whole day wading through stubble fields and leaving no time to sea-watch - 5 scoter, 20 gannet and 500 guillemot at one of Britain's best seawatching spots is pathetic, even in February.

If someone promises me a Lapland Bunting I might even do it again on Sunday. If not hope all have as good a day as I had in the end yesterday. Glorious weather and those owls are just superb!

Graham

We followed your thinking and went to Flamborough today - fantastic day out! We stayed on Flamborough Head though and didn't go after your buntings, sad to say. We were happy to see loads of guillemot, cormorant, oystercatchers, turnstones, redshank, curlew (5), fulmars (on cliffs in pairs), gannet, and herring and blackbacked gulls too of course. Skylarks were on the field near the carpark. My "better" half found a stonechat, photographed it - but didn't tell me about it :-C (he says he thought it was a bullfinch - not very well educated yet). I reckon I saw the twite, spinning off the cliff edges though. Didn't catch any SEO's possibly due to a fine plastic owl kite being flown in car park at about 3.15pm!! (and some model cars or something being raced nearby! at the same time) It also didn't help that jet-ski prats roared through the floating sea-birds periodically and microlite prats disturbed the flying ones! That's what you get on gorgeous days out I suppose.
Thanks for posting the tips in the thread though!

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Flippsy,
That's what the Yorkshire thread is all about. Tell other Tykes what's about, where and when.
Hotspur,
There's been a bar-headed goose at Fairburn now and then for about 4 years. Always with canada geese, and nearly always at the Lin Dyke end of the reserve. As a lot of the 'dude' birders visit this end of the reserve and don't check in at the visitor centre you can get funny reports. I've got Fairburn reports going back to '94 and Bean Goose is not regular, only reports are for a single in '97 and a flyover of 7 birds in '98.

 

[bitterntwisted]

Glad you had a good day, Flippsy - nice list - I was myself surprised at the number of Fulmar, Gannet and Guillemot about - I didn't know they returned ready for breeding this early. And sorry you missed the Stonechat - should have put that in my tips if the other half can't be trusted. Shame the owls weren't about - they're not shy but I guess it was pretty busy there. They don't need to hunt for long, either - that field must be full of voles - all 3 owls I saw caught something almost immediately.

Corn Buntings were with Yellowhammers as well as Reed Buntings, Mike. I spent almost an hour at that stubble north of the golf course, but the only positive IDs I got of the birds on there were Skylark and Linnet. The field undulates and the stubble is long and the field is so big and the flocks are mixed - I'm sure someone with experience of Laps could call them but all I get is possibles - can't get to go through them on the deck which is a requisite for a lifer, I reckon. Perhaps you or someone could put some millet down in an area near the path which you can watch while hunkered down close?

I'll play tomorrow by ear, Mike / James. It's likely to be pretty busy up there and I've had so many goes at Laps now it's just dispiriting. But I may yet be tempted and will give you a call.

Graham

 

[seggs]

hi all
i know you must had a few wanders here on this site since the diver turned up..
any local knowledge to the site and surrounding areas would be really gratefully accepted and responded upon..
cheers
A excited south tyneside birder going on his first long distance twitch!!
steve egg..

 

[bitterntwisted]

hi all
i know you must had a few wanders here on this site since the diver turned up..
any local knowledge to the site and surrounding areas would be really gratefully accepted and responded upon..
cheers
A excited south tyneside birder going on his first long distance twitch!!
steve egg..

Not much else on the lake with the diver except a few Goldeneye, GCG and dabchick, and lots of Coot. I'm not sure the HDNS will let you near the nature reserve lake, but it held a female Scaup wednesday. There were also well over 100 pink-feet moving about, and GSW, Kingfisher, Yellowhammer near the hide.

Best reserve nearby for you coming from north is probably Nosterfield, although I haven't been there for a while and have heard there can be disruption from shooting in the area. If you do go, check the trees at the left from the NR hide - a female peregrine was regular from Sept-Dec making runs across both lakes.

Graham

 

[seggs]

Not much else on the lake with the diver except a few Goldeneye, GCG and dabchick, and lots of Coot. I'm not sure the HDNS will let you near the nature reserve lake, but it held a female Scaup wednesday. There were also well over 100 pink-feet moving about, and GSW, Kingfisher, Yellowhammer near the hide.

Best reserve nearby for you coming from north is probably Nosterfield, although I haven't been there for a while and have heard there can be disruption from shooting in the area. If you do go, check the trees at the left from the NR hide - a female peregrine was regular from Sept-Dec making runs across both lakes.

Graham

cheers for that bittern...

 

[bitterntwisted]

19:10 03/02/07 Snow Bunting E Yorks Aldbrough
50 in the second field north of the caravan park

Now how would you feel if you'd traipsed the three miles south of the caravan park, and back again!

 

[Keith Dickinson]

19:10 03/02/07 Snow Bunting E Yorks Aldbrough
50 in the second field north of the caravan park

Now how would you feel if you'd traipsed the three miles south of the caravan park, and back again!

Keeping it printable...absolutely gutted, insert anglo saxon expletives whereever you wish

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

more patching

went down Rodley yesterday. Usual collection of birds down there but still enjoyable in the winter sunshine. Some of the trees down there are now in blossom too...

One of the 200 finch flock attached. Not had a lifer now for nearly a week!!

 

[pauljones]

Hebers Ghyl

Following my earlier winge I headed off to Hebers to enjoy some local birds. Usual tits (LT, B, G, C and a poss Marsh but only a glimpse and couldn't relocate) and more Treecreepers than you can shake a stick at (6). At the top a pair of Mistle Thrush were feeding on the grass by the reservoir allowing me to spend some time really watching them (a bird that's never given me good views before).

Plus the usual woodland birds it was a beautiful way to start the day,
Paul

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Purple (local) Patch

Superb morning at Rodley today. First off chiffchaff still in the car park, and then moved to the first hide. Made the false assumption I was sat next to two dudes in hide one who immediately put me onto a kingfisher and then within a further 30 seconds they spotted a water rail Rodley lifer! It showed for 20 minutes but always at distance. Carried on moving up to screen two and there were excellent numbers of wildfowl the highlights being 2 wigeon, 9 gadwall, 6 teal and 3 shoveller. Whilst I was there a long tailed tit landed on top of the brush about 10 inches from my face. Thought the others may even land on my head.

Well nothing would top those first 30 minuted but three bullfinches tried there best. Up to managers gap and there' still a goldcrest with the linnets greenfinch and chaffinch. They get a lot of reed bunts on the feeders which is good to see. Then decided to head back down to the pools and was treated to a further two kingfishers. I watched them for over an hour before I decided to nurse my hangover indoors.

Can't beat patching right now. Bring on spring.

 

[Mike Richardson]

Superb morning at Rodley today. First off chiffchaff still in the car park, and then moved to the first hide. Made the false assumption I was sat next to two dudes in hide one who immediately put me onto a kingfisher and then within a further 30 seconds they spotted a water rail Rodley lifer! It showed for 20 minutes but always at distance. Carried on moving up to screen two and there were excellent numbers of wildfowl the highlights being 2 wigeon, 9 gadwall, 6 teal and 3 shoveller. Whilst I was there a long tailed tit landed on top of the brush about 10 inches from my face. Thought the others may even land on my head.

Well nothing would top those first 30 minuted but three bullfinches tried there best. Up to managers gap and there' still a goldcrest with the linnets greenfinch and chaffinch. They get a lot of reed bunts on the feeders which is good to see. Then decided to head back down to the pools and was treated to a further two kingfishers. I watched them for over an hour before I decided to nurse my hangover indoors.

Can't beat patching right now. Bring on spring.

Nice one Marcus.

You really made the right decision not to come to Flamborough today. Went this afternoon and it was absolutely packed out with visitors and their dogs.

Managed to find Graham's bunting flock at Thornwick, although I could only make out Yellowhammers and Reed. They kept getting flushed so I gave up and went for a drive into the countryside where I saw loads of winter thrushes, Lapwings, RL Partridge and a Brown Hare.

However, an early morning start at Filey Brigg was much more productive. A very close GN Diver was the highlight. Also good were 2 Grey Seal, Purple Sand, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Knot, Curlew and the usual waders and gulls.

Will try again for the Lapland and Corn Buntings later in the week.

 

[Hotspur]

Had a nice morning ringing but nothing spectacular. Tree Sparrows, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Wren and Great Tit. Bonus of having a trainer confirmed so am gonna apply for my trainee lisence. Didn't get to Flamboro until 3 but was crawling with Chavs and loud music so turned straight round and went to Bempton to get a few easy year ticks in Gannet, Guillemot (in summer plumage) and Fulmar. Was practising my photography at the feeders there. Couple of nice shots of Collared Dove that i might post.

 

[bitterntwisted]

Nice one Marcus.

You really made the right decision not to come to Flamborough today. Went this afternoon and it was absolutely packed out with visitors and their dogs.

Managed to find Graham's bunting flock at Thornwick, although I could only make out Yellowhammers and Reed. They kept getting flushed so I gave up and went for a drive into the countryside where I saw loads of winter thrushes, Lapwings, RL Partridge and a Brown Hare.

However, an early morning start at Filey Brigg was much more productive. A very close GN Diver was the highlight. Also good were 2 Grey Seal, Purple Sand, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Knot, Curlew and the usual waders and gulls.

Will try again for the Lapland and Corn Buntings later in the week.

Sorry you didn't find the cornbunts, Mike, but sounds like a good day nonetheless. I feared a chavorama and it seems I did well not to go. Popped into Fairburn and got Peterpiper as a BF200 tick and watched the displaying Goldeneye and a nice male Stonechat for a while. Nothing else noteworthy, really, but such nice weather I wandered in a daze for a while enjoying Willow Tits, Curlews, and Goldfinches but it was getting quite crowded there so I went straight on to Wheldrake.

Wheldrake was glorious! Black-necked Grebe showing well and just starting to moult into summer plumage was lovely, dozens of romancing Pintail, some Pinkfeet and Goosanders, Goldeneye, Tufties, Pochards showing a previously un-noticed beauty, thousands of Wigeon and Teal and loads and loads and loads of waders - a few Blackwits, Ruff, Dunlin, Snipe, a fleeting possible Jack Snipe, and thousands of sky-filling Golden Plover and Lapwing. It really is quite magical there when it's sunny and quiet and the birds are wheeling around in huge flocks. I had the whole bottom end of the reserve to myself and I might have been in 18th century rural England with not a sound except the roar of the birds wings as they all took off together. At one point I realised I was enjoying the sheer beauty of a Greylag in sunlit flight. Its forewings are a dazzling steely blue. Yes, it was THAT good!

Good luck bunting hunting, Mike. I'm off to Norfolk at the end of the week so can't lend a hand.

All the best,
Graham

 

[Lawts]

Well I had an odd day. Not really birds but please read on. I had a walk along the river at Tadcaster. Saw a Grey Heron fishing. Not much else as far as birds go but.......I was examining where the flood water had been and looking at what it had deposited as it had receeded and I found a fossilised jaw. I don't know what the animal is, but I suspect it has been hidden and preserved in the mud of the river bed for years. There are still a set of large teeth, and the bone is so old it actually looks like wood. Now it could just be a horse from about 1984, or it could be some dinosaur. Anyone know where I might take it to have it aged and examined?

I have also just noted that the PD flew off this morning. Remarkable, I thought it would be there for ages. I spent all of yesterday trying to photograph it. Rubbish shots but a lovely day in the sun chasing it up and down. I certainly couldn't blame my poor attempts on the weather. I'll check out Losh. just in case.

What about my Lawtosorus Rex. Please let me know if you know any natural history contacts.

 

[peterpiper]

Well the path is open again to lindyke but nice thick mud round the gate,
met Graham (bittern twisted) which made the day, smashing bloke,
birds?? nowt special, one male moorhen with a red patch that was really glowing, if that didn't get him a mate nothing will.
very busy people wise but not bird wise, didn't get the stonechats (should have been here five minutes ago!)
also met a couple of blokes who'd been to Farnham for the diver but it had gone,sad.
pete