Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Keith Dickinson]

Visited Timble last night, no owls unfortunately but I did see several woodcocks, all flying from conifers across the clear fell into the new growth north of the clear fell area. None of the birds were 'roding', just making that peculiar little squeak that they do.

This morning I did my tetrad square at Fairburn, it covers the western end of the reserve and into the Allerton Bywater area. Cracking numbers of willow warblers, but only 6 whitethroats and I couldn't find the lesser 'throat today.
A cuckoo flying across the t'other side of the river was a great bird but in the wrong place to make the survey, the square ends just before the river. A total of 45 species were counted with approximately 350 individual birds making for a decent 2 hours walk.

 

[Pete Mella]

Anyone gone for the Dotterels at Stanage Edge (stradding the border with Derbys)? They're one of those annoying "why am I stuck at work all day...?" birds!

 

[Hotspur]

Make sure there's still some on Sunday!

Would be the 2nd spring(ish) Hume's for a BF meet - only other rares have been Amur & Black Kite

 

[DOC REED]

hi guys,

Got the day to myself tomorrow so I thought I might use it to get a couple of ticks if possible. Anyone know any reliable sites for any of the following?

Tree pipit
Whimbrel
Wood Warbler

I thought perhaps Wheldrake maybe a good shout for the whimbrel and perhaps tree pip but open to any suggestions.

I will let you know how I get on!

Cheers fellas

My understanding of whimbrel at Wheldrake is that they largely ROOSt there so a late evening visit might be best

 

[Hotspur]

The odd Whimbrel will knock about during the day (thats how I got my lifer a few years ago) but they tend to venture across the valley during the day.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

I only heard cuckoo at Fairburn this morning, couldn't mimic the call to try and get it closer. Did get garden warbler nearby though so that wasn't so bad. As much as I stared intently the reed warblers evaded my eye but did get a showy sedge warb near Lin Dyke hide. Thought I heard lesser white near the roadside but the wind made it awkward to say for certain as the singning was faint.
Moved on to Swilly for greenshank, avocet and med gull but by then the weather had deteriorated and was thankful for entering the hide and using RL's scope. Cheers.

Chris.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

B*gger, it seems that if I'd hung around another half hour I could have seen black tern at Swilly. I had a feeling something good would come along after I'd gone.

 

[darrenward]

B*gger, it seems that if I'd hung around another half hour I could have seen black tern at Swilly. I had a feeling something good would come along after I'd gone.

Well Chris, it wouldn't have been classic views from the hide, but from near Methley Bridge it was perfect (and on the deck close), after todays movement that why I went....

 

[Keith Dickinson]

I'd a good view of a cuckoo flying over the fields the other side of the river Aire at Allerton Bywater this morning around 11.00. I first glimpsed what I thought was a raptor, so hurried to get the bins on it expecting to see a hobby or something like that.... well I can hope. I was surprised when I realised it was a cuckoo. Once again I was struck by how like a raptor their flight jizz is. No doubt the bird was on the way to parasitise some hapless mipit nest.

I only heard cuckoo at Fairburn this morning, couldn't mimic the call to try and get it closer. Did get garden warbler nearby though so that wasn't so bad. As much as I stared intently the reed warblers evaded my eye but did get a showy sedge warb near Lin Dyke hide. Thought I heard lesser white near the roadside but the wind made it awkward to say for certain as the singning was faint.
Moved on to Swilly for greenshank, avocet and med gull but by then the weather had deteriorated and was thankful for entering the hide and using RL's scope. Cheers.

Chris.

 

[p-my]

If you mean Thorne Moor, it's going to be featured in the June issue of Birdwatching Magazine - explaining what to see, where. Here's the directions I give the class from Hull - just ignore the 1st bit:

Thorne Moors Grid reference SE 702155 (car park)
From Hull take the M62, and leave the motorway at junction 35 onto the M18 and after 5 miles, exit at junction 6 signed Thorne (A614). At the roundabout take the first sharp left exit signed Vehicle Distribution Centre. You will pass a large BMW depot on your right. After 1½ miles turn right at a ‘T’ junction and then right again at another ‘T’ junction close to a railway line. Pass over the level crossing & enter the village of Moorends. Look for Grange Road which is on the left and proceed to the end where there is a large locked metal gate across the road to Thorne colliery. If the Sportsfield is open park just inside the gates on the left, otherwise there is limited parking in front of the metal colliery gates. Insect Repellent is advisable, especially during evenings. Do not wear open-toed sandals at this location.

Although the area looks dodgy, I've left my car there more than 10 times, and it's never been broken into. You have to walk c0.5 miles to get to reserve from there & then over a mile to the viewing platform.

You can find a map & further directions of the area at:
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/HumberheadNNR05_tcm6-1229.pdf

Thanks for your response Michael.

Regards

Pete

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Out this morning with the dogs and came across what looked every bit a sedge warbler but paler and with less black markings. Didn't see it for long to get a better view but it's call was what alerted me to it's presence. Sounding like a mistle thrush's rattley call but very short as it skulked through some brambles, it seemed to start singing but was short or cut short and sounded like sedge warbler. Saw it for no more than 30 secs before it disappeared altogether but clearly for only a couple of seconds. Common sense says sedge but there was just something a little off about how it looked. Had a look for one of the lesser whitethroats and it was still there so hopefully it'll stay. Other than the usual had one roe deer and four hares.

Chris.

 

[Secret Twitcher]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll be sure to get myself to skipwith and wheldrake at some point. Had a very productive day at the raptor viewpoint last year with both goshawk and honey buzzard putting on good shows so I'll be back there next month or so and will hopefully catch up with tree pip and crossbill there too.

As it happened I got the dreaded call from work on weds so my plans to go tick hunting had to be scrapped! made up for it with a trip to wintersett last night. 3 cracking black terns along with 3 arctic.

The recent winds had me planning a trip to spurn at the weekend but the Teminck's at Potteric could tempt me down there instead decisions decisions!

Noticed garden warbler holding territory whilst out walking the dog on stocksmoor common this week.

 

[Birding Rover]

FAO of BIRDFLOWER.

Did you get anywhere with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with regards to the incedent you reported the other week?

Stu.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Yesterday when I did the tetrad for the bird atlas at Allerton Bywater/Fairburn, I found Letchmire Meadows at long last. All the years I've been going to Fairburn and seeing reference to this area and not knowing where it was.

 

[BirdFlower]

FAO of BIRDFLOWER.

Did you get anywhere with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with regards to the incedent you reported the other week?

Stu.

Someone from YWT contacted me & I sent them photographs of the dogs & their walkers - it's upto them now. The same walker was with his dog (& wife) in the same place the following week - photographed them both this time & sent that off. I've finished with that site (class-wise) for another year, so probably won't see them again. What I did notice was that only one of the 3 entrance/exits to the sensitive area had "keep out dog" signs, so new ones may be an idea. However, I did get the impression that those particular people believed that those signs applied to other dog-walkers, not to themselves!

 

[tophillbirder]

As i remember it was the first for the uk at the time but when bb reviewed records of Specky's in the 80's or 90's they accepted it as a Subalpine Warbler! I could go into the Spurn log for 68 but i can't be arsed at the moment!

Just read the 1st for Britain write up in BB. The finders where Barry Spence [who we all know] and F.C.Grimble and I believe ID'd [or confirmed] by John Cudworth.
Greenshank on Swinemoor this evening and Black Tern still Hornsea Mere [7 last night]. Caught up with 7 Black Terns at Tophill last night when the 3 Black-necked Grebes were still present. No news today but should take in Tophill tomorrow.

 

[Mike Richardson]

Just got back from Hornsea Mere after a mad dash for the WW Black Tern (mis-identified Black Tern!) Three Black Terns were nice as was a Barn Owl on the way home.

 

[malskelton]

If anybody visits North Cave or hears anything about the Garganey - would they possibly be able to report on here.

I'm considering having an extended lunch hour ( and a bit ) to get down there, drake Garganey is one of my bogey birds and I can potentially be there in half an hour from work

Thanks in advance

Mal Skelton

 

[BirdFlower]

If anybody visits North Cave or hears anything about the Garganey - would they possibly be able to report on here.

I'm considering having an extended lunch hour ( and a bit ) to get down there, drake Garganey is one of my bogey birds and I can potentially be there in half an hour from work

Thanks in advance

Mal Skelton

I'm going to be there from about 12, but won't be able to report on here - do you have a number to text to? I'm hoping a Black Tern may pass through if the rain stops by then!

Don't you do any ordinary relaxed birdwatching? ie not chasing bogey birds? - just wondered!

 

[malskelton]

I'm going to be there from about 12, but won't be able to report on here - do you have a number to text to? I'm hoping a Black Tern may pass through if the rain stops by then!

Don't you do any ordinary relaxed birdwatching? ie not chasing bogey birds? - just wondered!

I've just sent you a PM with my current mobile number - would appreciate a text. Not sure whether my work commitments allow an extended lunch hour, but will ask the question.

I don't get the chance to do ordinary relaxed birdwatching - FT job, 1 year old daughter, U11 Football coach .......... the hours just disappear

Good luck at North Cave

Mal Skelton