Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Andrew Tongue]

Should have mentioned that a Turtle Dove was singing near the car park at Pat Haven this morning. My second for Yorkshire for the year.

 

[Steve Lister]

I had that one a fortnight ago - and two juvs nearby.

Steve

 

[Steve Lister]

Just completed a timed tetrad for the atlas, out between Allerton Bywater and Fairburn Ings.

Didn't the TTV period finish on July 31st ??

I had calling Water Rails in that tetrad a fortnight ago - put it in as a Roving Record. Also Gadwall with small young.

Steve

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Didn't the TTV period finish on July 31st ??

I had calling Water Rails in that tetrad a fortnight ago - put it in as a Roving Record. Also Gadwall with small young.

Steve

It did Steve, I got it wrong...can't read a calendar properly. Been in touch with Dawn and I'll be doing the same tetrads again next year ...at the correct times!

 

[Simmo1111]

08/08/09

Another good day at Old Moor today.....

3 Snipe were on the Wader Scrape along with the usual Common Terns and Black Headed Gulls. A welcome visitor was a single Common Gull. The customary selection of ducks and geese were present along with a single Dunlin and a Ringed Plover. A Redshank and a couple of Green Sandpipers were on Wath Ings. There was a report of a Marsh Harrier via the 'walkie talkies' but sadly I missed that one. A hunting Sparrowhawk spooked the feeding 'flocks' and great views of a sunlit Kestrel circling right above the hide was great too. Pied Wags, Linnets and Goldfinches also visited during the day. A dozen or so Sand Martins were spotted passing over the scrape and apparently a mudbank is going to be constructed to facilitate them soon.

Saving the best until last ..

Saw my very first Bittern today as it flew lazily over a nearby reedbed and settled out of sight. if I had walked into the hide 10 seconds later I would have missed it .. Right place at the right time and all that ....

Back tomorrow for more ... or is that 'Moor ?' ......

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

From Fairburn. A Green Veined White, really pretty close up.

 

[Mike Richardson]

A quick walk at Hilla Green this afternoon produced the usual Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail but no Dipper. A couple of young Stoats playing together was an unexpected bonus.

At another site in N. Yorks I came across a very distant, but large Accipiter calling to, and chasing another bird of the same species.

 

[Pete Mella]

Caspian Gull reported among the growing LBBG roost at Redmires Reservoir in Sheffield yesterday (photo at the sightings page at http://www.sbsg.org.uk ), with a couple of YLGs on Saturday. May be worth a look for any gull-watchers at the moment.

Saw practically no interesting birds myself over the weekend, but got plenty of butterfly pics on my blog if anyone's interested!

 

[Pete Mella]

Saw my very first Bittern today as it flew lazily over a nearby reedbed and settled out of sight. if I had walked into the hide 10 seconds later I would have missed it .. Right place at the right time and all that ....

Back tomorrow for more ... or is that 'Moor ?' ......

Good work! I got my first bittern at Old Moor too last year, distant view but nice to get. It's a much bigger challenge to find them there than at Potteric.

 

[stanacko]

Caspian Gull reported among the growing LBBG roost at Redmires Reservoir in Sheffield yesterday (photo at the sightings page at http://www.sbsg.org.uk ), with a couple of YLGs on Saturday. May be worth a look for any gull-watchers at the moment.

Saw practically no interesting birds myself over the weekend, but got plenty of butterfly pics on my blog if anyone's interested!

Hi Pete,
Just had a look at the Butterfly pics on your blog nice & sharp was the camera bog standard or did you have a t-con attached, hope you do,nt mind me asking.
Many thanks,
Stan.

 

[Pete Mella]

Hi Pete,
Just had a look at the Butterfly pics on your blog nice & sharp was the camera bog standard or did you have a t-con attached, hope you do,nt mind me asking.
Many thanks,
Stan.

Hi Stan - bog standard handheld with no adaptor, on aperture priority and on macro. In good light like this weekend had the FZ18 is a camera that can work miracles!

 

[Simmo1111]

Good work! I got my first bittern at Old Moor too last year, distant view but nice to get. It's a much bigger challenge to find them there than at Potteric.

Thanks for that Pete,

Thats an advantage of being a relatively new birder .. Plenty of room for more firsts !!!

No Bittern on Sunday though but I did watch a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk having a disagreement over the Wader Scrape.

Dunlin, Ruff, and half a dozen Snipe also appeared among the usual Lapwings and the like with Green sandpiper and Common Sandpiper too.

Getting a bit quieter now until the new arrivals turn up but I couldn,t help notice that there seems so be a 'natural progression' to moths, butterflies and flowers etc by many people who start off birding.

Looks like I,ll be whipping the old teleconverter off soon and buying a reference book or two !!

Old Moor does seem to have plenty to keep me occupied in the plant and insect department too ..

More to learn !!

 

[Pete Mella]

Getting a bit quieter now until the new arrivals turn up but I couldn,t help notice that there seems so be a 'natural progression' to moths, butterflies and flowers etc by many people who start off birding.

I think it's what keeps us all sane during the relative inactivity of high summer! Even if there's no birds there's still plenty to keep you entertained...

 

[Andrew Tongue]

Golden Plover numbers building up on the Humber off Paull Holme Strays - 3,500 yesterday evening. Also 44 Grey Plover and a juv Med Gull off Saltend.

 

[knocker7800]

Red Cheeked Cordon-Bleu at blacktoft?!?

 

[BirdFlower]

Red Cheeked Cordon-Bleu at blacktoft?!?

Maybe someone slapped Gordon Ramsay on both cheeks when he had the nerve to visit the area! :t:

 

[tophillbirder]

Thanks THB - what time is best?

Sorry not to get back earlier, first chance to go on line for a few days. No timing really. Very early may avoid disturbance from dog walkers, evening gets roosting birds although Golden Plovers not in yet. High tide might bring in birds that feed along the river edges. As Michael mentioned still a bit quiet. Had Blackwit and Ruff on Sunday evening and only Curlew last night. Having a look again later today.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Sorry not to get back earlier, first chance to go on line for a few days. No timing really. Very early may avoid disturbance from dog walkers, evening gets roosting birds although Golden Plovers not in yet. High tide might bring in birds that feed along the river edges. As Michael mentioned still a bit quiet. Had Blackwit and Ruff on Sunday evening and only Curlew last night. Having a look again later today.

Thanks - What about Hornsea for the little gulls?

 

[tophillbirder]

Thanks - What about Hornsea for the little gulls?

A few last night but didn't see any on the rocks off Kirkholme Point. Usually as numbers increase in September many sit on the jetties which give good photo opportunities.
The Blackwit was back on Swinemoor tonight and there is a Egyptian Goose at High Eske NR.
Interesting report of Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Seamer Carr. Only previous Yorks records {I'm aware of} are in Hull at Oak Rd Pond and Bransholme fishing pond. Also only previously seen in v.hot weather unlike today. Not questioning the sighting just interested in details as several county dragonfly listers will be interested.
HVWG site is down at the moment.

 

[BirdFlower]

Thanks - What about Hornsea for the little gulls?

It was the Little Gulls I was referring to. I think numbers build during the day towards the evening roost, as I couldn't find any at 10am one day last week.