Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[awhitehead2011]

Ospreys x2 between York and Crockey Hill this pm ,nice patch tick! Crappy pics attached;I hate my 7D!!

Tremendous double for the York Area :clap:

http://duffbirder.blogspot.com/

 

[Lawts]

I read the same, Dave, and was not embarassed to stand, Collins in hand, ticking off why it was AGP and not PGP. (I think too many people are afraid of getting the books out and looking like beginners)

I saw the primary projection pretty clearly yesterday, albeit at a few hundred yards, and there is considerable extension beyond the tertials, which I understand would be extreme for PGP. It also doesn't appear particularly stilt-legged, and isn't dwarfed by the EGPs, and in flight I couldn't see any projection of the toes in a decent scope view.

I also heard it call, but checking the xeno-canto recordings last night I must say I was surprised how similar AGP and PGP sounded. I could fit the call as I remebered it to either, TBH.

The calls are linked to in this thread on the other channel,... http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6882,... which suggests that ID of this pair is less straightforward than the books would perhaps suggest.

Graham

Graham, that's good to hear - you've had much better views than I did. Ironic after all that rain yesterday that the sun was a nuisance tonight.

I was only getting a front on view in the time I had available, but to be honest in the conditions it wouldn't have mattered if it had turned round and showed its rear end - must have been c.3-400 yards away tonight into the sun.

 

[bitterntwisted]

Ospreys x2 between York and Crockey Hill this pm ,nice patch tick!

Very nice! Both yours? Both together?

 

[DOC REED]

ospreys

Very nice! Both yours? Both together?

Yep ! Both together ,both mine ,all mine!Being mobbed by a buzzard too.I piled back to Bank Island thinking they might reappear ,but no such joy.But a truly amazing site ,there are quite a lot of anglers ponds in area ,perhaps thats what brought them in.B

 

[wolfbirder]

The Rustic Bunting was very diffcult yesterday afternoon at Flamborough North Landing, it may have shown well in the morning when the sun angle would be better from St Davids Lane though.

I arrived at 1pm and was the only birder there, though was quickly joined by a second. The isolated bush the bird somtimes returns to lies 100 yards across the field seen through hedgerow gaps from St David's Lane. We had a couple of reed buntings and a dunnock on it, whilst a redstart and tree sparrows kept us entertained. Then between 1.30pm and 2pm, with only another 4 other birders present, the Rustic Bunting twice popped up on the bush top briefly, having emerged from the lower right hand side of the thicket. The bird possessed a more peaked crown and rufous flank streaking, and whilst astride the favoured bush it pumped its tail repeatedly revealing white tail sides.

But after these two brief adequate sightings it returned to the field and by 4pm at least it had not returned to the thicket, feeding low in the grass instead. Someone walked gently into the field just after 4pm and it (or probably it) flew north to land on the other side of the viking pub along the driveway to northwick bay. Don't think it was relocated despite the efforts of around a dozen frustrated birders. Plenty of Reed Buntings, Linnets, Tree Sparrows there.

Sparrowhawks, Kestrel and Merlin hunted the nervous finch and pigeon flocks in the fields, providing some entertainment.

I was really pleased to connect at last with this species, this has been a real bogey bird for me for years, having been within 20 metres twice at Spurn and dipped. Hope it lingers longer for those that failed to see it, I would have appreciated better views but those I got today were better than the others achieved so I am grateful. Was it worth the £90 in petrol spent over Saturday and yesterday trying to see it??..................:eek!:

 

[schiffornis]

The Rustic Bunting was very diffcult yesterday afternoon at Flamborough North Landing, it may have shown well in the morning when the sun angle would be better from St Davids Lane though.

I arrived at 1pm and was the only birder there, though was quickly joined by a second. The isolated bush the bird somtimes returns to lies 100 yards across the field seen through hedgerow gaps from St David's Lane. We had a couple of reed buntings and a dunnock on it, whilst a redstart and tree sparrows kept us entertained. Then between 1.30pm and 2pm, with only another 4 other birders present, the Rustic Bunting twice popped up on the bush top briefly, having emerged from the lower right hand side of the thicket. The bird possessed a more peaked crown and rufous flank streaking, and whilst astride the favoured bush it pumped its tail repeatedly revealing white tail sides.

But after these two brief adequate sightings it returned to the field and by 4pm at least it had not returned to the thicket, feeding low in the grass instead. Someone walked gently into the field just after 4pm and it (or probably it) flew north to land on the other side of the viking pub along the driveway to northwick bay. Don't think it was relocated despite the efforts of around a dozen frustrated birders. Plenty of Reed Buntings, Linnets, Tree Sparrows there.

Sparrowhawks, Kestrel and Merlin hunted the nervous finch and pigeon flocks in the fields, providing some entertainment.

I was really pleased to connect at last with this species, this has been a real bogey bird for me for years, having been within 20 metres twice at Spurn and dipped. Hope it lingers longer for those that failed to see it, I would have appreciated better views but those I got today were better than the others achieved so I am grateful. Was it worth the £90 in petrol spent over Saturday and yesterday trying to see it??..................:eek!:

Hi Wolfbirder, glad you got to see it, in answer to your previous post on Saturday i had it briefly distantly in the hedge near north moor farm (there was a few Reed Bunting in the general area too - though these were lower in the hedge) at which point they all flew out of my field of view ( i was behind the hedge on the lane), I had no further sign of it - or any other reed buntings for a while - presumably they were all in the wild bird cover crop.

 

[Dozey]

Just logged in for the first time for ages (well, second, but hardly read anything the other day) and seen the debate about organised flushes - which I've never heard of until today. I have a view, but won't express it - whichever way it goes it won't change anyone else's mind. But I think it's worth reminding folk that there is another type of birdwatcher - my type, who likes to go along to places, see what birds (and other wildlife) are there and take pleasure from seeing and if possible photographing anything, or, indeed, from seeing nothing. I am on no network to tell me what's where. I don't want to know. I get more pleasure from seeing, say, a green woodpecker I wasn't expecting than a tufted puffin I was. At what I call the "zoo reserves" (the ones where you're organised and have to walk through a shop and pay or show your card and wear a ticket, all of which gives the impression the birds have been sort of organised for you and aren't wild at all) I avoid looking at the notices telling me what's there and I'm irritated if someone asks me "have you seen the.....?" Actually, I avoid going there much at all, tho you have to, occasionally, because there are often good birds to be seen.
The result is, in 50 years, I've identified fewer than 250 UK species (don't know the exact number) but had a huge amount of pleasure.
My point is - where do I fit in to people's views about what should and shouldn't happen when I go birdwatching? If I happen to turn up to a place which has got onto the twitching circuit, is someone going to try to "police" me? I suppose it's a good idea to warn me in case I unknowingly disturb an exhausted rarity, much as it's a good idea to warn about ground-nesting birds. But please, please, don't assume I'm there as a "twitcher". Odds are, if I'd known there were likely to be hoards of camouflaged folk flocking about, I'd have gone somewhere else. I assume there are many others like me, but we normally tend to keep quiet and very rarely access sites like this.
Incidentally - I'm not criticising anyone - just reminding you I and my like exist.

 

[Mike Richardson]

The Rustic Bunting was very diffcult yesterday afternoon at Flamborough North Landing, it may have shown well in the morning when the sun angle would be better from St Davids Lane though.

I arrived at 1pm and was the only birder there, though was quickly joined by a second. The isolated bush the bird somtimes returns to lies 100 yards across the field seen through hedgerow gaps from St David's Lane. We had a couple of reed buntings and a dunnock on it, whilst a redstart and tree sparrows kept us entertained. Then between 1.30pm and 2pm, with only another 4 other birders present, the Rustic Bunting twice popped up on the bush top briefly, having emerged from the lower right hand side of the thicket. The bird possessed a more peaked crown and rufous flank streaking, and whilst astride the favoured bush it pumped its tail repeatedly revealing white tail sides.

But after these two brief adequate sightings it returned to the field and by 4pm at least it had not returned to the thicket, feeding low in the grass instead. Someone walked gently into the field just after 4pm and it (or probably it) flew north to land on the other side of the viking pub along the driveway to northwick bay. Don't think it was relocated despite the efforts of around a dozen frustrated birders. Plenty of Reed Buntings, Linnets, Tree Sparrows there.

Sparrowhawks, Kestrel and Merlin hunted the nervous finch and pigeon flocks in the fields, providing some entertainment.

I was really pleased to connect at last with this species, this has been a real bogey bird for me for years, having been within 20 metres twice at Spurn and dipped. Hope it lingers longer for those that failed to see it, I would have appreciated better views but those I got today were better than the others achieved so I am grateful. Was it worth the £90 in petrol spent over Saturday and yesterday trying to see it??..................:eek!:

Hi Wolfbirder

I must have met you yesterday as I was the bloke in the black pick-up that turned up shortly after you.

It seems we were the last people to see the bird. Shame it didn't show again for the increasing crowds.

 

[andy hood]

Went down to Great Heck this morn for the Plover, it apparently flew off about 5 mins before i got there!, i stayed till just after 12 but there was no sign of it on the flood , the Ruff and Egyptian Goose where still there, along with a big flock of Golden Plover, i did get a lifer while there though , had a Raven fly south right overhead!!

 

[wolfbirder]

Hi Wolfbirder

I must have met you yesterday as I was the bloke in the black pick-up that turned up shortly after you.

It seems we were the last people to see the bird. Shame it didn't show again for the increasing crowds.

Hello Skink,

Yes I was the follicly challenged chap in work clothes, in a clapped-out but highly reliable Punto.

You will have to excuse my enthusiasm yesterday, after trying so hard for so long (this was my 2nd visit in 3 days) to see this species. Views were not great but clinching I feel. Really thought it would show again but it was'nt to be.

Hopefully be back to the east coast if predicted easterlies materialise over the weekend.

 

[wolfbirder]

Just logged in for the first time for ages (well, second, but hardly read anything the other day) and seen the debate about organised flushes - which I've never heard of until today. I have a view, but won't express it - whichever way it goes it won't change anyone else's mind. But I think it's worth reminding folk that there is another type of birdwatcher - my type, who likes to go along to places, see what birds (and other wildlife) are there and take pleasure from seeing and if possible photographing anything, or, indeed, from seeing nothing. I am on no network to tell me what's where. I don't want to know. I get more pleasure from seeing, say, a green woodpecker I wasn't expecting than a tufted puffin I was. At what I call the "zoo reserves" (the ones where you're organised and have to walk through a shop and pay or show your card and wear a ticket, all of which gives the impression the birds have been sort of organised for you and aren't wild at all) I avoid looking at the notices telling me what's there and I'm irritated if someone asks me "have you seen the.....?" Actually, I avoid going there much at all, tho you have to, occasionally, because there are often good birds to be seen.
The result is, in 50 years, I've identified fewer than 250 UK species (don't know the exact number) but had a huge amount of pleasure.
My point is - where do I fit in to people's views about what should and shouldn't happen when I go birdwatching? If I happen to turn up to a place which has got onto the twitching circuit, is someone going to try to "police" me? I suppose it's a good idea to warn me in case I unknowingly disturb an exhausted rarity, much as it's a good idea to warn about ground-nesting birds. But please, please, don't assume I'm there as a "twitcher". Odds are, if I'd known there were likely to be hoards of camouflaged folk flocking about, I'd have gone somewhere else. I assume there are many others like me, but we normally tend to keep quiet and very rarely access sites like this.
Incidentally - I'm not criticising anyone - just reminding you I and my like exist.

Hi mate,

don't worry there are many like you, and each one seems to like to remind us twitchers/birders that their chasing habits are not to their personal liking.:t:

I think most birders/twitchers, contrary to popular opinion, share a love of wildlife, but after a while it does get a little repetitive to see your one thousandth Robin (I know you would disagree). Nothing wrong with wanting to see a new species, even if it is gleaned from the internet services. Personally i love the buzz of seeing a new species. But unlike popular perception, I want to see and study it, not simply tick it and move on after 5 seconds.

The issue of flushing is clearly sensitive, but I think you simply need to look at each situation in isolation, and make a commonsense decision as to whether a flush would harm a bird. I know it is subjective, but how does a bird look, is it feeding well, has it had time whilst you are present to relax and feed etc. You may not get it always right, but as long as you show thought and consideration for any bird, in my opinion occasional flushing is not the demon its often made out to be.

 

[Lawts]

Red-crested Pochard

Does anyone know if the eleven birds are still at Swilly? Just curious - biggest group I can recall in the county so far.

I think Fairburn had about five together a year or so back.

A new county breeder soon?

 

[Hotspur]

I believe Hornsea had a big flock this summer. Can't remember how many.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Does anyone know if the eleven birds are still at Swilly? Just curious - biggest group I can recall in the county so far.

I think Fairburn had about five together a year or so back.

A new county breeder soon?

The numbers at Fairburn peaked at 6 birds in July 2008 Steve. Very inconveniently whilst I was out of the country on holiday.

I'd be interested in the Swilly birds myself. Be a nice Tyke tick.

 

[northernloon]

Just had a look a my life list and Red Crested Pochard is on the iffy list along with Snow Goose and Ruddy Shelduck. Not currently counted

 

[Keith Dickinson]

if the rain holds off tomorrow Ken, and the birds are still there, I'll send a text.

 

[northernloon]

Nice one Keith. Forecast suggests rain early-mid-morning

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Well I'm at the dentist in the am...so the arvo will be the time

 

[James Thomas]

I believe Hornsea had a big flock this summer. Can't remember how many.

Graham and I were talking to some local birders back in August, they said there were 40 odd on the mere that day.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Well I'm at the dentist in the am...so the arvo will be the time

2:30?