Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[schiffornis]

good luck Andy - the rumour was that it had been there since Sunday at least so I reckon you'll be fine - well worth the trip. Keep going past the main yacht club car park (on the right); take the next right and look for a car park down to the left 300yds on - then walk half mile in same direction by the lakeside.

Thanks Rob, was 2nd person on site and it came out of the dark at 7am, showed well for the 45minutes of light whilst I was there! Will stick some pictures on my blog this evening when I get home.

Cheers Andy

 

[loiner]

I'm happy with the Skelton Lake bird from the 90's... at least that's on my Yorkshire list. Not so bothered about a year tick especially from the Dark Side...

The Skelton bird had been on the Dark Side before seeing the light and moving east of the Pennines. Let's hope this one follows suit, especially if it turns up on my local patch again.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Hopefully it'll choose Astley over Skelton lake. Easier to see that way. Unless the hide gets overcrowded.

 

[liverpool_bob]

I thought Waxwings are usually easier to see in the east. Have you had any in Liverpool?

I meant generally in E.Yorks, compared to West/South Yorks. Not heard of any in Liverpool yet, no doubt some of those currently in Scotland will eventually filter down this side.

 

[vwxyzen]

Hopefully it'll choose Astley over Skelton lake. Easier to see that way. Unless the hide gets overcrowded.

For some reason Astley doesn't seem to attract the rarer Grebes. Skelton or the main lake on St.Aidans are the best bet.

Dave.

 

[Lawts]

It looks like 87 was a good year at Kenfig for the grebe present from 31st January to 23rd April and then again from 31st October until 1st April 1988!

Just checked my notes. I did indeed go on the 24th April - a lovely hot day as I recall, but that was all that was lovely. A bad dip. Back then the lifers were coming thick and fast though. Two days later I life-ticked twenty-five Dotterel at Pendle Hill, and then immature Night Heron at Swine two days after that.

The return visit was in the same year. I ticked the grebe on the 21st November, after a nervous half hour wait with no activity. I then life-ticked Red Kite at Tregaron the same day, and wrapped the weekend up with Forster's Tern on Anglesey the next day.

Happy days!

Managed to connect with the Hollingwoth bird today in my lunch hour. Having a run of yanks; Franklin's Gull, American Bittern, Green Heron and Pied-billed Grebe - hopefully not the last yank of the year.

 

[schiffornis]

Managed to connect with the Hollingwoth bird today in my lunch hour. Having a run of yanks; Franklin's Gull, American Bittern, Green Heron and Pied-billed Grebe - hopefully not the last yank of the year.

Lawts

Glad you caught up with the grebe today. A good few Yanks over the last few days!

 

[knocker7800]

Not a rare yank but i found c200 Lesser Redpolls on Allerthorpe common. Might be worth a look for a few Mealys/Commons.

Mark.

 

[schiffornis]

Not a rare yank but i found c200 Lesser Redpolls on Allerthorpe common. Might be worth a look for a few Mealys/Commons.

Mark.

wow, sounds like a good gathering, certainly worth a good grilling!

 

[DOC REED]

Redpolls

Not a rare yank but i found c200 Lesser Redpolls on Allerthorpe common. Might be worth a look for a few Mealys/Commons.

Mark.

Hi Mark
about 60 at Redhouse too wth siskins.

 

[maccacracker]

I'm from West Yorks and there are loads of good birding sites in Yorkshire. Old Moor at Barnsley/Rotherham is the best near to me, Fairburn Ings is a close second. A new feeding station at Old Moor has attracted a greater spotted woodpecker which makes frequent visits - I'll post a picture later. Old Moor has had a huge number of different waders throughout the summer - and 16 herons seen in one day! Fairburn has a kingfisher hide but I've not seen one yet. Other good spots are Blacktoft Sands (only been once) and Bempton Cliffs at Bridlington in the summer is out of this world for sea birds, particularly puffins, but both these are full day trips for me.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

I'm from West Yorks and there are loads of good birding sites in Yorkshire. Old Moor at Barnsley/Rotherham is the best near to me, Fairburn Ings is a close second. A new feeding station at Old Moor has attracted a greater spotted woodpecker which makes frequent visits - I'll post a picture later. Old Moor has had a huge number of different waders throughout the summer - and 16 herons seen in one day! Fairburn has a kingfisher hide but I've not seen one yet. Other good spots are Blacktoft Sands (only been once) and Bempton Cliffs at Bridlington in the summer is out of this world for sea birds, particularly puffins, but both these are full day trips for me.

Have you tried Swillington Ings at all? Well worth a visit especially when there are migrations going on.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

I'm from West Yorks and there are loads of good birding sites in Yorkshire. Old Moor at Barnsley/Rotherham is the best near to me, Fairburn Ings is a close second. A new feeding station at Old Moor has attracted a greater spotted woodpecker which makes frequent visits - I'll post a picture later. Old Moor has had a huge number of different waders throughout the summer - and 16 herons seen in one day! Fairburn has a kingfisher hide but I've not seen one yet. Other good spots are Blacktoft Sands (only been once) and Bempton Cliffs at Bridlington in the summer is out of this world for sea birds, particularly puffins, but both these are full day trips for me.

Rodley NR is very good for kingfishers.

 

[James Thomas]

Where is flooded then?

Got a very limited amount of birding time this weekend so don't fancy trooping off to Fairburn and find it a huge expanse of water. Went along Tad bypass Sunday and the Wharfe was over both sides of the road, its rained near constantly since then, Calder is well up at Brighouse so can imagine problems downstream.

Cheers

 

[northernloon]

Useful info Jim. Think I'll go somewhere dry like Adel Dam and try for the some peckers

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Got a very limited amount of birding time this weekend so don't fancy trooping off to Fairburn and find it a huge expanse of water. Went along Tad bypass Sunday and the Wharfe was over both sides of the road, its rained near constantly since then, Calder is well up at Brighouse so can imagine problems downstream.

Cheers

No sign of any rise in water levels at Castleford today Jim. There was a bit more water on Hicksons than normal but nothing that would indicate any flooding anywhere on the reserve.
If you want I'll drive round by the reserve tomorrow am and text you the result.

 

[Ingsbirder]

Got a very limited amount of birding time this weekend so don't fancy trooping off to Fairburn and find it a huge expanse of water. Went along Tad bypass Sunday and the Wharfe was over both sides of the road, its rained near constantly since then, Calder is well up at Brighouse so can imagine problems downstream.

Cheers

Wheldrake Ings ISN'T flooded, well it wasn't when I had a very quick look this afternoon, if you fancy venturing that bit further away from the Aire Valley.

The American Wigeon hasn't been reported this week but that's not unusual as the weather has been grim and coverage will have been minimal - large numbers of birds around though.

 

[James Thomas]

Thanks both of you, no need to go round Keith I imagine it'll be OK over the weekend if it hasn't gone over yet.

 

[pcurpb]

Thanks both of you, no need to go round Keith I imagine it'll be OK over the weekend if it hasn't gone over yet.

Fairburn (touch wood) has been less prone to flooding since the sluices at the east end of the Bay were finally sorted & the southern end of the Cut area cleaned out. The kingfisher screen near the VC has, with patience, been reliable recently.

 

[arthur heaton]

The Wharfe in Wetherby is well up-and rising-we might have a few floating cars tomorrow!It hasn't deterred the Goosanders ,though-showing well on their beat between the Ings and the bridge.So and so's wouldn't come close enough for a photo!Quick flash from the Kingfisher as well.