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Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Hotspur
- Start date
BeadsbyClareScott
Well-known member
how long do Waxwings usually hang around for? is it just for our winter? until the berries have gone...?
I want to know if I`ve got time left to take pics of them.
I want to know if I`ve got time left to take pics of them.
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You've lots of time Clare. In big eruption years they're usually around until at least a couple of months into the new year.
Sandra
Chris-Leeds
Well-known member
I've seen them in April and in a biggish flock too. Just keep an eye open.
BeadsbyClareScott
Well-known member
Thanks James, Sandra & Chris... hope they stick around for a while... it`s lovely having them here |=)|
Stephanie M
Well-known member
Have you seen any around your area Clare?? Ive seen them in a few locations around Wetherby now, the last time was Thursday in the bushes next to the river bridge on the old bypass just round the corner from the police station
Hotspur
James Spencer
Finally nailed the Ring-billed Gull just after lunch. It buggered off pretty quickly so photos poor to terrible. Went for the arctic roll lesser Scaup combo at Hatfield moors. Limited success with the redpolls, scoring Mealy and Lesser but sadly no arctic. A small group of flyover crossbills were welcome. Lesser Scaup was showing down to a foot with only the wire fence preventing it getting closer. To say it came to bread would be an understatement. It was nearly dark so photos crap for a completely different reason. I'm sure a full writeup will be on the blog later.
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I went for the Lesser Scaup today as well James. Interesting isn't it. It does show incredibly well, but only when desperate for food. When it was full it stayed out on the water even when other birds came close.
It may also be struggling to feed naturally, although I believe I heard someone say it had dived today. It is carrying a leg injury.
It's wildfowl - what can you do. It flies okay and is unringed.
If it were to be dismissed as an escape, my only reservation would be making sure its hungry state is considered when assessing its tameness.
Rough-legged afterwards at South Ferriby plus three Common Buzzard.
Finally a quiet Swilly - three Lesser Redpoll but no Common.
It may also be struggling to feed naturally, although I believe I heard someone say it had dived today. It is carrying a leg injury.
It's wildfowl - what can you do. It flies okay and is unringed.
If it were to be dismissed as an escape, my only reservation would be making sure its hungry state is considered when assessing its tameness.
Rough-legged afterwards at South Ferriby plus three Common Buzzard.
Finally a quiet Swilly - three Lesser Redpoll but no Common.
Oscillate_Wildly
Well-known member
Went to Swinemoor today for a bit plenty of Redshank and Lapwing about, decided to walk back along river and check out Figham. Spotted a Grey Wagtail on the derelict ground just next to Wheel bridge. Got to Figham for a five minute walk in the last of the light managed to just make out a Barn Owl hunting, so a bit of good news there.
wolfbirder
Well-known member
My first visit to Hatfield Moors, & think I had a bit more success with the Redpoll's, with a few good candidates for Coue's Arctic Redpolls amongst the 100-strong flock I located just after midday at the north end of the track a few hundred metres past the last prison building and fence, by Prison South Lake I think it is called. I watched them for 30 minutes before being joined by three other birders. We watched the birds, but many were out of view on the ground and although they sometimes took to flight they generally favoured & returned to the same bushes and trees by the track. Thing is, not sure any possessed the full suite of features, well not for a classic adult. There were at least 50 mealies, many of which were obvious birds wih big bills and heavily streaked flanks. I had a large, very pale bird with pure white undertail coverts (can Mealy show this characteristic?) before I was joined by the other three. It had some flank streaking but not obviously bold like most of the mealies. Did not see the rump unfortunately. Then after being joined by the others we had a good number of large pale birds dangling in the tree low down, mostly Mealies but again a few Arctic candidates including a bird with bristling white wingbars, clean white underparts with subtle pink wash to breast and rump. It was hard to determine if we were looking at different birds each time they took off then resettled. Another whitish bird had a pale rump, and just before the birds were unsettled by a horserider a very pale, bull-necked bird with no undertail covert markings (all white) showed briefly. That was the best candidate probably with its rich, buffy, broad head. They eventually moved away from this area, back towards Dragon Pits.
The flock of 100-plus was later in Dragon Pits around 2pm but very flighty and hard to watch with a wrong sun angle.
The flock of 100-plus was later in Dragon Pits around 2pm but very flighty and hard to watch with a wrong sun angle.
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Dint See It
Well-known member
I've never been to Swillington Ings but have been meaning to visit for a while, I know theres a hide that is usually locked, but can you walk around the whole site or do you have to view it from the river bank? I've also seen a filter bed mentioned in sightings from there, could anyone tell me where that is? Any advice on the area appreciated
Reach Swilly via Fleet Lane in Woodlesford, the road between Lidl and the petrol station. Park on the car park opposite the oil depot, at the far end close to the path up to the river. There is usually someone in the hide most days, if you join the bird group then the code for the hide is given to you, £5.00 per year won't break the bank so well worth it.
You'll pass the filter beds as you drive along Fleet Lane, they are on the right just before you come to the railway bridge. As far as I'm aware you can only view from outside the fence.
The Swilly Bird Group site HERE has more info and some useful maps.
James Thomas
Well-known member
Keep seeing reports of this GGS at Grimwith, anyone seen it or knows what kind of views are on offer?
Oscillate_Wildly
Well-known member
I debated going to Tesco to look if they had any cheap trousers for work or to go out birding, I did the latter. Gutted!
James Thomas
Well-known member
Anyone going for the RBG may want to know 30-40 waxwings have been in the trading estate along from the weir for the last week. Gorging on rose hips at the moment but still plenty to go at. There is also a finch roost somewhere in the area, lots of linnet, greenfinch and goldfinch dropping in late afternoon.
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