Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Richard G]

Keep seeing reports of this GGS at Grimwith, anyone seen it or knows what kind of views are on offer?

Hi James,

We've just got back from Grimwith this afternoon & had cracking views of the GGS. We'd walked all the way round the resevoir & it was pointed out to us by a very kind birder as we got back into the car park!!

It seems to favour perching in the very top of the conifers either at the back of the car park or near the picnic tables (it flits between the two areas). The guy I was talking to thought it may hang around for a bit so I'm planning to head back that way next weekend to see if I can get some decent shots of it.

2011 looks like it's going to be a good year for increasing my lifers - that's 2 I've had in one day.

Richard

 

[James Thomas]

Cheers Richard, cracking start to the year!

 

[Nickynak]

I wish I'd seen that there were Waxwings at the Tescos Beverley, will be looking out next week! I saw the Heron again today, las time it was where the Army Transport museum used to be, this time it was flying along the old York-Beverley train track just before it gets to the football pitch carpark at the top of Tardrew Close.

 

[BeadsbyClareScott]

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

Hi Stephanie,
The last bunch I photographed were hanging out near Fairburn Ings, I keep looking for them wherever I go...

 

[andyr]

Hi All


Two Red Kites were showing extremely well right next to the A1(M) either side of Wetherby Services yesterday at midday, one virtually patrolling along the hard-shoulder.

I am guessing however, that local birders may tell me this is quite normal.

We see Red Kites in Staffordshire, but rarely so close to fast-moving traffic !


Cheers


Andy R.

 

[Dint See It]

Cheers Keith, had a quick visit to swillington ings today, saw a few decent birds. Next time i visit I'll have a good go at it and try to do as much of the area as possible. Wouldn't found it without your help. Thanks

 

[Hotspur]

Hi All


Two Red Kites were showing extremely well right next to the A1(M) either side of Wetherby Services yesterday at midday, one virtually patrolling along the hard-shoulder.

I am guessing however, that local birders may tell me this is quite normal.

We see Red Kites in Staffordshire, but rarely so close to fast-moving traffic !


Cheers


Andy R.

It is regular to see Kites over the A1 round Wetherby - usually about 50% of the time I pass through I connect, sometimes around the road itself although cant say I have seen them on the hard shoulder.

 

[Lawts]

Hi All


Two Red Kites were showing extremely well right next to the A1(M) either side of Wetherby Services yesterday at midday, one virtually patrolling along the hard-shoulder.

I am guessing however, that local birders may tell me this is quite normal.

We see Red Kites in Staffordshire, but rarely so close to fast-moving traffic !


Cheers


Andy R.

As James says they are a regular sight now around Wetherby. Also a bit lower down at Bramham they are regular.

However, for both roads into Leeds from Harewood and Wetherby it is virtually impossible to drive these without seeing several Red Kite.

 

[Oscillate_Wildly]

I wish I'd seen that there were Waxwings at the Tescos Beverley, will be looking out next week! I saw the Heron again today, las time it was where the Army Transport museum used to be, this time it was flying along the old York-Beverley train track just before it gets to the football pitch carpark at the top of Tardrew Close.

Do you get many birds on the old train track? I grew up living off Norwood so as a young child often dog walked / cycled down there but wasn't really that into birds back then.

 

[awhitehead2011]

White-fronted Geese

Chuffed that 3 made it to the valley today. B

 

[Hotspur]

Chuffed that 3 made it to the valley today. B

Very nice - European?

 

[andyr]

Thanks Hotspur & Steve


One of my favourite species ... so with the January transfer window open now ... er, can you have a word and tell them we could do with a few more here in Staffordshire !


Happy Birding


Andy R.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Cheers Keith, had a quick visit to swillington ings today, saw a few decent birds. Next time i visit I'll have a good go at it and try to do as much of the area as possible. Wouldn't found it without your help. Thanks

There's plenty of ground to cover with a few decent viewing points so it can take up a lot of time but it is well worth it at times.

 

[Hotspur]

Seems that concensus on the Lesser Scaup has changed and that it is a hybrid thing of ming. Doh...

 

[David Adamson]

Hi Hotspur,
Where did you get the info from on the possibility that the lesser Scaup is a hybrid, as I stated as such as soon as I saw it. Minimal white patches behind the bill were more like Tufted, also size wise, when comparing it with nearby Tufted it looked smaller when in fact it should be a little bigger.

 

[Hotspur]

Hi Hotspur,
Where did you get the info from on the possibility that the lesser Scaup is a hybrid, as I stated as such as soon as I saw it. Minimal white patches behind the bill were more like Tufted, also size wise, when comparing it with nearby Tufted it looked smaller when in fact it should be a little bigger.

Martin Garner's blog - initially he ID'd it as a Lesser Scaup but in the comments it seems that his opinion is changed. Also apparently RBA have put it out as a hybrid today. Not sure the amount of white at the bill base is the issue - seems similar to the Slimbridge bird but the head looks a little too peaked at the back, and the bill morphology and iris colour aren't quite right. In terms of biometrics - Lesser Scaup apparently averages 42cm in length and 800g whereas Tufty is 44cm and 760g according to the BTO, so not a great difference.

 

[knocker7800]

Martin Garner's blog - initially he ID'd it as a Lesser Scaup but in the comments it seems that his opinion is changed. Also apparently RBA have put it out as a hybrid today. Not sure the amount of white at the bill base is the issue - seems similar to the Slimbridge bird but the head looks a little too peaked at the back, and the bill morphology and iris colour aren't quite right. In terms of biometrics - Lesser Scaup apparently averages 42cm in length and 800g whereas Tufty is 44cm and 760g according to the BTO, so not a great difference.

Is that worth half a tick then?

 

[Hotspur]

Is that worth half a tick then?

depends if you need it

 

[liverpool_bob]

One of my favourite species ... so with the January transfer window open now ... er, can you have a word and tell them we could do with a few more here in Staffordshire !

The kites do sometimes move between regions "The East Yorkshire population was created by birds unexpectedly moving to the area from the initial Harewood releases. It has been subsequently boosted by the young which those birds have raised, as well as more arrivals from both Harewood and other release areas (Midlands and the North-East)."

http://www.yorkshireredkites.net/newsletter..pdf

 

[metcow333]

Went back out to redhouse today, only 3 fly-over redpolls, and not a lot else to comment on. Was also there last friday, and heard some whooper's flying over, but couldn't make them out in the gloom. has anyone seen a decent number of redpolls here recently?