Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[howdenbirder]

Hello again,

Any help with woodlark in North Yorkshire, especially at Sand Hutton - or anywhere else in this general area - would also be gratefully accepted please.

Thanks again

Andrew

 

[howdenbirder]

Yet another message - there's still room for one more person to join us in my car on this weekend's Yorkshire bird race.
It is on Sunday and we're probably going to start at Thorne Moors at midnight.
Anyone up for it? Come on! You know it will be a good laugh!

 

[mikejack82]

I wanna come on the bird race!!!

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Andrew & Mikejack82,
Can I welcome you to the best bit of Bird Forum, you'll find we're all relatively friendly.
Certainly hope you manage the bird race Andrew, what I wouldn't give to be able to jack in work for the day and join you.

 

[howdenbirder]

Can I just say thank you very much to everyone over the past few days for all the help you've given us ahead of this Sunday's bird race.
It's unlikely we'll go flat out on the day and I'd be delighted if we get anything close to 100 species - I'm getting my excuses in early!

Cheers

Andrew Tongue

 

[bitterntwisted]

Pectoral Sandpiper still on islands on Lemonroyd Lake this afternoon. (on the St Aidan's site in the Aire Valley - part of the Swillington Ings area) Heretical I know to denounce rarities but as waders in summer plumage go it ain't one of the stunners. Part of a good spring wader passage in the last couple of weeks there that has also produced a number of barwits and blackwits, turnstone, wood sandpiper etc. Little Gull, 6 Whimbrel, and Sanderling were around today also but I didn't see any of them in a quick half hour. Did hear a Song Thrush that seemed to be mimicking Woodlark, though, which was odd.

Graham

 

[treecreeper]

Still one place left for our Yorkshire bird race as someone has dropped out !!

PM me if you're interested and I'll provide you with details of where to meet etc.

Come on you know you want to !!

Tom

 

[pauljones]

Wood Warbler, Hebers Ghyl

Hi All, Up Hebers Ghyl in Ilkley today with the kids. No bins but heard at least 5 Wood Warblers and saw 1. Cheers, Paul

 

[peterpiper]

Heretical I know to denounce rarities but as waders in summer plumage go it ain't one of the stunners.
Got to agree with you Graham, almost an anti-climax when spotted, decent views of 2 avocets on astley lake yesterday, then over to Lin Dyke to get Gadwall and Garganey in 'scope at same time, didn't need 'scope for Little Egret though, didn't really need bins either, (but used them anyway), what an elegant looking bird.
Downside of day was 'phone stopped working so couldnt tell wife to get kettle on, all turned out well though, got home 5 mins before rain started and got 'phone working again, all in all a good day
pete

 

[howdenbirder]

Hello folks,

You'll be pleased to know that my bird race did take place yesterday after some last-minute changes of personnel.
We had a brilliant day, although the species count wasn't remarkable -116. We missed out on quite a few birds thanks to the relentless heavy rain on Sunday afternoon, which unfortunately led to things being abandoned at about 9pm.
We started at Wheldrake Ings at 1200, visiting a host of places - including Bolton Abbey, Arkengarthdale, The Stang, Dunscome Park, Wykeham, Forge Valley, Flamborough, Spurn, North Cave and Faxfleet.
Some of the highlights for me included lekking black grouse, dawn chorus at Bolton Abbey with Pied Flycatcher and Redstart and hundreds of hirrundines and swifts over Hornsea Mere.
I'll post a more detailed account soon.

Thanks

Andrew Tongue

 

[Hotspur]

im glad you had a good day andrew and in sorry was unable to come.

 

[Hotspur]

Bee-eater in East Yorks!!! I cant flaming go, got to revise for genetics exam weds. Bet someone grips me off like you did last time with lesser spot and bittern. Revision loses you good birds. Bah.

 

[bitterntwisted]

I was the last minute personnel change on the bird race, and regretted it immediately getting up at 1AM after exactly 35 minutes sleep. Great shame about the weather as I think we were on course for c.130 but I now have an impressive list of birds that won't show or call in torrential rain. Considering the unfamiliarity of any of us with some of the sites, good birders having to drop out, none of us having seriously attempted a bird race before, and the atrocious weather I'm pleased with the total personally, and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Highlights among many for me were spotting a skulking female Mandarin at 40mph, nearly dismissing a bird on wires as another Chaffinch before realising it was a spanking male Redstart, ringing for advice on locating Marsh Tit and having the call interrupted by a Marsh Tit, and predicting to within a few feet where we'd quickly get Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker and Stonechat. Disappointments were Wood Warbler failing to sing, not getting Tom or Andrew onto a near-certain Goshawk and so not being able to count it, and the rain (did I mention that already?). Some serious good skills from Tom and Andrew - Tom's Little Owl and Golden Plover spotted at high speed and Andrew's picking of calls from hedgerows we drove by being hugely impressive.

Have to say that I can see why bird-racing is not for some: the frantic pace is hardly the relaxing birding I love, and hearing or glimpsing but not stopping to watch and enjoy some of the top ticks (Pied Fly, Ring Ouzel) is frustrating. Nonetheless, a grand day out and thanks to Andrew and Tom for the ride.

Graham

 

[bitterntwisted]

Local Sightings Reports

Sightings from large areas of Yorkshire never make the news services. I suspect this is partly down to people reporting only scarce and rare birds and not those of local interest, which are reported only on local bird club sites.

I check 3 of these, Spurn, Swillington, and Cleveland. The urls are below. Are there any others out there that anyone else uses? Nice to be able to see what's about all over the county.

Cleveland: http://www.teesmouthbc.com/db/sighting.aspx
Spurn: http://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/ (click sightings on the left)
Swillington: http://se3828.wordpress.com/sightings/ (this is still a trial site and is not the main recording point which is still the hide log-book, so don't expect it to be comprehensive)

Was tempted to go nip over to see the Bee Eater tomorrow, but no sign apparently after mid-afternoon. Will have to do some proper birding instead!

Graham

 

[Hotspur]

Think it moved to Aldborough.

 

[Ben M]

Are there any others out there that anyone else uses? Nice to be able to see what's about all over the county.

I don't use it myself, but I'm aware of the following:

Sheffield Bird Study Group: http://www.sbsg.org/ (click "Recent News").

 

[stanacko]

One I use lincsbirdclub.co.uk
Stan.

 

[Hotspur]

Went to ***** ****** woods again today. SCORE!!! Not only did i get a brief view and listen to a Woodlark but i nearly got knocked over by a Tawny Owl being mobbed by 2 Jays. Also all 3 Woodpeckers heard (but only 1 GSW seen) made for an exciting half hour. The Woodlark was singing from the known tree only for the rain to shut him up PDQ. Then got a brief flight view. Waited for 20 mins for further singing/ views but nothing. Walked back and heard an almighty racket headed toward me at high speed. Tawny had to swerve me but stuck close as the jays tried not to crash into me. Amazing. Then on the way home i stoatally nearly ran a weasel over. Plus i never have to take another genetics exam. Ever.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Do you think owls use us as a defence when being mobbed?
At Fairburn (98 I think) I had a short eared fly close to me and circled while it was being chased by magpies. The maggies kept their distance while the owl found cover.

 

[Hotspur]

To be honest the owl was as surprised as me and had no choice but to fly by if it wanted to escape the 2 jays.