Yorkshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Hotspur]

Cheers guys. Currently slightly anxious and unable to sleep. Need bacon sandwich and a double bourbon me thinks. Will tell all about the Bajun birds when i get back.

 

[ColinSev]

Red Kites - Harewood

I am down in Harrogate for the weekend from Co Durham. Can anyone tell me where the best place is to see the Red Kites at Harewood or around that area.
Ideally I am looking for photo opportunities . Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Colin

 

[Mike Richardson]

I am down in Harrogate for the weekend from Co Durham. Can anyone tell me where the best place is to see the Red Kites at Harewood or around that area.
Ideally I am looking for photo opportunities . Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Colin

Sorry I can't help Colin, as I don't know the area very well. I'm afraid two of the members who would help you are either out of the country or hiking over mountains at the moment! Hopefully someone else will help you out before long. Enjoy your trip to Yorkshire.

 

[liverpool_bob]

Sorry I can't help Colin, as I don't know the area very well. I'm afraid two of the members who would help you are either out of the country or hiking over mountains at the moment! Hopefully someone else will help you out before long. Enjoy your trip to Yorkshire.

... this from a little while ago in the Yorks thread:
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=847363&postcount=1124


Cheers,
Bob.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Hope the wedding went OK.

Colin, taking a walk around the Harewood estate or the area close to Eccup reservoir should yield some results. You'd be unlucky not to see any, now and then they are seen around the Parlington estate (though not regularly) but that's in East Leeds so that's probably no good for you.

 

[ColinSev]

Red Kite

Thanks for your replies guys, I will let you know how I get on.
As always people on this site are so helpful.

If any of you are coming north of the Tees let me know and I can provide a few pointers


Colin

 

[bitterntwisted]

... this from a little while ago in the Yorks thread:
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=847363&postcount=1124


Cheers,
Bob.

This spot is still good in the last few weeks. Not the numbers of winter but you shouldn't have to wait more than half an hour, tops. I've actually never found Eccup that good but a mile or so east around Wike Ridge Golf Club is very reliable.

Graham

 

[ColinSev]

Red Kites - Weardley

Had my visit today and went to Eccup and Weardley as advised by Chris and Bob, Thanks for your help too Graham - I missed your message yesterday as I was already down in Harrogate.

I went through Weardley and immediately saw a Red Kite low down over a farm swooped down and picked something up and flew 50 yards away from us. Talk about accurate directions or what.

I spent about 2 hours in the area saw at least 6 different Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel - excellent raptor site.
The highlight was when a sparrowhawk decided to have a go at a Red Kite high above my head. Despite its extra size the Kite could out manouevre the Sparrowhawk.
Interesting behaviour from a buzzard that hovered like a kestrel - into a stiff breeze.
Thanks again for your help guys it was an excellent morning

 

[Mike Richardson]

Sounds like you had a good morning Colin- great photos.

Spent the day with John (Birdieboy) on Crowle Moor where we enjoyed stonking views of at least 3 Hobby hawking Dragonflies. Also had a female Adder, Common Lizard and an almost tame Roe Deer buck.

We then drove to Fairburn to dip the Night Herons, but we did get good views of Marsh Tit.

I returned home, only to get a text from John about the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Patrington Haven. After what seemed like ages dodging holiday traffic and farm vehicles I found John at the site and got semi-decent views of the bird along with loads of other waders, Shelduck and gulls (including Little). 5 Little Egret were also seen.

Not a bad day at all.

 

[NickPatel92]

but we did get good views of Marsh Tit.

Usually when i go to Fairburn, i see Willow tits near the Lin Dyke hide, not Marsh tits, are you sure they weren't Willow.

 

[Chris-Leeds]

There are marsh tits close to the visitor centre. Don't always see or hear them but they are around at times. Sometimes get both near where I live but marsh are just that little bit easier to see.

 

[birdieboy123]

Usually when i go to Fairburn, i see Willow tits near the Lin Dyke hide, not Marsh tits, are you sure they weren't Willow.

We saw the Marsh Tits on the feeders by the visitor centre not near Lin Dyke

 

[James Thomas]

Nice walk on the moors above Bolton Abbey yesterday;
Buzzard, Red Kite, Merlin, Stonechat, Red Grouse and a very pale wren. Note the grouse moors will be shut for a while from the 12th.

 

[johnnymac]

Chimney Swift in York?

Chimney Swift!

Only the third county record and a bit of a grip back on the two short stayers at Spurn. Perhaps this one will roost on the Minster?


Careful study of the photographs reveals all is not as it first seemed. The pictures show a bird with a structure more like a Crag/Rock Martin. The birds hand is very short and there is a carpal bend half way along the wing. On Chimney Swift the wing is all primaries producing an even curve to them.

The tail projection to is worrying it tapers beyond the tail. On Chimney Swift it should broaden due to the tail fan. This bird appears to be missing its tail and perhaps some outer primaries too.

All this could explain the unusual appearance of the Yorks bird. Indeed it is probably just an abberant Common Swift.

Does this explain all the rash of Chimney Swift sightings around the country?

 

[S Pickard]

Just had a walk around Paull Holme Strays and all the usual sightings were seen.
But was lucky enough to see 3 Ruddy Shelduck land on the main mudflats opposite farm house. Stayed shortly before flying off East.
Brilliant first ever sighting.

 

[birdieboy123]

Where any BF members at Thorgaby Ings this afternoon looking for the White Rumped Sandpiper
I was there at about 2.30 and was put on to the bird by other birders who had been there since 11.00. Tho the bird was distant most seemed happy about the id and also a pectoral sandpiper was there aswell, Yet when I got home BirdGuides had a report saying no sign of either bird between 1.00 and 3.45
Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

 

[johnnymac]

Can anyone shed any light on this for me?[/QUOTE]


Other birders on site this afternoon said the bird in question was a juvenile Dunlin. It seems distance x heat haze was making viewing very difficult.

Still no sign this evening probably only the finder saw the bird

 

[jay-jay]

Hi Birdieboy 123

I was at Thorganby for 11.30-12.30 saw the Pec. sandpiper. A lone bird in the distance was spotted, but with the heat haze and the bird not moving much and being hidden by vegetation I left without a positive ID. this may have been the juv Dunlin that Johnnymac mentions.

cheers julie

 

[Craig Thomas]

Honey Buzzards seem to be showing well at Wykeham at the moment; either side of mid-day for the last three days at least.

Was there from 1100-1130hrs today and saw one which spent time wing-clapping. At one point mobbed by a male Goshawk and a Peregrine! Managed to see three Goshawks, an adult female and two males (at least one of which was a young male) and one Common Buzzard.

Much better than early June when the HBs were often difficult!

 

[Mike Richardson]

Honey Buzzards seem to be showing well at Wykeham at the moment; either side of mid-day for the last three days at least.

Was there from 1100-1130hrs today and saw one which spent time wing-clapping. At one point mobbed by a male Goshawk and a Peregrine! Managed to see three Goshawks, an adult female and two males (at least one of which was a young male) and one Common Buzzard.

Much better than early June when the HBs were often difficult!

Not bad for half an hours work! Spent the best part of a day at the watchpoint in June (Yorks BF Meeting) and the only raptor of interest was distant Goshawk.

Were the HB's and Goshawks close? I have a long list of jobs to do at home before my girlfriend moves in next week, however, a couple of hours at the watchpoint sounds a better option. Hmmm...