Yorkshire Birding (74 Viewers)

[Pete Mella]

To be honest, reading it back, I wouldn't be surprised if the "Peter Mella was the first to report hearing cuckoos" bit was changed by subeditors, as the end of the paragraph clearly states I was mentioning reports.

It is nice to be mentioned and I was being a bit grumpy when I posted above, but I know how I'd feel if I read something in a local paper where it appeared someone was claiming one of my finds.

(And when I say "bloody journalists" I should mention I did train to be one... )

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Four of these sleeping on Filey Brigg this morning.

 

[James Thomas]

Must be a lazy day ...

 

[Martin Standley]

two Different Days at Spurn

I went to Spurn Point after work last night in the hope of seeing a black redstart.
I wasn't disappointed as at least two including a nicely marked male were showing quite well albeit a bit skittish.There was a chilly breeze blowing but clear skies and nice evening sunshine.
12 hours later and the wind had got up and no sun.It was as cold today as it has been all winter (nearly).
I wasn't exactly optimistic on the drive down at about 6.00am there were hardly any birds about at all,however as I went across the parade ground I noticed a hawfinch around the feeding table near the trap.There were a couple of siskins and a brambling around and not much else.
around 9.00 a couple of birders had picked up a subalpine warbler, it was very elusive and flighty but I did manage some reasonable views as it flew across the parade ground, it was soon lost again in the undergrowth.
On the way out I had a fantastic view of a merlin hunting a meadow pipit.
Although it was bitterly cold some decent birds on show.
bagged the egyptian goose on East Park this afternoon.

 

[mikejack82]

Been working away all week, but got chance to catch up with the East Park Egyptian this afternoon, after dipping last weekend. Also Drake Shoveler was a 1st for me at Park.

 

[pete seaman]

My local patch has had a Green Sandpiper all winter (I presume it has always been the same one) and it is still showing,should it not have headed North by now?Any comments welcome

 

[tophillbirder]

Did Swinemoor this morning. My totals were 9 Ruff 3 Greenshank 4+ Yellow Wags and White Wagtail although numbers/species vary all the time.
Went to Hornsea Mere late morning and managed a female S.Scoter and John found a Black-necked Grebe which after playing shy eventually showed well to a small audience off Kirkholme pt.
Did Tophill this afternoon and managed a spanking Blue-headed Wagtail first seen on Saturday, on Watton NR.
Y'day evening did High Eske NR. Nice drake Garganey again as well as sev Yellow Wagtails, Lesser Whitethroats and a pair of LRPs. Hope the latter remain to breed this year.
On Friday had the Ruddy Shelduck flying thro' Hornsea Mere. Presumably the same bird thro' Spurn?
Hopefully we can all get back to 'friendly conversation' again. Geoff has explained the situation but unfortunately RL takes the access problems at Hornsea Mere personally. For this reason he hasn't seen the bird in question.

 

[Martin Standley]

Went back to Spurn again tonight.
Got some brief but decent scope views of the subalpine warbler but no shots.
saw a brambling and black redstart around the parade ground, then had a 'reeling' grasshopper warbler around canal scrape.

 

[tophillbirder]

Have had discussions with several Hornsea Mere regulars and I'm not the only one concerned with Lesser Scaup. However some regulars still believe the ID is fine. If anyone has reasonable photo's [not suggesting anyone tresspasses to get them!] might it be an idea to post them on the ID forum to see if anyone with experience of seeing decent numbers in N.American will comment on the very faint vermiculations.

 

[geoff dobbs]

Have had discussions with several Hornsea Mere regulars and I'm not the only one concerned with Lesser Scaup. However some regulars still believe the ID is fine. If anyone has reasonable photo's [not suggesting anyone tresspasses to get them!] might it be an idea to post them on the ID forum to see if anyone with experience of seeing decent numbers in N.American will comment on the very faint vermiculations.

Lance Degnan (BBRC) and Brett Richards both think the Lesser Scaup at Hornsea is OK I believe. Not sure what their view on the vermiculations is. Still haven't seen it myself.

 

[liverpool_bob]

Osprey flying north over Kelk yesterday. Get in! B

Also early Common Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wag, Sedge Warbler, and late Fieldfare (flock of 21) and Redwing (2).

 

[Hotspur]

Osprey flying north over Kelk yesterday. Get in! B

Noooooooooooo......I was 150 miles away instead 1.5. Doh.

 

[liverpool_bob]

Noooooooooooo......I was 150 miles away instead 1.5. Doh.

I'm 150 miles away now, I feel your pain o

 

[garry1366]

Did Swinemoor this morning. My totals were 9 Ruff 3 Greenshank 4+ Yellow Wags and White Wagtail although numbers/species vary all the time.
Went to Hornsea Mere late morning and managed a female S.Scoter and John found a Black-necked Grebe which after playing shy eventually showed well to a small audience off Kirkholme pt.
Did Tophill this afternoon and managed a spanking Blue-headed Wagtail first seen on Saturday, on Watton NR.
Y'day evening did High Eske NR. Nice drake Garganey again as well as sev Yellow Wagtails, Lesser Whitethroats and a pair of LRPs. Hope the latter remain to breed this year.
On Friday had the Ruddy Shelduck flying thro' Hornsea Mere. Presumably the same bird thro' Spurn?
Hopefully we can all get back to 'friendly conversation' again. Geoff has explained the situation but unfortunately RL takes the access problems at Hornsea Mere personally. For this reason he hasn't seen the bird in question.

did u really have a surf scoter on the mere?

 

[garry1366]

its just a case of correct terminology i'm sure but when talking about the vermiculations on the hornsea scaup are people refering 2 the mantle pattern or the very faint crescentic markings on the flanks? It is the latter which are traditionally referred 2 as vermiculations in the literature when talking about lesser scaup, the point being that greater has clean flanks

 

[BirdFlower]

Popped over into foreign parts today to take this, plus better & worse ones (on blog).

 

[Keith Dickinson]

According to BWPi Green sand spring passage is usually completed by early May so your bird could hang around a little time longer Pete.

My local patch has had a Green Sandpiper all winter (I presume it has always been the same one) and it is still showing,should it not have headed North by now?Any comments welcome

 

[kempy83]

Been working away all week, but got chance to catch up with the East Park Egyptian this afternoon, after dipping last weekend. Also Drake Shoveler was a 1st for me at Park.

How come nobody has commented that this is 'plastic' and untickable...

Well done mate nice ticks just remember 'its your list+your rules' just like 'our' Duck we found... haha

Did ya manage to feed it some bread by the way 8-P

 

[Hotspur]

How come nobody has commented that this is 'plastic' and untickable...

Well done mate nice ticks just remember 'its your list+your rules' just like 'our' Duck we found... haha

Did ya manage to feed it some bread by the way 8-P

Because all egyptian geese are plastic-ish but there are a few knocking about so that makes em acceptable. Sadly the R-C Pochard was put there by a bloke. You can have your geese though...

 

[gazpic]

its just a case of correct terminology i'm sure but when talking about the vermiculations on the hornsea scaup are people refering 2 the mantle pattern or the very faint crescentic markings on the flanks? It is the latter which are traditionally referred 2 as vermiculations in the literature when talking about lesser scaup, the point being that greater has clean flanks

Far be it from me to disagree with you mate !!!!! (actually Im not totally disagreeing).
You are quite right about the faint vermiculations on the flanks (mainly rear) of Lesser Scaup, they shoud be there cp with Scaup. However the coarse markings on the back are refered to in Lit. as vermiculations or indeed barring.
Note extract from BWP concise;

"Plumage recalls Scaup but at close range ♂ distinguished by smaller black nail on grey bill, more constantly purple gloss on head, coarser, darker barring over back, and coarser and thus more visible barring on upper rear flanks. ♀ and..."
Also
"hybrids show, however, more finely vermiculated back and tertial feathers incompatible with pure-blooded Lesser Scaup"

Suggest we discuss over several coffee's in the cafe on Saturday !!!