Yorkshire Birding (18 Viewers)

[northernloon]

Just to contradict my previous post, there is a hint of a glossy cap. Marsh Tits are regular visitors to the feeders in the rear car park at Leighton. Hedging my bets here

Ken

 

[Time and Ptarmigan]

Just to contradict my previous post, there is a hint of a glossy cap. Marsh Tits are regular visitors to the feeders in the rear car park at Leighton. Hedging my bets here

Ken

Thanks Ken, But then again the extended cap and whiteish edges to feathers???? They were feeding on seed near the Griesdale Hide. Believe me I want them to be Marsh but I was convinced Willow until I looked on the leighton site tonight which mentions Marsh and doesnt mention any willow

 

[liverpool_bob]

Thanks Ken, But then again the extended cap and whiteish edges to feathers???? They were feeding on seed near the Griesdale Hide. Believe me I want them to be Marsh but I was convinced Willow until I looked on the leighton site tonight which mentions Marsh and doesnt mention any willow

Looks like Marsh to me - white below cap looks two-tone.

p.s. liking that username!

 

[Time and Ptarmigan]

Thanks Ken and Bob, 3-1 then, thats good enough for me. Marsh is a year tick but willow wasnt.

 

[David Tate]

Richard Broughton reviewed the methods of separation of Willow and Marsh Tit in the November 2009 edition of British Birds. He says that, 'Features such as cap, bib, structure, colour of underparts, habitat and behaviour have limited or negligible value for identification'. His conclusion was that the presence or absence of a wing panel was moderatley reliable though there was a significant overlap. The same applied to wing length and depth of tail notch but this can only be determined after birds are caught.

According to Richard there are 5 highly reliable ways in which the 2 species may be seperated. 3 of these relate to song. Another is that there isn't a contrast between the whitish cheek and whitish neck sides in Willow Tits whilst in Marsh Tits the white cheek contrasts with grey-brown neck sides. Finally, the upper mandible of Marsh Tits have whitish marks whilst both mandibles of Willow Tits are black.

The bill differences are really obvious in the hand but in the field it is often difficult to distinguish between a whitish mark and reflected light.

To me the second photo appears to show a cheeck/neck contrast and a whitish mark on the upper mandible indicating Marsh Tit. But I could be entirely wrong.

 

[Trystan]

Thanks Ken and Bob, 3-1 then, thats good enough for me. Marsh is a year tick but willow wasnt.

Like others, I've seen Marsh tit often at LM but never willow. That said, without the location, I'd have leaned towards willow on those photos, Maybe its the effect of bright light.

 

[captaincarot]

just for future record, there are no willow tits in the leighton moss area. so you're only going to have a chance of seeing marsh

 

[OwenW]

Many thanks to the very helpful chap who was helping me in my search for white winged gulls at Poppleton yesterday. I learned more about gulls during that very chilly hour than I have in the past few years. Truly what the spirit of birding is all about. Next time I may be a bit luckier but will be better informed whatever the outcome.

 

[captaincarot]

Hi,

Can anyone supply details of this (widely publicised) site? Where should I park and walk and which bank of the reservoir holds the feeding station?

Cheers
John

stick these coordinate in google maps 53.601311,-1.89026

you have to park at the junction of the b6107 and deerhill end road, because deerhill end road is private.

follow the path round the resser and keep your eye out for the birds, the feeding station is part way down the embankment towards the north east corner

 

[FUZZYBUZZARD]

Many thanks to the very helpful chap who was helping me in my search for white winged gulls at Poppleton yesterday. I learned more about gulls during that very chilly hour than I have in the past few years. Truly what the spirit of birding is all about. Next time I may be a bit luckier but will be better informed whatever the outcome.

Hi OwenW
Absolutely delighted to help, it was a shame the gulls weren't being helpful at that moment , especially as later on there was an adult and 2nd winter Iceland and an adult and 1st winter glaucous . The adult glauc particularly gave great views . The freezing cold wind finally got the better of me After about 4 hours so had to go home !
All the best
Chris

 

[walshey]

Twite sites

Many thanks to James and the Captain for details of the Twite sites. I'll give these a go soon.

 

[Richard G]

Have a free afternoon on Saturday, so thought I'd get the kids out & about with a short trip to Fairburn for starters.

There also seems to be some decent stuff around on Wintersett & Anglers which would make some decent additions to my life list! Having never been to these sites, would be grateful for pointers on how to pick up the American Wigeon & Grebe.

Richard

 

[Chris-Leeds]

I saw thw AW from the hide at Anglers CP but I'm not sure how mobile it is so it could be moving between there and the reservoir.

 

[knotsbirder]

Have a free afternoon on Saturday, so thought I'd get the kids out & about with a short trip to Fairburn for starters.

There also seems to be some decent stuff around on Wintersett & Anglers which would make some decent additions to my life list! Having never been to these sites, would be grateful for pointers on how to pick up the American Wigeon & Grebe.

Richard

Both times I've visited I've never managed to see the American Wigeon from the hide, but a quick walk round to the opposite shore has always bagged it within minutes.

When looking for the Smew at Wintersett we parked up here ( http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr...dMicSExRf_eGe764TkhA&cbp=12,285,,0,12.66&z=15 ) and had a quick walk along a track to the shore, which allows you to view almost the whole res.

Sam

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Wear old shoes/boots as there are a terrible number of dog-walkers and they are not all tidy. You are likely to find some of the stuff that has not been bagged and binned.

I believe the brambling is still frequenting the bird table at Pickup Hide at Fairburn.

Have a free afternoon on Saturday, so thought I'd get the kids out & about with a short trip to Fairburn for starters.

There also seems to be some decent stuff around on Wintersett & Anglers which would make some decent additions to my life list! Having never been to these sites, would be grateful for pointers on how to pick up the American Wigeon & Grebe.

Richard

 

[DOC REED]

Stunning redpolls at Redhouse today.Flushed in pink!But only 4 with 2 siskin. I think Lessers(Schiffornis would have nailed 'em though!Joke!).Highlight was first Grass snake of season,it was a bootlace,tiny,but suppose thats good,must mean they are still breeding here.Hoping grass snake isn't schedule 1!!!

 

[northernloon]

That would come under Schedule 5 Section 9.1a (killing or injuring) of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Animals which are protected from intentional killing or injuring. Schedules 1-4 deal with birds

 

[Keith Dickinson]

An hour or so at Adel Dams today saw me just failing to reach double figures of mandarin duck, 5 males and 4 females, apparently there had been a dozen there yesterday. There were never less than 10 great tits on the feeder, even the great spotted woodpecker had trouble getting onto the fat block.

 

[Lawts]

An hour or so at Adel Dams today saw me just failing to reach double figures of mandarin duck, 5 males and 4 females, apparently there had been a dozen there yesterday. There were never less than 10 great tits on the feeder, even the great spotted woodpecker had trouble getting onto the fat block.

Keith, which hide did you get them from? My daughter's Portuguese boyfriend has just taken up birding (check out his picture of the Am. Wigeon on Birdguides) and is trying to build up his list - he's keen to get Mandarin, and it's somewhere he can go on his own that he knows.

Were they showing well?

Thanks

 

[Lawts]

Many thanks to James and the Captain for details of the Twite sites. I'll give these a go soon.

At Deerhill as per Warley Moor don't be looking for a feeding station - it's just seed scattered on the ground. As you approach the reservoir, skirt round the right-hand side of it and take up position on the sloping bank. The Twite sit on the telegraph wires, and then you'll see where they come down to the seed.

It's about a fifteen/twenty minute walk from the car.

Steve