Yorkshire Birding (19 Viewers)

[darrenward]

I work with a guy who lives at North Duffield, he was saying on Tuesday that Cawood Bridge was shut due to high water levels so I guess there will be plenty of wildfowl as there is plenty water but getting to view them may be tricky.

I did a few hours Monday at North Duff plenty of Whooper (+40) but no Bewick, plenty of Wildfowl, but well spread out because of the floods, no calling Cetti's while I was there, but a imm/female Peregrine gave a good show trying to grab a Lapwing for lunch!

BTW Weldrake was a no go high water level there I was told..

 

[Pete Mella]

Any chance of Bullfinch or Hawfinch up in God's county?

There were loads of bullfinches at both Pugney's and Angler's while I was there last week, including some in the Pugney's car park, so that shouldn't be a problem at all! You can sometimes get hawfinches at Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley which isn't too far from Huddersfield, but I've not seen any reports yet this winter, and so it may not be worth the £4.50 entrance fee!

 

[garry1366]

Sorry folks I've been working ofshore for the last two weeks so not had chance to update the Spurn site, just done it this morning though!

I went to North Duffield/Elloughton ings area at the begininng of last week and although plenty of birds there was too much water so they were very spread out, I would imagine it will be better when the water subsides a bit and they become more concentrated.

G

 

[BirdFlower]

Message to Leeds Birders to help Pied Wagtails

Geoff Dobbs has asked me to post this message, sent to him by the Greater Manchester Recorder. Hope some of you Leeds Birders can help!

A keeper at Bolton Museum whose son lives in Leeds told me that there is a big roost of PWs in a tree in Leeds city centre outside TK-MAXX. This shop has plate glass windows and the birds are hitting these as they come in to roost. Maybe it would be simple to get the shop to put some deterrents on the windows (the press might help if they won't!). Apparently the ground is littered with corpses!
Perhaps you know about this already? Maybe you can pass it to someone who can take action?
Judith Smith
County Bird Recorder, Greater Manchester
~visit the Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group website at www.manchesterbirding.com

 

[malgos]

has anyone thought of ringing the shop? They might be receptive to putting a couple of posters in the window to prevent this happening.
Malcolm

 

[darrenward]

Geoff Dobbs has asked me to post this message, sent to him by the Greater Manchester Recorder. Hope some of you Leeds Birders can help!

A keeper at Bolton Museum whose son lives in Leeds told me that there is a big roost of PWs in a tree in Leeds city centre outside TK-MAXX. This shop has plate glass windows and the birds are hitting these as they come in to roost. Maybe it would be simple to get the shop to put some deterrents on the windows (the press might help if they won't!). Apparently the ground is littered with corpses!
Perhaps you know about this already? Maybe you can pass it to someone who can take action?
Judith Smith
County Bird Recorder, Greater Manchester
~visit the Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group website at www.manchesterbirding.com

Hi M

Finished work at four, went up for a gander, had two walks around the whole building no roost, no birds either way, just hope they shifted their roost pattern..

 

[geoff dobbs]

Hi M

Finished work at four, went up for a gander, had two walks around the whole building no roost, no birds either way, just hope they shifted their roost pattern..

Darren

Thanks: I asked Mike to post as I was at work, in case anyone local could check.
Second or third hand information is not always reliable.
I have also been in touch with Paul Morris of Leeds Bird Club.
He thinks the roost may be on Albion Street, not the Headrow where TKMaxx is, but he will also monitor and call in at the shop if necessary

Geoff

 

[geoff dobbs]

I do see sparrowhawks quite often - a lot bigger, fast flight in the wooded areas but not close to the ground. This was definitely no bigger than a kestrel. Got a sparrowhawk in front of my lounge window a while back:

Keith.

Hi: I don't think you saw enough to identify your bird: pointed wings may suggest Merlin

I must point out that male Sparrowhawks (not your photograhed bird) are generally not only smaller than a Kestrel but smaller than a female Merlin, (in length and wingspan) and Sparrowhawks frequently hunt along hedges by flying only inches above the ground then flipping over the top: I have picked up 5 roadkilled Spawks over the years and witnessed one meeting its demise hunting in this manner

Geoff

Geoff

 

[schiffornis]

What about Sizergh (?) Castle near Kendal?

I've got a survey over in Cumbria and have stopped at Sizergh Castle twice this winter (late October/early November), the birds were fairly easy from the car park in the trees behind the cafe. I've not been there for a month or so now though...

 

[keith1200rs]

Hi: I don't think you saw enough to identify your bird: pointed wings may suggest Merlin

I must point out that male Sparrowhawks (not your photograhed bird) are generally not only smaller than a Kestrel but smaller than a female Merlin, (in length and wingspan) and Sparrowhawks frequently hunt along hedges by flying only inches above the ground then flipping over the top: I have picked up 5 roadkilled Spawks over the years and witnessed one meeting its demise hunting in this manner

Geoff

Geoff

Geoff,

I realise I won't get a proper ID from my brief looks so far, but the wing shape is all wrong for a sparrowhawk. Also I haven't seen sparrowhawks this small - not much bigger than blackbird. I did briefly think I saw the same bird on Wednesday but it was a quick flash that time. Before it was a couple of long flights along the track just a few inches from the ground - it's wing tips almost touching the ground.

What identifying features would separate the merlin, bearing in mind my best view will be above & behind it flying low (me on my bike following)? Black band on the tail?

Thanks,

Keith.

 

[James Thomas]

Was tempted by the coast today but decided against it. Instead had a circular walk around the fields at the back, through Oakwell etc. 34 species in 2.5hrs was a good return. Plenty of birds about the highlight being patch tick of 3 snipe wading in the beck, they must be having a hard time.

Anyone been to Pugneys or Eccup today? I magine wildfowl are starting to gather on open water so may check a couple of places tomorrow.

 

[Andrew Gibson]

The freeze up appears to be moving birds, had two flocks of snipe today at spurn a 13 and a 20 also 7 skylark south

 

[knocker7800]

Just seen a flock of 30-40 barnacle geese circling low looking for a roost at about 3.45 today in the york area. Whats the chance of these being wild birds. No other geese types mixed in.

Mark.

 

[Hotspur]

Just seen a flock of 30-40 barnacle geese circling low looking for a roost at about 3.45 today in the york area. Whats the chance of these being wild birds. No other geese types mixed in.

Mark.

Have seen putatively wild Barnacles in the LDV and with this weather always a chance but the university birds must put a spectre across such a record.

 

[Hotspur]

Skipwith Common has been designated NNR status by natural England.

http://www.surfbirds.com/sbirdsnews/archives/2009/12/englands_newest.html

The article speaks about breeding Nightjars so, hopefully that is the case now, can anyone confirm?

Good stuff.

 

[James Thomas]

Had to nip over to Wakefield this morning, got on the motorway and immediately saw a flock of lapwing wildly circling, out of them came a peregrine carrying its catch low over the motorway and onto 27 - patch tick without going out birding!

Also saw two waders over the M62 at Tingley, looked like snipe in flight.

 

[Andrew Gibson]

over 400 skylark gone south at Spurn today

 

[knocker7800]

Have seen putatively wild Barnacles in the LDV and with this weather always a chance but the university birds must put a spectre across such a record.

Are there substantial numbers though at the uni?

 

[Lawts]

Had a productive trip to Adel Dam yesterday lunchtime. Great Spot. constantly on the feeders along with Nuthatch. A Kingfisher along the stream at the back, and a male Sparrowhawk dropped in on the feeders twice - allowing a couple of nice shots. Sadly no Willow Tit whilst I was there, which was always an Adel Dam speciality.

There's a new hide now that has replaced the Marsh Hide. No doubt the Lake Hide is next as the door has now dropped off!

At home c. 20 Yellowhammers feeding in the fields at the back of my house - they breed locally in good numbers so presumably don't move far. Also a few Reed Buntings in with them.

 

[liverpool_bob]

over 400 skylark gone south at Spurn today

Ones-twos all morning yesterday south over Kelk Beck, c30 total. A flock of 74 on Saturday at Harpham is the largest I've had in winter for a long while - presumably pushed off the nearby Wolds - and with the extra snow that night they probably went south too...

A great weekend to be out birding. Water Rail & Merlin year ticks - yay |=)|