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Yorkshire Birding (27 Viewers)

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

At Fairburn the Kingfisher has been giving some great views from the Kingfisher screen in the last few days. Also Willow Tit in the same area and at the Pickup feeders. Female Brambling at the Pickup feeders. Three Little Egrets at Pickup today. A female Goldeneye giving good views on Spoonbill Flash from the road.

The Am. Wigeon has been showing very well on the opposite bank from the hide. Try to avoid a weekend day. I got some stonking shots of it, (even if I say so) but they really don't like dogs. Every dog = the flock moving out on to the water, and you have to wait for them to swim back in when the coast is clear. On a weekend I think they give up and go to the reserve bit, but it still shows okay from the hide but a scope may be required then. Find the flock and it will be in there.

Yellowhammer on the feeders in the car park.

Good luck.
 
It was from the main hide Steve, the one looking onto the feeding station. There were 3 pairs of birds under the feeders mopping up the fallen grain, the other 3 were in the small beck that runs from the pool by the feeders to the main lake. I was watching them for easily half an hour and they were still there when I left the hide.

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
 
It was from the main hide Steve, the one looking onto the feeding station. There were 3 pairs of birds under the feeders mopping up the fallen grain, the other 3 were in the small beck that runs from the pool by the feeders to the main lake. I was watching them for easily half an hour and they were still there when I left the hide.

Cheers Keith.
 
York and suroundings

Still a few redpoll at redhouse,as well as siskin.Didn't ever realise LTT had a 'yellow' eye lid;see picture,maybe just something i've missed all along!
Peregrine at owl site,poor pic,apologies;it stormed across!!
 

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At Fairburn the Kingfisher has been giving some great views from the Kingfisher screen in the last few days. Also Willow Tit in the same area and at the Pickup feeders. Female Brambling at the Pickup feeders. Three Little Egrets at Pickup today. A female Goldeneye giving good views on Spoonbill Flash from the road.

The Am. Wigeon has been showing very well on the opposite bank from the hide. Try to avoid a weekend day. I got some stonking shots of it, (even if I say so) but they really don't like dogs. Every dog = the flock moving out on to the water, and you have to wait for them to swim back in when the coast is clear. On a weekend I think they give up and go to the reserve bit, but it still shows okay from the hide but a scope may be required then. Find the flock and it will be in there.

Yellowhammer on the feeders in the car park.

Good luck.

Cheers for the info Steve (& others).

The Kingfisher is my main reason for going to Fairburn for, for one it'll keep the kids interested & it may actually allow me to get some decent photos!!

Best keep the pooch at home then if we do end up at Anglers. I presume, then, that later Saturday afternoon might give better opportunities?

Here's hoping for a successful afternoon.
 
Doc - re: LT Tit eyelid colour

By chance the results from a LTT eyelid colour study came out last week! It seems that juveniles have a purple eyelid colour until December at the latest. The colour then changes to anything from red through orange to yellow. The new colour doesn't appear to relate to gender.

PS How does the quote message bit work?
 
PS How does the quote message bit work?

you press it and it gives you the whole of the other persons message that you are quoting, you can if you want as i have done edit the message to show just the bit you are referring to and then type your reply underneath
 
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The lengths some ppl will go to to improve their British lists...

You were happy to tick it though ;) Enough already

Just in case anyone hadn't noticed, several of the previous posts were just for a bit of fun and not to be taken seriously.

The fact that Trystan paid me in forged tenners is neither here nor there ;)
 
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1 Male and 1 Female Mandarin still at Adel NR, from both hides, plus 2 Male barely visible tucked behind willows at far end of dam. Woods and the feeders very busy. On Golden Acre Park pond had just one pair of Goosanders plus mobs of the usual suspects, (inc the Bar Headed Goose which hangs around the picnic tables). Pauls pond quiet, just 12+ tufted ducks, but the again the woods there very busy.
 
Hi Paul,

You can park in the Laybys along newlands lane off the a59 and view into the fields should be obvious where they are but roughly se548540

Best of luck

Thanks for info on Poppleton gulls Tim, tried a couple of times to get them but only had my bins, which arn't the best! + didn't have much time. Tried again today + dipped again. Looked on bird guides + it said 1 glaucous + 6 iceland this afternoon! I finished working in york tday so i'm going to make a trip up there special as soon as i can + see if i can have a bit beter luck with my scope

Paul
 
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

Hi Richard

A Wigeon - last few times I have been has been feeding on the banking on the right hand side of the lake as you walk down from the car park past the visitor centre/cafe. Viewable from the picnic tables by the lake here.

BN Grebe - If you have a OS Map easiest way to find it is to head to the south west corner of wintersett res (top res). Its not always close in so you may need a scope to get a decent view.

Smew - again with OS map - it tends to be on the western side of Wintersett res - find the point where you are stood between wintersett res and cold hiendley res.

At fairburnings a pair of brambling were showing well by the feeders at pick up hide the other week, they may still be about.

Good luck

John
 

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