Saturday 30 October 2010

3rd Time lucky

Distant shots of a superb Male Hen Harrier this pm (3rd visit this week).
The camera had trouble locking on this bird, hence the blurring.

c 200 Pink-footed Geese over + 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 7 Grey Partridge and another Peregrine on route.


Waxwings showed well this PM at Skircot Green.





Bottom 4 pics digi scoped.







Thursday 28 October 2010

No sign of Waxwings today.

Walked around all the Waxwings favorite haunts today with no luck. Had a Redpoll and 2 Bullfinches at Roils Head.

Wednesday 27 October 2010

27th October

What to do, go back and try to get better photos of the Waxwings or go looking for local Hen Harriers. No contest, went looking for HHs with no luck, did have distant views of 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel. Other birds included 3 Red Grouse, 2 Pheasants, 1 Siskin and a couple of Goldcrests.

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Waxwings 26th October



On my way out of ASDA this PM, Dave S rang me about a flock of Waxwings reported near the Hospital. Dave picked me up but we didnt find the birds where they had been seen, we did however find at least 16 birds at King Cross behind the Fire Station. We were joined by DJP and I managed some record shots in very poor light.


Monday 25 October 2010

25th October

Usual walk over Roils Head brought 30 Fieldfares, 30+ Lapwings and 60 BHGs. The best bird though was a Peregrine over Tower Hill Norton Tower, unfortunatly my camera was still in its case and by the time I got it set the bird was heading away.

Sunday 24 October 2010

24th October

Went looking for local Hen Harriers today with no luck, we did have 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 2 Greylag Geese, 130 Fieldfare, 30+ Red Grouse, heard Little Owl and Tawny Owl.

Saturday 23 October 2010

Richards Pipit at Buckton 16th October

Flight shot of the Richard's Pipit at Buckton on 16th October, thanks to Bucktonbirder Mark Thomas, take a look at his blog site Bucktonbirder theres some good stuff on it.
Click on all photos to blow up.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

18th October




2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were found at Holbeck Scarborough.




17th October Filey Brigg


Velvet Scoter off the brigg with Common Scoters.

Knot on the brigg.


17th October Buckton





This superb Rough-legged Buzzard was found at the bottom of Hoddy Cows Lane Buckton at 13.34PM. It was continually mobbed by corvids.

Accipiter Nissus was also recorded at Buckton on 17th.





16th October

Peregrine harrasing the local pigeons at Buckton.

Message from a disgruntled land owner.

16th - 18th October Filey-Buckton-Bempton-Scarbor

Lots of birds around Hoddy Cows Lane Buckton, mainly thrushes, Goldcrests, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and finches. A Blackcap and a Mealy Redpoll gave us hope of finding some thing good. Then news broke of a Richards Pipit further up the coast so we strolled up to the field and a large pipit flushed and flew around calling before returning to the field to give decent views. Unfortunatly I didnt manage any photos. On the way back to the car a Peregrine was givin the local pigeons something to worry about. On to Bempton, not much there but Tree Sparrows and a covey of Red-legged Partridge.

17th Oct
Back to Hoddy Cows Lane Buckton where it was obvious that most birds had shipped out over night. However after trudging around for a couple of hours we desided to leave when Steve shouted out RAPTOR, I looked up and shouted ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, camera out and I managed to get several decent images. We rang JB and NC who were down at Flamborough but they didnt connect with the bird. 6 Common Buzzards were then picked up at Danes Dyke with Kestrel and Sparrowhawk also recorded that afternoon.
We then moved on to Filey Brigg where I found a Velvet Scoter in with 9 Common Scoters. Finally 3 Whooper Swans flew south at Dusk.

18th October
Off to Scarborough for the reported Dusky Warbler but we dipped out. We did manage 2 adult winter Med Gulls at Holbeck though. Then tried to get on the Brigg but the sea had other ideas so we finnished the trip off at Filey Dams where the usual birds were found. A Common Buzzard was picked up on our way Home.
PHOTOS TO FOLLOW.

Friday 15 October 2010

15th October

Walked down to LA's house at Warley to pick up the key for his gaff at Hunmanby, on the way had a Nuthatch and 2 Jays. He says that Nuthatch are regular there which was news to me. After going to see my dad had a walk over Roils Head and was surprised to here a Chiffchaff calling. A Song Thrush in amongst the Blackbirds is also a scare bird here. The only other bird of note was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Off to the east coast tonight for the weekend or maybe longer ? Listening to Thin Lizzy whilst I pack, Jail Break and Johnny the Fox, what a great band they were with Robo on guitar.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

A Roils Head tick. 13th Oct

One of 2 Roe Deer seen in thier usual spot this evening.

A dead Comma butterfly found yesterday.
My daily walk over Roils Head today produced a new bird for the site, as I walked through the bushy area at the bottom of Roils a bird flushed to my left and I was surprised to see a Little Owl flying away. It landed out of site but was soon given away by a Magpie which kindly pointed it out to me. Unfortunatly the camera couldn't lock on to the bird and it soon flew off before I could get a photo. Also present 2 Bullfinch and 5 Common Gulls at High Road Well Moor.


Tuesday 12 October 2010

12th October


Sunset looking from Heath Hill Road towards Stoodley Pike and Sunderland Pasture. Went to Cold Edge this PM. 1 Tufted Duck, 7 Greylags, 1 Stonechat and 3 Wheatears were the best I colud do. After Tea usual walk over Roils Head produced 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Redwings, c40 Meadow Pipits and a Snipe at Tower Hill.

Monday 11 October 2010

A bird in the hand - Radde's Warbler





My 5th ever Radde's Warbler and 4th in the Spurn area. The first Ive seen in 10 years. We were lucky to be in the right place at the right time and joined the que to view this little beauty. The thing is can you count a bird in a ringers hands or do you have to wait to tick it when it is released. Not that Im bothered but I think It was a lifer for Steve C.




Pallas's Warbler at Sammys Point

Birders gather at Sammys Point.



The best pictures I managed of the Pallas's Warbler. This is the 12th Ive seen and the first for 12 years. Raddes photos to follow.



Spurn 10th October




Siskins were hopping around at peoples feet.


Redstart on the rocks.



Lapland Bunting with a gammy eye. All Lap Bunt photos digi scoped.

This Great Grey Shrike showed briefly at Kilnsea. Digi Scoped image. Photos of Raddes and Pallas's Warblers to follow.