Happy New Year

To all who read this I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year with many ticks and good days out. A few images to whet your appitites. Not as fanciful as they might seem as several Grosbeaks and Woodpeckers have been seen on the eastern seaboard of Norway and Hawk Owls had a good breeding season.

Pine Grosbeak

Hawk Owl



Three-toed Woodpecker



Ticker

Despite a record year and a valliant effort "Ticker" bit the dust, he managed a score of 210 where I some how managed to score 245.

Better luck next year Ticker when I will be handicapped to Yorkshire birds only. 

Christmas Calorie Burn

Pied Wagtail

In a desparate effort to use a few of the excess calories consumed over Christmas, Lindsay, Kes and me went for a stroll round the Castleford end of Fairburn Ings. Despite all the water been frozen a few Mallards, Teal and Coot were still hanging on at the edge of the Calder. Twenty eight Cormorants were roosting on the pylons and there was a good scattering of Redwing and Blackbirds in the bushes where there was also a few Bullfinch.

A Grand Day Out

After a slow start I from home and a stop off to look at a flock of about 80 Waxwings feeding in a Catoniaster near Kirkbymoorside, I eventually arrived at Scarborough and was treated to some fine winter birding thanks to help from Ian Glaves an Nick Addy. First port of call was the harbour to look for the GN Diver that had taken to fishing there, I was not disappointed as the bird cruised right past Ian and myself allowing some half decent shots in good light.

Great Northern Diver

 Next place to visit was Holbeck car park to see if the Med Gulls were about and again thanks to Nick and  a loaf of bread there was soon four adults on show. Despite a heavy shower the sun eventually came out and I got a few shots, not as good as I would have liked but as the birds are now settled for the winter, I hope to do better later on.

Med Gull in flight

Med Gull

 As I was watching the Med gulls a gentleman who I had spoken to in the harbour ( I am ashamed to admit I recognise him but cannot remember his name) arrived and told me that there was a first year Glausous Gull on the beach just down from the outdoor pool in south bay. That been not too far from where I was parked Kes and me set of in the hope of seeing it. Sure enough exactly as directed the bird was showing well and even allowed close enough approach for a few record shots.

First winter Glaucous Gull

Also on show here was a nice selection of waders among the rocks, amazingly this Redshank allowed some pictures and the Purps were as usual very approachable and I am very pleased with the shots I got of them.
 

Redshank

Purple Sandpiper

The day was rounded off with a much appreciated cup of coffee and some lunch provided by Penny and Ian which was enjoyed whilst watching the fine selection of sparrows, buntings and finches in their garden.

Thanks to all for a Grand Day Out.

Global Warming my Arse

With temperatures dropping as low as minus 19 just up the road at Leeming and about 8" of snow on the ground it felt more like central Siberia than North Yorkshire.

Boroughbridge Road

Reflections

Dont forget to keep feeding the birds and remember that water is just as important as most natural sources are frozen.

Pictures at Last



Why is it called Waxwing mummy ??





After much looking and searching with a few flyovers to show for my efforts, I finally managed to catch up with a nice flock of Waxwings. I dashed home for the camera and the trilling was coming from the top of a tree next to the road where 19 birds were settled, these soon flew towards the sports centre and joined the feeding frenzy in a White Rowan which was right next to the centre door. Setting up right next to the tree and despite the apauling light I managed to get a few quite reasonable shots. In all 52 birds were present and very much appreciated by the small crowd I attracted.

A Grey Day

With a thick damp mist hanging over Ripon and soon getting fed up with housework, I decided to strike out and try for a year tick or two. Ticker has been scoring with every shot this autumn and has reached the heady heights of 208 with me floundering on 243 having missed everything.


First it was a quick trip to Skipton where a Grey Phalarope put on a great show to the assembled few and posed beautifully for some snaps.

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

 Unfortunately the light having not ever been much better than poor all day deteriorated to crap by the time I arrived at Hollingworth Lake so the pictures of the Grebe only just qualify as record shots, still they are better than the ones I had.

Pied-billed Grebe

Struck out again on sunday looking for Waxwings in Harrogate. Despite a tip from PKB about 100 on Jennyfields I still dipped. Anyway thats 245 now, might manage 250 for first time in years.

Sunday Ringing

A very cold dawn welcomed us to our ringing site and nets took a lot longer than usual but we eventually produced some very nice birds. Of the 500 Fieldfares which were in the area we caught one !!

First year male Fieldfare

A grand total of 46 new birds were caught with a respectable species tally of 16 which included a few Redwings and Blackbirds as well as two Siskins and a fine Kingfisher which was caught in a net as far from water as is possible on our site near feeder 1.

First year female Kingfisher

First year male Siskin

Waxwing at last

I was definately starting to think it was personal between me and our colourful scandinavian visitors but at long last I finally caught up with a small flock of 12 Waxwings feeding in a tree at the end of my street. A mad dash back home for the camera was to no avail as on my return the tree was been beseiged by a group of kids playing catch, the little darlings had sent the Waxwings flying and despite checking all the usual haunts in the immediate area not another bird was seen.

An update from Ticker this week and despite some very wintery weather he is still pushing hard and with me in the yearlist doldrums he has amassed 208, his latest been Lappmeis (thats Siberian Tit to you and me) which seems to have taken up residence at our photographer friend Terjes feeding station for the winter. If any photographers actually read this trips can be arranged, both for passerine feeding stations (Grey-headed Woodpecker and Sibe Tit) so far this autumn as well as the usual selection of tits, finches and woodpeckers and to a feeding station for eagles which has a comfortable purpose built hide overlooking it.

Well Done Nick

News from this weekend is sparse as I have had personal commitments. Birding at most times is more important than life or death to some of us.

But at certain times it must take a back seat and this weekend one of the most dedicated and capable east coast birders, a self confessed beer guzzling, pie eating, unfit and well past his best before date completed the Scarborough 10K in memory of his son William, all proceeds donated to a charity set up to help premature babies through their early days BLISS.

Congratulations to Nick Addey who raised over £500

Milestone reached

Congratulations to ticker who has just this morning reached his 200 for the year in Nord-trondelag with a Lappfiskand, thats Smew to us illiturate English. News also recieved from our manic Norwegian twitcher friend Dickie Nyburg who now stands on 393 for Norway after picking up a Bairds Sandpiper. I should add that the people in Norway who have 400 on their lists can be counted on one hand, so come on Dickie.

Gold Strike

With more conducive conditions for ringing Kes and me were joined by Aidan for a mornings ringing at BM. I think we were all hoping for a Yellow-browed, well two of us were the other was hoping someone would throw a stick. (I have tried to get Aidan to seek help with this problem) Alas the wished for bird made landfall a few miles to the north with Nosterfield Nature Reserve near Masham getting this little gem from the east. Even worse two Blue-tails made land within twitching distance but thankfully neither were in Yorkshire, as I had other commitments in the afternoon and very enjoyable they turned out to be, there will be others I hope (thats enjoyable other commitments and Blue-tails).

I digress, the ringing went well with 147 birds of 17 species been ringed and a couple of nice returning old friends for the winter. Top score went to Goldfinch with 104 with amazingly Goldcrest with seven coming in second. Summer was still represented by singles of  Chiffchaff and Blackcap and winter got its foot in the door with a Redwing. Aidan also scored a ringing tick with a nice juv male Sparrowhawk. 

Its an East Wind

With persistant drizzle and a sneaky wind, ringing was a non starter this morning, so after a bit of a lie in it was off to South Gare for Kes and me to see if the easterly had delivered, and wow it delivered the whole place was ticking, tweeting and chacking. The main species involved were Robin, Goldcrest and Redwing with a supporting cast of Siskins, Song Thrush, Brambling and Chiffchaff there was also a few Blackcaps and several Dunnocks, Reed Buntings and Wheatears. A little spice was added by a Great Grey Shrike that was doing the rounds and terrorising any small bird it clapped eyes on, there was also a juv Reb-breasted Flycatcher and a Black Redstart on show. Overhead there was an almost constant stream of Redwings as flocks of upto a hundered came in off the sea and alighted in the bushes..


Below is a selection of the birds that were on show............

Goldcrest

Red Breasted Flycatcher



Great Grey Shrike



Robin

Redwing

Ticker on the Brink

With  Scaup finding its way onto Tickers list this week he now stands on the brink of the magic 200. As an aside our birding buddy "Dickie" Nyburg arrived on Utsira a day late and dipped on the Chestnut Bunting.

Evening Stroll

The nice weather prompted a walk round the patch this evening. There was some evidence of a few grounded migrants with 11 Song Thrushes, five Chiffchaffs and eight Goldcrests seen. Around the feeders there was an impressive number of Goldfinch with at least 90 in the bushes near feeder 1. Overhead there were a couple of House Martins and a single Swallow. Noticing some damp in the lab I looked on the roof and found the offending hole in the felt. Fortunately I had a tin of sealant which I applied liberally to the said hole. Having seen the forcast for tomorrow I am pleased I did as another deluge is predicted.

Autumn Jewels

After the deluge of biblical proportions yesterday it was a very plesant surprise to wake this morning and find the Tri and her forcasting buddies finally got it right. A still morning with no rain. So it was action stations at our ringing site with three of us erected three nets to see what was about.

Fifty six new birds and five retraps were captured in a little over three hours mainly Goldfinch (33) but also included our first Goldcrest of the autumn and a brace of Blackcaps and a single Chiffchaff. Goldcrest always means the start of autumn for me as these "Woodcock pilots" start to filter onto our shores from the soon to be frozen north where they are affectionately called "Spruce Louse"


Chiffchaff



Autumn Jewels in cobweb



The always sad looking Spruce Louse

There was quite a few birds about with a trickle of Vis.Mig also with 19 Swallows, 27 Meadow Pipits (s) and about 30 Skylarks (w), nine Song Thrushes also dropped in from the east and after a short while, I guess to reorientate spiralled up and headed off west. A Buzzard also showed well and about 1000 Lapwings were in the fields near WHP. In the bushes there was seven Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps and about a dozen Goldcrests.

Anglo Norsk scores on the doors

As we enter thr last and sometimes most rewarding last quarter I am still maintaining my lead with 241 but Ticker is putting up a very spirited performance and may well crack the magic 200 for Norway with his current score been 198.

Bishop Monkton "Brucie Bonus"

I felt like some fresh air this afternoon after spending most of last night puking, so feeling a lot better and after much prompting from Kes we went for a walk round our patch at Bishop Monkton. On the way into the village where Mr Winkups boys were busy ploughing and sowing there was an amazing gathering of Common Gulls with 2352 counted along with 17 Lesser Black-backed and 9 Herring Gulls. There was also 29 Lapwing here but despite a good scan there was no Wheatear.

Onto Wetherhills Pond where there was a sizable flock of Lapwings 1057 counted, mixed in with these were two Golden Plovers and the bonus of a Dotterel which is the second record for the area and a very nice bird, alas with no telescopic lense there is no picture. In the afternoon sunshine it was easy to see why the old name for Lapwing was Green Plover, they looked magnificent.

Holidays Over

Well thats me back from my autumn migration watch in Norway. Whilst away I have recieved notification that my camera and lense will be replaced so I hope to be able to bring you some more enlightening illustrations soon. Main highlight was a Lesser White-fronted Goose that appeared to a luck few (me been one) which was not only a Norwegian tick but a lifer to boot. Whoopie, I also got three more Norsk ticks Water Rail, Pomerine Skua and Black-tailed Godwit.

I will bring more news when I get my notebook sorted and the pictures sorted.

Morning Ringing

Light winds at 04:30 prompted an early rise and the opening of nets at our site near Ripon. The wind picked up at about 10 but by then we had caught about 50 birds the bulk of which were Goldfinches but singles of Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler added some interest as did an adult male Whitethroat which gave Aidan a good mental workout and highlighted the finer points of a bird in this plumage. The main harbinger of autumn was also starting to put in an appearance with eight Blackcaps also caught.

Overhead there was a trickle of vis.mig with three Tree Pipits, two Yellow Wagtails, 21 Sand Martins and a Grey Wagtail all flying south. Other birds of interest included a single Buzzard and four Cormorants. The Green Sandpiper was still on show at WHP and a female Sparrow Hawk was a nice sight as it was harrassed by the local Swallows at Ivy House Farm.

A few butterflies showed in sheltered spots with Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Large White and Small Tortoiseshell all seen.

Disaster at Scarborough

Hi and sorry for the lack of news lately, I have been working away but the main reason for my lack of post is that I am in mourning over the death of my trusty D90. Excellent camera it may be but it and the 300mm that were attached at the time did not survive the fall over the cliff at Long Nab, Burniston. I am gutted, even more so by the fact that my Fruit and Nut was pulverised and impregnated with glass. Typically for me a mishap has occured just before I go on holiday.

Pre roost Hirundines

A quick stroll round Wetherhills Pond tonight revealed a nice Green Sandpiper and a couple of Sedge Warblers whilst over head about 400 Swallows were performing their pre roost flypast.

Butterflies and a nice surprise

The sunny weather on Sunday prompted me to take a stroll round looking for Butterflies. There were lots of Peacocks, Large White and Green-veined Whites on the wing. I also managed Comma, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and a few Gatekeepers.

Peacock

Small Tortoiseshell

Gatekeeper

The nice surprise was waiting at WHP when I got back to the van with three Green Sandpipers feeding on the expose mud, this is the largest number I have seen grounded in the BM area. There was also a nice selection of Sedge, Reed and Willow Warblers here and the Coot and Moorhen families have turned into rowdy teenagers causing havoc scrapping and chasing each other about.

Juv Moorhen

Green Sandpiper

BONJOUR

A fine morning with overcast skies and no wind were conducive to some ringing at Bishop Monkton. On the first net round a very pleasant surprise was a Sedge Warbler wearing a french ring. Hopefully if I live to be 117 I might find out when and where it was ringed.

The Ring

The bird

Mid week Moffing and the odd Bird

A day off today allowed for some mid week Moff action, to be honest I wished I had stayed in bed. There was a few nice ones, but numbers and species were disappointing. Best were Old Lady and the fist Sallow of the Autumn.

Sallow

Old Lady

Only 41 moth species as the temperature dropped away quite a lot with clear skies. Very few new birds in the nets undoubtedly the best was the first Grasshopper Warbler of the Autumn.

Grasshopper Warbler

The most interesting thing today in my mind was an invasion of hoverflies, there was 100s if not 1000s about. They were on every flower, I have no idea as to identity so if anyone actually reads this and knows, please let me know.

Just a few of the Hoverflies

Thankyou

Its pouring down and theres no chance of any Swallows or Martins at Wetherhills pond tonight, I must thank Dave Watkins for the super picture of the pond he sent through tonight, it now my banner picture.

Lapwings over the pond

Salthome Double Whammy

A page mid morning alerted me to a Juvenile Whiskered Tern at Salthome on TeesSide so after work a quick trip home for the camera and bins and off northwards. About 10 mins out the pager went again and a bonus bird had shown up in the guise of a White-rumped Sandpiper which rather conveniently was stood right next to the Whiskered Tern when I arrived, two year ticks in the same scope view, what an evening.

As Kes had tollerated sitting in the car for quite some time we went onto the North Gare where one of us chased a stick and had a swim, whilst the other did some tern watching, which paid off as mixed in with several Common, Sandwich and a few Arctic was a nice adult Roseate. Unfortunately the Terns and the Sandpiper were too far off to get a picture but happily a fine Merlin sat on the fence near the car when we returned to it was more obliging.

Thats me upto 234 for the year now, waiting for an update from ticker.

Better late than never

In early july I was lucky enough to be invited to join a trip round the Western Isles surveying and ringing White-tailed Eagles, what a fantastic experience, I can report without giving too much away that the birds are doing quite well and there are a good number of birds breeding this year.

Mother

The Kids

I took along my moth trap and ran it from the cottage where we were staying, several "Northern Specialities" were, the most impressive in my book was the Saxon which was a new species for me.

The Hedge

Hi, upto a couple of weeks ago I was getting some friendly joshing from my neighbours as to when I was going to cut my rather unkempt privet hedge at the front of my house. My answer to them was that I was waiting for it to put on a show. Well its now in full bloom and is litteraly buzzing, its covered in a wonderfull array of insects from the huge bumble bees to the tinyist beetles and butterflies. Those same neighbours are now commenting how wonderfull it looks, sounds and smells, I personally think its a valuable lesson for us today in this world of obsessive tidyness.