tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351983562011-09-10T22:44:37.979+01:00Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comBlogger6031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-31125280323921240482009-08-07T11:44:00.003+01:002009-08-07T11:54:44.097+01:00

WhitbyBirding is closing as of today. I'm still blogging but posts will be on the Literate Herring blog - click here to go there. Thank you to all contributors and readers over the last few years, it was fun while it lasted.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-54161330877409138812009-08-07T11:36:00.002+01:002009-08-07T11:43:59.375+01:00

Thousands of hoverflies through the garden over the last two days, Wednesday evening and yesterday morning were exceptional. Mostly Episyrphus balteatus but other species involved as well. Found the sawfly Urocerus gigas at the new Pannett Park play ground on Wednesday, had probably emerged from the equipment - very blurry pix only, on BBerry.Purple Thorn in the house this morning.Huge numbers of

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-62088100568698592272009-08-07T11:30:00.002+01:002009-08-07T11:36:04.277+01:00

BirdGuides is reporting a possible adult Ross's Gull on the East Pier, Whitby Harbour yesterday. A bit annoying as I was a few hundred metres away at lunchtime, so it goes .... not much time today either.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-59436875035748259632009-08-04T09:31:00.001+01:002009-08-04T09:31:45.649+01:00

One Hummer on the Buddlia again yesterday.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-30529038153148069772009-08-02T20:05:00.002+01:002009-08-02T20:29:19.678+01:00

Nick and Sandra brought their moth trap around so first thing this morning we were wading knee deep through Large Yellow Underwings to try to discover the quality within. There are still five or six moths unnamed but on the whole we managed to id them without too much difficulty. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth paid the Buddlia a visit whilst we were doing the id, the third this year. Marbled Beauty is

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-19954580311889240632009-08-01T08:06:00.003+01:002009-08-01T08:17:40.668+01:00

Dramatic Scaling Dam produced this bit of excitement as the Stoat attempted to murder Moorhens and Mallards.Other birds present included Green Sandpiper.Yesterday I went to Kettleness for a brief seawatch. This produced Manx Shearwater, 4; a medium sized annoyingly distant wader and a small annoyingly distant wader as well as a Whimbrel on the shore. Sandwich Terns were trickling south and one

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-61090975065982285212009-07-23T09:35:00.002+01:002009-07-23T09:39:57.238+01:00

Autumn is officially here, the first Willow Warbler flock exhibiting that pre-migration aggression were in the garden today mixed up with Blue, Coal and Great Tits, Wrens, Robins and a Blackcap. There were eleven Willow Warblers in that group. There was also a younger family party of three or four Willow Warblers with the adult still feeding the young. 20 Lapwings flew over the garden going west

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-6879338817902156262009-07-23T09:32:00.002+01:002009-07-23T09:35:18.630+01:00

I've been seeing a few herring Gulls with single, long, orange darvic rings. These are numbered, 1739 was at Scaling Dam on Tuesday evening. Anyone know who to contact for these? I've tried looking on the cr birding and can't find anything .....

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-79897557351756230742009-07-22T22:45:00.001+01:002009-07-22T22:46:24.093+01:00

Two Icelandic race Blackwits were at the Yorkshire end yesterday evening. Not much else though.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-24269248347852226022009-07-19T18:02:00.002+01:002009-07-19T18:04:04.712+01:00

Garden Warbler acting suspiciously in the garden this morning. I think they are breeding in the wild raspberry patch where the Whitethroats tried last year.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-57310969249003839992009-07-19T17:09:00.004+01:002009-07-19T18:01:20.418+01:00

Suspect it was escaping rather than trying to get in, the cats pick them up from time to time, especially after heavy rain but they rarely kill them. We occasionally find them running around the living room trying to get out.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-22573036401911774662009-07-19T16:01:00.005+01:002009-07-19T16:42:25.320+01:00

Walking to the Old Nab yesterday I noticed there were quite a lot of Silver Ys, about 60 or so on thistles mostly. Numbers in the garden have gradually built up until today there were about 70 or so on the lavender patch alone, mid-afternoon.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-919042250985481862009-07-19T09:31:00.004+01:002009-07-19T18:05:14.797+01:00

.... but this was in a tree near home. A species I won't be seeing much of pretty soon.A quick look on the moor found breeding Whitethroats and a Tree Pipit but the reliable Whinchat place proved not so reliable.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-83967772429757866842009-07-19T09:22:00.002+01:002009-07-19T09:30:53.590+01:00

The northerly eventually got me out on to the Old Nab yesterday afternoon for a rather damp seawatch. Falling "a over t" down the "bad step" onto the end didn't help. It was always likely to rain and of course it did and I got damp. However, Manx Shearwater, 6; Arctic Skua 1 (adult dark phase); two small flocks of Common Scoter scurrying north, total 28; Razorbill carrying food (looked like sand

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-40630300028721650082009-07-12T23:08:00.002+01:002009-07-12T23:13:59.422+01:00

Working for much of the day put paid to any proper birding but an afternoon visit to Danby Moor Centre (not my favourite place it should be said but the cakes are good) produced two pairs of Sand Martins and a Spotted Flycatcher.A Lesser Black-backed Gull sailed past the kitchen window early afternoon, narrowly missing air space (but it might be a tetrad tick). A Buzzard and the ever noisy

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-10334719238447769572009-07-11T12:46:00.004+01:002009-07-11T14:39:41.009+01:00

A fortnight without a post, what will my ever dwindling readership be thinking?Sadly neglected Scaling Dam continues to be sadly neglected. I've not even peeked at a seabird, indeed the only birding has taken place in the garden. This resulted in Lapwing being added to the garden list on Tuesday as one entered airspace, 71. The Garden Warbler and Blackcap have been absent since last weekend but

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-12892514978339776122009-06-28T20:43:00.004+01:002009-06-28T20:51:51.827+01:00

Part of the Open Gardens involves "scarecrow" making and displaying, this year ours was the life cycle of a butterfly.A Garden Warbler has been singing from all around the garden and once briefly from within it this weekend. The Blackcap is now largely silent but very occasional bursts of sing indicate it is still about, possibly breeding. Over the weekend three young Goldfinch fed on a thistle

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-43649414799438907972009-06-27T09:18:00.002+01:002009-06-27T09:21:29.578+01:00

Our "Open Gardens" leaflet can be found here.Rather madly, considering our circumstances, we've agreed to do this. The garden is open to visitors today and tomorrow, 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. At the moment it's rather foggy and very wet, not ideal.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-38270607504042497162009-06-26T16:53:00.001+01:002009-06-26T16:54:40.841+01:00

A juvenile Tree Sparrow was under the kitchen feeder with an adult this morning, they have clearly bred somewhere very close by.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-58705348439382340462009-06-25T01:28:00.006+01:002009-06-25T21:19:38.436+01:00

Small Elephant HawkmothElephant HawkmothElephant HawkmothProbably two Small Elephant Hawks in total and at one point had three Elephant Hawks around the light at once Also plenty of other moths, which will take me a while to id because I'm no great shakes at them.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-2222273834776967272009-06-21T21:54:00.004+01:002009-06-21T22:20:41.533+01:00

Dad's Day treat - go to Runswick Bay and have a pub lunch. I'm very fond of the Royal Hotel which serves a good pint of Black Sheep and decent enough grub (fish and chips recommended if you're hungry). You can sit out overlooking the bay and casually bird whilst enjoying these refreshments. This Wood Mouse was in the garden.On the way down the first Herring Gull chick of the season was on a

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-26076796996670598462009-06-21T00:00:00.003+01:002009-06-21T21:54:20.457+01:00

Hhhhmmmmmmmm.... Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden this evening (very blurry pix in the gloaming). Rather early in the season methinks.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-91021451197159737692009-06-14T17:29:00.004+01:002009-06-14T21:35:24.785+01:00

So the Painted Lady invasion finally reached here with one early in the week in the garden and one in Whitby and then four in the garden yesterday and at least six today.Bombus hortorumThe bumblebee photos are from last weekend when I had a surprising lack of enthusiasm for birding and stayed at home mooching about.Bombus pascuorum (also saw B. pratorum)Up and about early on Saturday morning my

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-32154744769260495552009-06-06T21:10:00.002+01:002009-06-06T21:16:07.803+01:00

Today both House Sparrow and Tree Sparrow in the garden, the House Sparrow female feeding two young by the feeders. This is the first sighting of this species, common 400 metres away, in the garden for about a year. Also plenty of Siskin and Goldfinch. Willow Warbler are now whoeeeting in the trees. A Blackcap sang briefly from behind the feeders.I managed to repair the pond which had sprung a

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-12104485579108430882009-05-21T23:17:00.003+01:002009-05-21T23:47:14.714+01:00

Awoke early and for the first time in a while felt sprightly before five so ... Initially headed for an Atlas site but it was shrouded in thick cloud so gave up and decided to play hunt the Dotterel again, encouraged by Dave's comments from yesterday. However, Dotterel were laying low, with good reason a male Marsh Harrier was cruising for a bruising. Curlews going beserk, Lapwings distracting

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-22814391422915417922009-05-19T22:58:00.003+01:002009-05-21T23:52:41.318+01:00

Various things conspired and combined to prevent much birding taking place .... Dotterel turned up at Danby the day I didn't go, Scaling Dam continued to hold the Icelandic Blackwit on Saturday when three Ringed Plover appeared with a Garden Warbler.On the coast Bonxie cruised past Saltwick and there was much hirundine confusion with small parties of House Martins heading north whilst Swallows

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-3796844170407055972009-05-14T22:38:00.003+01:002009-05-14T23:28:37.792+01:00

...but not at gloomy Scaling Dam. Met by a birder leaving the hide who indicated a no Black Tern situation I persevered. A Great Crested Grebe was new, 4 Teal fed in the corner and a very odd looking "Herring Gull" didn't fit anything other than an out of season argentatus.Even at this range the gull with the darker, bluer mantle can be picked out - great pic eh?I drove up to the beacon to have

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-48895614439499995012009-05-09T23:30:00.002+01:002009-05-09T23:39:28.328+01:00

The early morning outing was somewhat curtailed due to slight over indulgence of the Sauvignon Blanc the night before - drowning the misery of one of the worst movies I have had the misfortune to not watch all of (Anchorman - just don't bother). In any case the Dotterel were nowhere to be found despite careful searching.This evening there was a Short-eared Owl where I expected a L-eO and an

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-11871284188606497782009-05-04T20:16:00.003+01:002009-05-04T20:30:46.754+01:00

Nice pair of Garganey at damp Scaling Dam this afternoon.A colour ringed gull was amongst the large gulls and when it finally emerged it was a little problematic. The colour ring was a long orange ring with dark numbers/letters (too far away) on the tarsus and there was a metal ring (that perhaps looked too narrow for a BTO) on the left leg. It was a first winter/summer bird. The tertials were

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-55621223475408182652009-05-03T08:25:00.003+01:002009-05-03T09:05:50.429+01:00

It's probably a bit early I guess. I searched Danby Beacon carefully yesterday, no Dotterel were to be found. If you do check this site please be aware that Golden Plover breed near the Beacon, try to look from the road or the car park / Beacon area or at least wander with an awareness of breeding birds.At the Beacon there were good numbers of Wheatear, suspect these were migrants as at least one

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-71364162900008556732009-05-03T08:23:00.000+01:002009-05-03T08:24:41.487+01:00

I've adjusted Spock so he/I've shut up now.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-71858248236445428022009-05-01T23:33:00.002+01:002009-05-01T23:34:26.482+01:00

Tomorrow or Sunday may well be the days to look at high places, I'll be venturing a look at a nearby hill for the smart plover.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-77455926305688933082009-04-26T17:27:00.005+01:002009-04-26T17:37:19.170+01:00

Common SandpiperBroad-billed Sandless Scaling Dam did have a Ruff, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 LRPs, one Cuckoo and a Lesser Whitethroat. I couldn't raise the enthusiasm to pop back to see the escaped Ruddy Shelduck reported later.On the moor here there were about 25 Green Hairstreaks.Green Hairstreak on GorseToday I went searching again for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which I am fairly sure I have

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-86328630257766628982009-04-26T17:13:00.001+01:002009-04-26T17:15:29.799+01:00

"Spock, you fool! It's the wrong month for Broad-billed Sand, and trying to make up for it by letting a Ruddy Shelduck loose from Roxby just doesn't cut it. One Ruff, five Common Sandpipers and a Redshank were all I could find. Beam me up Scottie."

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-10856617808602269422009-04-24T20:56:00.008+01:002009-05-03T08:23:33.653+01:00

"My computations, adjusting weather conditions against knowledge of migratory habits,indicate that tomorrow a Broad-billed Sandpiper will be found on the muddy banks of nearby Scaling Dam. I will rise early, clean behind my ears and seek this rare, wading bird with diligent and careful searching."

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-32502922454875403192009-04-19T12:34:00.002+01:002009-04-19T12:45:31.816+01:00

Just now I heard a distant Whimbrel from the garden, I think. It was just a bit distant and it only called twice, in the end I decided not countable for the tetrad. At the beginning of the week I was puzzled by a call which was repeated over about three minutes or so, it seemed to be coming from a bird that was flying around high up. Later when I could check I listened to Bee-eater calls which

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-57041900324254215872009-04-17T20:39:00.004+01:002009-04-17T23:03:48.308+01:00

Due to the local penchant for annihilating owls I'm going to be circumspect about giving an indication where I see them. This evening's outing showed only too clearly what the problems are: managed grouse moors with miles of suitable habitat - no owls; place with no shooting - Short-eared Owl found within five minutes. These moors should have a pretty good population of S-eOs on habitat

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-88626572315075692772009-04-15T20:30:00.003+01:002009-04-15T20:33:51.216+01:00

My new blog can be found here.WhitbyBirding will continue for now but the baton will be passed, in a slow motion kind of a way, to my new blog - Literate Herring, this way.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-86381982527612086592009-04-12T23:43:00.006+01:002009-04-13T00:39:10.947+01:00

Feeling somewhat less lurgified than of late and having keen and raring to go Nick C staying, elected to head for one of my "undisclosed sites" this morning for some raptorial entertainment. On arriving at the spot and walking down the hill we both appeared to get on to the bird in front of us at about the same moment and without raising the bins, even at 50 metres, managed the correct id - Great

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-15694305406245603102009-04-10T11:43:00.001+01:002009-04-10T11:46:07.626+01:00

Aaaggggghhhh, I have the dreadful lurgy again. This does not seem fair. Birding currently cancelled. A brief venture outside found Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff singing.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-17814282330442130052009-04-07T15:04:00.007+01:002009-04-13T00:41:14.235+01:00

There were three Willow Warblers singing on my round this morning. It is the song that most heralds the change of season for me, I love that melancholy accent. I also saw two dead lambs, various placentae and one sheep with the head of, what looked like, another rather dead lamb sticking out of it's rear.Yesterday there were as many as five Sand Martins along the river at the Danby Moors Centre

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-71665113780397675542009-04-07T10:47:00.006+01:002009-04-07T15:40:24.491+01:00

I've been guilty recently of not reporting on some fairly interesting bits of movement - Saturday, Meadow Pipits were coasting and whilst I was by coastguards and then down at Saltwick there was a steady trickle heading north or westward.Yesterday morning something stirred in Fieldfare world. En route to bacon-butty-baited Scaling Dam a large flock of about 300 lingered in trees with about 50

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-47502022459527178812009-04-05T20:24:00.004+01:002009-04-07T10:40:08.446+01:00

A very relaxed afternoon at Runswick Bay. Not really birding. Up by the car park - the top, free one - there were Tree Sparrows in the little field adjacent, no sign of the Marsh / Willow Tits though. Yellowhammer flew over.On the way down to the beach there was Blackcap singing - probably two - and Chiffchaff was singing near the bottom boat club car park.On the water were Eider, Shag and, well

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-23456942669487812102009-04-04T13:47:00.001+01:002009-04-04T13:48:19.131+01:00

Two Swallows on wires in the village as I drove to work in thick mist yesterday morning.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-15550477897266704242009-03-31T22:40:00.003+01:002009-03-31T23:45:59.550+01:00

I walked out of a meeting at Caedmon School this morning to hear Chiffchaff singing. Later in the day, at home, early evening, I thought I heard another distantly from the garden.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-21146188802029257662009-03-29T12:42:00.004+01:002009-03-29T23:28:26.416+01:00

In the garden the Tree Sparrows are becoming daily visitors to the feeders. Tawny Owls are very vocal during the day at the moment, one hooting at 10:30 this morning. A Buzzard flew straight through the dale shortly after (a or the) male Sparrowhawk had made an unsuccessful raid on the feeders.Yesterday I had to combine work with birding, marshalling a fund raising treasure hunt, I was assigned

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-71698456955569316612009-03-24T22:09:00.002Z2009-03-29T12:59:33.057+01:00

Join the campaign to try to prevent changes to Italian law about hunting wild birds. Click here for info.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-75050532243056140912009-03-21T20:14:00.004Z2009-03-21T20:55:31.424Z

A lovely day here in the North Yorks Moors. I spent the day recovering from recent travelling by lazing around at home. Siskin were singing in the garden and good numbers visiting the trees and feeders, a Tree Sparrow put in an appearance, at dusk two Long-tailed Tits were on the peanut feeder at the front. Chaffinch numbers are still quite high at 50 or so and Yellowhammers abound. Also of

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-23346440517376994242009-03-19T19:48:00.002Z2009-03-19T19:52:19.114Z

No posts and no posts, WhitbyBiriding has been on the road. A no birding trip to London and adventures northward with little opportunity for birding (mega dip on a nearby Snowy Owl which I didn't even try for - shame). Nice flocks of Long-tailed Ducks though.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-5819625267643018642009-03-01T07:30:00.003Z2009-03-01T07:39:05.285Z

During much of the winter the Niger feeders have not attracted much interest but as spring is springing, the green shoots emerging, the Niger is being gobbled again. Chaffinches mostly but a few Siskin are now visiting regularly. Goldfinch continue to be very few and far between.Ah, just seen a Jay from the window, 100 for the year.In the autumn I omitted to report a Marsh Tit feeding on Niger.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-63941320249023681022009-02-23T22:25:00.005Z2009-03-01T09:42:20.102Z

The latest Yorkshire Bird report is now out and about.£10 + £2 P&P to non-members from the following address. (Free to YNU members, £25 per annum, membership enquiries to: Mr J. A. Newbould, Stonecroft, 3 Brookmead Close, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 6RS.)

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-26375068656952110212009-02-20T12:03:00.002Z2009-02-20T12:18:51.749Z

As soon as the snow was on its way into the gutter birds began to sing. Song Thrush was singing at Runswick Bay on Monday and at home on Tuesday, today there were three singing in the morning. For a bird that I've not seen or heard around the garden for weeks their sudden emergence is interesting. Have these Song Thrushes come in or have they been skulking around all the time?Also bursting into

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-59848539822992922352009-02-15T20:27:00.006Z2009-02-15T21:53:01.844Z

Red Grouse in the snowImpressionistic Red Grouse in flightThis morning I went somewhere by car, a bit of a way, and saw some birds.Unfortunately due to the vulnerability of some species and the prejudiced and ignorant attitude of a very few of the shooting fraternity (who sometimes monitor this blog) I can't say more than that.This afternoon following up a bit of information from Louise I checked

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-61190179329662237672009-02-14T20:50:00.002Z2009-02-14T20:59:31.674Z

On the way home yesterday by another route due to birthday mission a Barn Owl was hunting at a new site.Today after doing the Spa gull roost and Sandsend gull roost - no result. Decided to head back to yesterday's Barn Owl site, and found two more at another site on the way.Over at Coastguards there is still a single Velvet Scoter, 40 or so Common Scoter, a flock of 18 Eider + another 15 or so, 2

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-88560672174826733972009-02-12T20:30:00.002Z2009-02-12T20:42:14.206Z

... this morning a Barn Owl distracted me. I stopped the car and watched. The owl headed off up the field so I tried to head off to Whitby. Er, car not moving. Engine working - check; in gear - check; large sheet of black ice - check. I rolled gently down the hill backwards, the way I'd come and tried again and off I went to work.Things were rather serious on the way home; where's the road gone?

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-2818154425236724682009-02-08T17:46:00.001Z2009-02-08T17:46:21.182Z

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-62676748399750885362009-02-08T15:00:00.005Z2009-02-08T15:21:33.698Z

Late yesterday p.m.Please excuse the temporary disruption in service as my work interfered for the last few weeks. Hopefully the usual frequency of reporting will now be restored.Well it's snowed a bit hasn't it? Looking at North Downs and Beyond it seems to have snowed very considerably "down South" whilst we have escaped relatively lightly, excluding last Monday and yesterday when there was

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-19477652975112390212009-01-31T20:23:00.005Z2009-01-31T20:51:10.694Z

Not a Glaucous GullFar, far too much working to be done at the moment. All today and tomorrow, well allish. I nipped out at lunchtime but no Waxwings in the gardens or decent gulls in the harbour. However, the Spa gull roost beckoned at tea time and I shot out again for a short while. Small gulls close inshore, all Black-headed or Common. A few Eider were beyond the suicidal surfers who were

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-26556392673734260232009-01-25T09:20:00.002Z2009-01-25T09:29:27.216Z

Lovely morning yesterday so I decided to nip up on the moor.It was a bit icy around us but seemed ok.Halfway up the very steep road to the moor top I was beginning to question my sanity as the road was covered in frost, ice and some snow. Fortunately the trusty winter tyres did their job and the Fiesta got to the top. The less fortunate VW that had tried to go down a neighbouring route, I could

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-46226115986697275192009-01-18T15:20:00.002Z2009-01-18T15:39:50.157Z

Well it would be nice to have the vigour.I went twitching again yesterday. News of Rough-legged Buzzard not 25 minutes away and a sunny and available afternoon was sufficient motivation. Following my current good run in respect of the twitch, I got my gear out of the car, just about got organised and picked the bird up coming in from behind and had pretty decent views for about three or four

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-61593200662817562552009-01-17T10:55:00.002Z2009-01-17T10:59:43.977Z

A nip down to the garage to pay the bill :-( produced Nuthatch singing in the tree opposite and two or three Marsh Tits by the river. On my return home there was a Marsh Tit in the garden , absent since the turn of the year. Sparrowhawk raided the front feeders scaring a Treerat on the feeders so much it froze for over a minute, now if that had been a Gos you'd have been toast my son.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-16603457214766484102009-01-14T21:15:00.002Z2009-01-14T21:19:16.949Z

Rushing out of work earlier than usual to collect offspring some Starling like jobs flew over the car. They weren't, they were almost certainly Waxwings. I was short of time and it was gloomy but Starlings rarely look brown and do that spread tail thing. There were more, I glanced at 50 m.p.h. in the big tree by the Victoria Garden Centre. I'll take my bins tomorrow, perhaps I'll have lunch at

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-6395665740679696972009-01-14T20:22:00.002Z2009-01-14T20:25:57.856Z

My personal position is I will never go birding (that means visit) Israel until there is an equitable peace agreement that is lasting. Click here to protest the behaviour of the Israeli state.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-35938566578841873632009-01-14T00:22:00.003Z2009-01-14T20:16:15.441Z

Russell's new book is about to be published, reserve your copy here.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-14356278242128667782009-01-11T22:46:00.009Z2009-01-14T20:30:27.274Z

"He'd better hurry up with that photo or we'll all topple over!"It had been quite a while since I'd seen a Stonechat but on Saturday the familiar call caught my ear across the beach, where succeeded in photographing Oystercatchers beside a very sloping sea and a quick scan brought the species on to the year list.I spent a few hours around the east side of Whitby relocating the Velvet Scoter by

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-71764120421721562592009-01-03T20:28:00.011Z2009-01-03T22:32:18.642Z

The twitchersThe twitched (the bird directly behind the Carrion Crow)Ok, there's a proper picture of it here.I know why I don't often do this, it seems more like stamp collecting than birding (no doubt I'll be in trouble for that remark). However, part of me likes to see a rare thing occasionally. I can excuse myself with my interest in gulls and not having seen this species before, how could I

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-80843777231174784162009-01-03T20:23:00.003Z2009-01-03T20:27:52.341Z

TurnstonesSo yesterday I go along to Runswick Bay and just about the first bird I see is Song Thrush, then Grey Wagtail ..... Rock Pipit was heard but briefly though.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-16182886320923895752009-01-01T20:52:00.003Z2009-01-01T21:27:31.670Z

The score is 80 including Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon but not including Guillemot / Razorbill (unidentified specifically) or Muscovy Duck :-)The list is here.Happy New Year to all my readers and enjoy your birding in 2009.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-44656253658656118132009-01-01T20:12:00.003Z2009-01-01T20:52:30.526Z

Well almost, I managed to engineer returning from the children's party activities via a Barn Owl site and excellent views were obtained by all vehicle occupants. (The first thing one of the children said to collecting parent was, "I saw a Barn Owl!")Oh, heck! I've got to work out my Quicky score. It might be 80 or so, I'll count up and post the list later.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-83959793413261847012008-12-31T20:16:00.003Z2008-12-31T21:38:28.835Z

Yesterday was a right off for the Quicky Challenge as I had to attend a family event all day and although a moorland walk was involved the opportunity for adding any interesting species was minimal. However, I found some very nice trees.This morning dawned slowly but encouragingly, a Woodcock flew through the front garden as I stepped out into the gloom. Heading to the delightful Scaling Dam by a

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-65531782285019973922008-12-29T20:26:00.003Z2008-12-29T20:36:22.354Z

Running out of time I had to cover an Atlas square today, not very promising for a bundle of Quicksilver points but needs must. However, it wasn't quite as poor as I expected with Common Crossbill showing well and more unexpectedly a small flock of Lesser Redpoll. Bearing in mind that in a month or so a visit to this site will be a Song Thrush song extravaganza the lack of this species, still not

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-38540521240815163482008-12-29T12:05:00.005Z2008-12-29T12:17:02.013Z

Photo - Ingrid KentOk, I'm fibbing, Ingrid Kent a visitor to Whitby photographed this bird on or around the 20th December 2008. As you can see it has ribbons. Bit of a warning to any claims of a Gyr in this area, read the full story hereThe pic below rather gives it all away ....Photo - Ingrid KentThanks to Jon Carter for the info and getting the pix to me.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-50745015881486204882008-12-28T18:24:00.004Z2008-12-28T22:29:46.552Z

Saltwick BeachBeing a somewhat macabre crew, the family wanted to see the dead dolphin and I wanted to confirm the ID so at a relatively early hour we were all back down at Saltwick Nab. The Curlew were feeding in the field this time and 55 were counted. I then checked out the Black-headed Gulls and bingo! Adult Mediterrranean Gull amongst them - a quick Quicksilver score. Then down to the

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-22056930495688164692008-12-27T20:48:00.005Z2008-12-27T21:09:22.331Z

A rather sad event today was the finding of (what I think is) a dead White-beaked Dolphin on the beach at Saltwick. This is a species I've not seen alive, having looked the wrong way on a couple of occasions or been distracted by Wilson's Petrels or other feathery things.The dolphin did not appear damaged just dead. I guess it might have stranded itself but more likely it's just died out at sea

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-89915739904044206102008-12-27T20:15:00.002Z2008-12-27T20:26:59.320Z

A cancelled family event due to my sister-in-law driving her car into a bollard (people ok, car rather poorly) provided a bit of birding opportunity.The garden has been very quiet of late, I suspect some neighbour of spending exorbitantly on gourmet bird foods. Greenfinch are currently absent and the Chaffinch flock is rather pitiful. However, a single Goldfinch made an appearance and added a

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-4315098813736144022008-12-27T00:41:00.002Z2008-12-27T00:57:55.502Z

Singing DipperThe challenge started slowly with late emergence as the offsprings' usual early Christmas start - the 4 a.m. stocking opening - led to morning torpor. A trip to the coast found Kestrel on the way but three glimpsed divers were not ided and thus not counted so the seaside stroll, a traditional Christmas morn event, added relatively little other than the expected Curlew, Oystercatcher

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-66864706566746232392008-12-23T16:14:00.003Z2008-12-27T21:17:51.326Z

No birding because I'm knackered.Had to dash south and say Happy Birthday to my mum - this involved far too much driving and managing small persons in the back of the vehicle for an inordinate number of hours, tempers were somewhat frayed at the edges when we finally landed back home yesterday evening.Of interest were both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush in song in Sussex, I've not heard either

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-19574314992601311312008-12-17T22:42:00.009Z2008-12-17T23:47:47.093Z

These pix of a Lime Tree damaged by something - the damage looks very like damage by sapsucker sp to North American trees but this tree is in Peasholm Park, Scarborough.So either there is or has been a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Peasholm Park or something else has caused this.Compare the holes in this picture - click - to the damage in the pix below.Can Great Spotted Woodpecker do this? I've

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-24132447019795786702008-12-15T21:05:00.003Z2008-12-15T22:30:29.528Z

I've not kept my lists up-to-date but being unwell and needing something fairly mindless to do I started adding lists to Bubo. The life list is a wacky one. BB rares can only be added with a date and a place. Here BirdGuides Online Guide to Rares comes in handy. The earliest BB I saw was the Covehithe, Suffolk, Nutcracker in the invasion of 1968. I can remember hassling my parents to take me, we

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-78121257112709763482008-12-14T20:53:00.004Z2008-12-14T22:54:48.601Z

We leave the docks in to seed on the bank outside the back of the house, the Bullfinches like to feed on these.Louise did the Cormorant thing again, I was probably outside getting the coal when it went past as well .....

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-50911036945775377412008-12-14T20:34:00.001Z2008-12-14T20:36:22.455Z

These are a really neat idea, take a look.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-87203550821240892592008-12-14T11:16:00.005Z2008-12-14T16:12:12.153Z

The weather finally eased up and this morning is a still, dull, misty kind of a day. The bird feeders are busy again. Water is pouring off the moor, our little trickle through the pond and out down the side of the garden is something of a torrent.In my sick bed (oh, so very sick, man flu? No, this is ... oh, a near death experience, at least - thanks for your concern Nick, it is definitely

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-85199397304360443162008-12-13T12:35:00.003Z2008-12-13T12:52:58.568Z

A possible Black Grouse sighting has been reported to me but:I've a bad and seriously bad and very, very bad case of the lurgy - woe, woe woe is meand it's totally ****ing it down in buckets with a nasty, cold south-westerly to bootSo I'm staying behind the nice warmth containing, newly double-glazed windows drinking lemon flavoured paracetamol and seeing the very few birds that dare to risk the

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-31980546308195086662008-12-07T21:41:00.003Z2008-12-13T12:32:26.483Z

A Cormorant flew past this morning and then returned to fly over the house, disappearing before I could be alerted from my slumbers. So not only two in four days in the tetrad but a garden tick as well as it entered air space.There have been Bullfinches around the garden for the last few days, both commoner woodpeckers, Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders, the occasional Redwing and Fieldfare

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-72790849842506880702008-12-05T21:11:00.000Z2008-12-05T21:13:12.914Z

On the way in to work late yesterday afternoon there were two Woodcock sitting in the road surrounded by snow.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-91134384905793981192008-12-03T19:28:00.002Z2008-12-03T19:31:43.060Z

**** Louise scored Cormorant today on her walk to school with the girls, another tetrad tick, another tetrad dip.Barn Owl was flying yesterday morning over the snowy road and fields of one of my new Atlas squares as I headed to work. I need to check this area in the summer at dusk, methinks.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-30830431172764760952008-12-01T22:01:00.002Z2008-12-01T22:14:41.893Z

Louise gripped me off today with a smart male Stonechat that led her and the girls to school along the dale. I've not recorded one in the home tetrad. Presumeably the cold and sprinkling of snow had brought this one off the head of the dale (two tetrads away) where I have recorded them.Also today a spectacular rise in Common Gull numbers at home. Unusually for mid-week I was at home whilst it was

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-35509432876049731002008-11-30T18:04:00.004Z2008-11-30T18:30:53.138Z

Garden stuff over the weekend. A Siskin was noteworthy as they have been absent for a couple of weeks at least. Tree Sparrows were at 4 or maybe even as many as six, the pair still seem interested in the nestbox. Not much else really; 8 Long-tailed Tits, the occasional Fieldfare and Redwing, up to 80 Common Gulls and a nice male Kestrel were all nearby. The field opposite hosted 50 or so

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-75472979785190018152008-11-25T20:39:00.003Z2008-11-30T16:44:28.828Z

My favourite so far is 16. Star Wars but 24. Space Invaders is also pretty nifty ... (click here)

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-36319756366730265042008-11-24T22:41:00.002Z2008-11-25T00:12:03.045Z

Over at George Bristow's Secret Freezer some rodent business has been going on. Cheeky rodents have stolen the bait from delicately set Little Nippers.The beasts of the field are occasional B&B customers in our house. Recently a Wood Mouse lived in our sofa for an unknown period of time. We eventually tracked it down and evicted it, the sofa now has a redesigned section. Moles are occasionally

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-64772793031448171162008-11-23T19:44:00.002Z2008-11-23T19:53:23.281Z

Early this morning it blew a blizzard. By the time dawn did its thing no one was going anywhere from here. So sledging was the order of the day.14 Fieldfares went west and Blackbirds were very obvious with 8 in one hawthorn bush.View up the dale from the gardenThe thaw when it came was rapid and forces were mustered to rescue the vehicle which was looking rather sorry for itself when we

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-75374587394157565682008-11-22T17:31:00.005Z2008-11-22T18:07:24.876Z

The feedersRather a lot of snow today so the planned seawatching was a non-starter. In the garden House Sparrow was exceptional, I think the last one here was probably about 18 months hence. Another rarity was Starling, often seen flying past and over but very rarely do they come in to the feeders as 7 did today.The fedBy early afternoon the snow had mostly melted off the road thanks to the

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-75464905419577780062008-11-19T21:21:00.002Z2008-11-19T21:25:12.528Z

Yesterday morning I was patrolling the playground a trifle earlier than usual as I was on a mission. However, totally distracted by three low flying geese that nearly made it into the works airspace. No bins but these were close, aren't those dark bars on the breast, hey no pale leading edge to the wing - nice noise guys, White-fronted Geese.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-87652568409560233722008-11-16T17:21:00.003Z2008-11-16T17:49:47.719Z

Coal Tit, flew in to window and clung there for 10 minutes before flying off stronglyI didn't go out today as an unwell offspring required supervision whilst riding was in progress. In the garden a Treecreeper was unusual. A small thrush flock 9 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing went west and that was about it really. Marsh Tits were abundant, probably three or four. They were present all day but as usual

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-40356767073834746882008-11-15T19:02:00.004Z2008-11-15T19:44:57.728Z

I'm a rarity at a twitch and it is even more rare that I actually connect. The last effort was the Scarborough Desert Wheatear (dip), before that Broad-billed Sand at Saltholme (dip); before that Semi-P at Saltholme (connect). So this was a good experience. The slightly awkward to find Garfitt's Farm was located by a process of more luck than judgement. I was then fortunate to be guided to find

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-54116649502446020772008-11-14T23:44:00.002Z2008-11-14T23:50:23.414Z

Very occasionally I dream I'm birding. I don't keep a dreamt birds list, although it might be entertaining to do so. However, last night I was watching a Hume's which I wasn't very excited about (so presumably I'd gone and twitched it) when a totally unexpected Red-breasted Fly came in to view. This was excellent and I was right chuffed, even though it moved rather rapidly to the back of the

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-759019245181874142008-11-09T15:53:00.006Z2008-11-09T17:05:17.920Z

... but I didn't find the Pallas' Warbler at Hinderwell - a likely spot I wish I'd thought of looking there. There were lots and lots of Blackbirds at Hawsker and a Woodcock.Only one of these todayThe only bird to get the pulse racing was a redpoll sp at Robin Hood's Bay, I only saw this bird briefly and incompletely as much of it was hidden by twigs or it was flying off yonder, but white

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-88716445456547345132008-11-08T21:07:00.002Z2008-11-08T21:09:30.240Z

... but other folk did. A Ring Ouzel was on the railway line near to Robin Hood's Bay and there was a Med' Gull near Saltwick Nab, not a great deal to show for a whole day's effort.

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-13942927017121721232008-11-05T21:25:00.002Z2008-11-05T21:28:57.466Z

Click to join the campaignhttp://www.avaaz.org/en/million_messages_to_obama You can post your photo and hopefully a simple message to the ObamaWall via this email address, type a message and attach a photo of yourself to obamawall@avaaz.org

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35198356.post-54803011556794253522008-11-05T20:53:00.003Z2008-11-05T21:02:44.138Z

A phone call this morning alerted me to two Waxwings in Robin Hood's Bay. A free diary and lunchtime gave me the opportunity to nip down the coast armed with vegetable somosas to stave off hunger. The railway line was buzzing with Blackbirds, Goldcrests, Bullfinch and then I flushed an owl, habitat and a brief glimpse indicated Long-eared but fortunately I got a second go at it and it proved to

Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0