I hate flying.
1. I feel bad about it.
2. It scares me to Green Withens. (And flying out was the most scary ever, huge bumpy moments for the last hour, pitching and rocking all over the shop. Louise and Ellen were in the toilet and managed to wedge themselves in the confined space. Flying's for birds.)
However, mission accomplished, lots and lots of gull photos. You think those Meds at Welbeck are show off's. Here's showing off.
The Siskins have returned to the garden feeders with gusto in the last 10 days or so. Now the Niger seed is getting scoffed at high rate, helped by up to 15 Goldfinch. What is interesting is that all through the winter I can't recall seeing a Siskin eat peanuts but since they've returned they're also to be found on the peanut feeders. Also of note today a displaying Kestrel, Marsh Tit and Tree Sparrow, 2.
Good sea
....but perhaps I shouldn't have parked on the front .... it's ok it's Louise's car
Blizzard
How many Meds in this pic?
Gulls coming to roost
RedesignedThe Lapland Buntings at Sandsend may still be viewable. To find them. Go to the car park at the west end (through the arches by the cafe). From the car park walk up steps onto old railway, a couple of yards past marker number 2 there is a path that leads through the wood up more steep steps, once at the top go over the stile and turn right, go over the next stile, this is where the Lap Bunts have been for over a week now. The field is a grass field with a ploughed section at the top, Pheasent pens and crop/set aside on the right with some oil seed rape mixed in. I heard some people were walking along the railway too far, so thought I would clarify the directions for you.
Late, late, late, late - toe down job. Aaaaaaaarrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh A171 horse box and queue - chill. Phone's going, **** **** **** Then across the road in the dusk, a huge swift, no, as it broke into flaps, a Merlin going to roost in the pines.
The Yorkshire Bird Report 2005 is now available. The report is very detailed and provides an overview of many species' status in the county, well worth £10 and £2 p&p. Cheques should be made payable to YNU - ah better check who to write to hadn't I?
So down at the redoubtable Scaling Dam this very morn and what's this in the log? One nationally known birder - it's tempting to name and shame - has written that they think it's "selfish" to take away the log pages every few weeks and what is more he won't write in the log because of that and having a log book would be far more sensible. Er, what's all this about?
1. The note implies he doesn't know who takes the log pages away when it's someone I'm sure he knows and I presume could have easily phoned up (it's not me by the way).
2. So why not write in the log? Surely the act of not writing his observations in are also a "selfish" act?
3. Hasn't he heard of BirdGuides and pagers which I know the keeper of the log uses to put out any news of interest from the lovely Scaling Dam.
4. Log books get taken and lots of places have had to resort to pages that are removed every few weeks because otherwise the poor recorder has to copy the info from the log book at each visit to preserve the records.
5. The recorder for the transformed Scaling Dam works the place weekly, he finds the most good birds there, he puts scarce bird news out on the pager etc system, he writes the annual report and he supplies his records reliably to both TBC and YNU. What's to knock? Nought IMHO.
Transformed, yes, Scaling Dam has had its earth moved, someone has assaulted its delicate tideline with a significant piece of machinery. Looks like a good job to me. There was even a Dunlin there today to celebrate the new wader-friendly Scaling Dam. Also House Sparrows galore, a veritable scarcity; Redshank, more gulls than I've seen for a while 6 Goldeneye and shockingly 6 real birders in the time I was there (I include myself, perhaps erroneously, in that good total). What no pictures! Sadly I was so distracted by the birding chat and thrown by the disconcerting attack on the recorder I clean forgot.
Best bird of the day was a complete fluke. Having delivered offspring to a party I cut across the moor. Something caught my eye alongside the vehicle and behold twas a male Gos flying alongside me not 20 feet away, keeping pace at car window height. I guess the moment didn't last more than a few seconds but it was a wonderful view of a magnificent beast.
Saw some nice things in the vice county this weekend. Runswick Bay produced an inshore Red-throated Diver on Saturday plus the usual Oystercatchers and Turnstones. Also this rather smart "Fisherman's Robin" outside the pub.
Sunday's birds included Common Buzzard, a couple of flocks of Redwings, a pair of Stonechats, the first Curlew of the spring on the moors, Lapwings on territory on the moors, Siskins on territory methinks in a conifer plantation and various other bits and bats.
2nd best moment was seeing a 4WD vehicle go off road and rapidly get very stuck. As it was the lead vehicle of 3 and a motorbike they all had to get out just as a particularly vicious hail storm passed through. Sadly they managed to get the vehicle out of the huge rut that has of course been created by 4WD vehicles. These were recreational 4WD excursionists, I have no problem with working vehicles on the moor, but these folk, hope they smash their sumps and their vehicles are scrappy bound tomorrow, all of them, and the off-road motorbikes as well.
The RSPB has set up a Hen Harrier hotline. 0845 4600121. If you see a Hen Harrier this spring in suitable nesting habitat make sure you know the location , OS map reference and telephone. There is an email address also: henharriers@rspb.org.uk
More information is here.
The Hen Harrier will only survive as a breeding bird on our moors if we coordinate a response to the illegal persecution of this species that is the reason for its virtual elimination as a breeding and wintering bird from our uplands.
A record of a North Sea Arctic Skua in January is a very rare thing. A quick search of Birdguides indicates just two north of the Wash since 2001. There are no records for February in the same period. With the potential for confusion with Pom high (although north of the Wash that species is also very, very scarce) a great deal of caution should be exercised methinks. However, perhaps folk just don't report these species? Anyone seen a Stercorarius skua in the North Sea, north of the Wash in January or February? I'm interested to know just how uncommon these are - I don't have many old bird reports so if anyone has the time or inclination to search through and let me know, Yorkshire, Cleveland, Durham, Northumberland and any Scottish information would be very gratefully received. TIA
A very nice Chaffinch - male in adult plumage (could be a bird in its 1st year)
Hiding in the coal shed
I've received a reply from Defra re the de-listing of Peregrine and other species from Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. You may access the reply and my response here. It is not good news I'm afraid.
I've restored the link to Green Withens now Darrell's got the hang of the new agenda (more art, less swearing). Click here.
Well that was an exciting night (leaning towards "with" territory here); apparently for I did not wake, all the pantiles on the roof shook for a good few seconds, scary.
Managed to bail out of work early to complete my last Atlas square, a bit late in the day but never mind. I decided there was time to tramp across the moor to the conifer plantation. This was a bit energetic to be honest and I arrived, 9 Red Grouse and rather hot and bothered at the trees after half an hour. But it was worth it as immediately I found singing Crossbill (will post video). This is a particularly lovely piece of the moor, lots of old heather, lots of pools and streams and the plantation is in serious neglect, many fallen over trees and half dead standing trees. Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed a few feet from me, startled me more than the earthquake, and was joined by its prospective partner for a chase around the trees. Goldcrest and Wren were in song, Coal Tit was evident. I possibly heard Reed Bunting distantly and briefly as well.
There was some evidence of game keeping activities, but the trap (for rats/stoats etc) was rather rusty but also some evidence of predator presence with a plucked grouse found at one point.
The tramp back was even more energetic, through older ling, with 9 Red Grouse (I guess different ones) encountered en route.
Biofuels are environmentally damaging and we will all be forced to use them via the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation that will be enacted in April this year. If you want to stop that happening write to Ruth Kelly, the Transport Minister asap. I've put a letter to Ruth Kelly here.
For more information and writing to Ruth Kelly via the RSPB automated letter writer (broken for me) click here.
A warning about bio diesel - below -3 degrees C it can be rather solid. If you want to save your fuel pump, pricey in diesel vehicles, avoid. Some diesel engines are not keen on bio-diesel e.g. the Peugot HDi turbo - I have been led to believe this engine will break if fed this stuff.
Happy motoring.
A weekend spent doing Atlas stuff at Ness Point and in the dale.
Ness Point was very quiet yesterday with just a few Gannets moving at sea of note. The visit was most useful for investigating seawatch places. The lowest place I can find is further towards Raindale, (John / Nick this looks quite useful to me, it gives very good views to the south and down to the beach / rocks below, so nothing can slide past unseen below the cliffs). This is in preparation for focusing more on the east/south side of Whitby this year. Velvet Scoter are still in evidence nearer the town with two reported from the pier (east I guess). A Hare and the two Roe Deer provided the most exciting moments of my morning.
A Woodcock flushed out of the bracken was the best bird of a rather blowy Atlas tromp around the organic farm and up to the plantation today. The noise of the wind prevented me confirming Crossbill, suspects seen fleetingly could not be heard. I'm now able to access much more of this tetrad thanks to the farmer who could not be more helpful (thanks Chris).
This afternoon I tramped across miles of fields to the moor edge for little ornithological reward.
First frog spawn I've seen this year.Since boldly suggesting that some of the cormorants at Scaling Dam might be P.c.sinensis I've done a bit of research. BBi and BWPi were not a lot of help, indeed the illustrations in BWP would lead one to a false conclusion, perhaps this is how these myths have been perpetuated. There is a useful article on the Paxton Gravel Pits website, here.
The source Ardea paper is here.
The angle of the gular patch is the only "good" criteria. You need to look at the diagrams in the Ardea article (also reproduced below). If the angle is less than or equal to 65 degrees its a P.c.carbo if the angle is between 66 and 72 degrees it is unidentifiable and if the angle is between 73 and 110 degrees its a P.c.sinensis. However, this isn't a great deal of use as there appear to be clines and UK is at the edge of each so our P.c.carbo tend to have a gular angle at the larger end of their range and our P.c.sinensis at the smaller end of their range. In any case in the field this feature is very difficult to judge. Indeed Julian Hughes, the author of the paper on the Paxton site, suggests that field identification is unreliable.
So there you have it - Badseawatcher's advice - they're Cormorants don't get excited about them, now what is that gull ......?
I've crudely coloured in the gular to make the diagrams a little easier to comprehend.Sounds for cold still days - see the bottom of the side panel for a bit of Vini.
...on the other hand.
Here's the frog
... and here's the pond
Long-tailed Tit
Here's Egton Banks at dusk today. There were huge numbers of Jackdaws here, hard to estimate in the failing light but I reckoned at least 1,200.
I forgot a few further signs of spring from the 13th - Hedgehog poo on the lawn being the main one. I've been told about bats flying and hunting in the last few days as well.
A trip out to the neglected Scaling Dam found me looking at a confusing gull. I thought it was a 1st winter. It was big, with a heavy mostly black bill, pale headed with markings around the eye, it had a broad very black tail band with a white rump that was lightly marked with sparse brown flecks, there was no pale window in the wing and it lacked the distinctive chequered look of a GB-bG. There were GB-bGs nearby and they seemed larger, were distinctly chequered and colder plumaged. My bird was looking good for a Yellow-legged Gull, a 1st W. But hang on, the ends of the tertials are white, that's not right. Ok, so maybe it's one of those delayed 2nd winters, then the tertials can be white at the tip. Danger sign - I'm trying to make the gull fit the id not the id fit the gull.
The bird disappeared whilst I was distracted. At home I consulted Olsen and Larsson and had a look at pix on BirdGuides. I started to feel it could be a delayed 2nd winter Y-lG.
I returned to Scaling for the roost and found the gull quite quickly. It was with an adult GB-bG and was much smaller. I phoned MAB saying I'd got a possible but that I was still bothered by the tertials. Again whilst I was distracted the bird disappeared but this time I relocated it quite quickly. I headed for the hide and watched it dismembering a goose carcass and began to feel very uncomfortable about the possible id, this bird was behaving like a GB-bG. Bored with goose bones the gull swam over to the hide, and revealed itself to be a Great Black-backed Gull. Looking at the pix now I wonder how I thought it could be anything else. In my defence it was small, it lacked the distinctive cold plumage tones and chequered appearance and the tail and the bill led me astray. Bit of a lesson though. Still even Jonsson admits to having bad days, perhaps not that bad a day maybe?
Scaling had a Pochard, 8 Goldeneye, the usual dabbling ducks but in small numbers. I continue to fail to connect with the Water Pipit that has been seen intermittently since just before Xmas.
The Great Cormorants at Scaling are of interest. It might be expected that they are coastal birds drifting inland for a spot of easy fishing but I'm thinking that a proportion of them are sinensis these two candidates above look like prime suspects.
Heather (well, Ling actually) burning
7-spot Ladybird
An Atlas visit to Kettleness this morning found plenty of Fulmars on the cliffs and zooming around.
Not much else of note other than a huge flock of duck/geese that went west miles out to sea. I viewed them from the railway path but in the haze I really couldn't get any sort of id.
There were also 70 or so Redwings, 9 Yellowhammers, 1 Guillemot, 1 Eider, 2 Tree Sparrow and 400 Starlings whilst a Peregrine caused the feral pigeon gang some consternation.
Alex Salmond and the SNP are minded to refuse permission for the Lewis windfarm. Now is the moment to write to the First Minister and encourage him to confirm that decision. 82% of the islanders (Scotsman) agree with Mr Salmond but there are powerful lobbies desperately trying to keep this destructive and (most likely) anti-environmental project alive. There is a letter that you can adapt, and all the contact details are here.
Whilst windfarms appear to be environmentally friendly there are a huge range of issues, not least of which is that the disturbance of the moorland may release more CO2 than the windfarm might save. Each needs to be considered on its merits. Personally I reckon this particular development is not a good one.
The Department for the Environment (DEFRA) are proposing to revise Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. They intend to reduce the number of species listed from 46 to just 7. Crucially they intend to remove Peregrine from the list. Peregrine is highly susceptible to criminality, not only from the shooting lobby but also from some disreputable falconers. The species has a high monetary value. Please write to Joan Ruddock the minister of state responsible and ask her to reconsider. I have written a letter which you are welcome to use, preferably to adapt. Click here for the letter.
Joan Ruddock's email address is ruddockj@parliament.uk
It is important to include your name and address in the email even if you request reply by email.
Thanks in advance for your support.
Ranged far and wide today despite the very frozen stuff all over the ground. I'd decided not to go to the coast, not wishing to get stuck down one of the lanes but by early afternoon, when I looked out that way from Borrowby, it was clear that I'd made a misjudgement as all the white stuff was inland and there seemed to be none up to a klick or so from the coast.
Star of the day was a very nice female Gos, precisely what I was looking for. A classic as well; heard Carrion Crow, then the Jackdaws and Rooks were up making a fuss, and there she was going like the clappers after 'em. An hour or so later and a Buzzard made an appearance, bit slow on the draw with the camera unfortunately as it drifted towards me and then drifted away again; angles were awkward but it just about revealed itself as Buteo buteo.
An Atlas square produced variety but nothing much more, well a lot of House Sparrows, so I headed for Scaling Dam, also an Atlas site but I'm saving it for next winter. Redshank x2, a Grey Heron (uncommon there) Stonechat x2, Pink-feet x2. Grouse footprints everywhere. I struggled around the back wading through snow drifts and avoiding drowning in unseen bogs but narrowly.
Worst moment - being driven up a very narrow, icy, untreated and snow surrounded lane the 4x4 coming at us didn't seem to register the large hunk of silver coloured metal in its path and just kept going at speed, my driver struggling to find reverse gear. The culprit did eventually stop, to reveal someone I knew, so waving arms about, gesticulating, shouting and generally behaving badly were off the menu.
Memorial photograph (after passing) by M. Forsyth
Black-headed Gull
From sunny SandsendThe December edition of British Birds reported that Operation Artemis, the police operation to protect Hen Harriers, needed more funding and more support from Natural England (Page 760 "Harry and the harriers"). My understanding is that Operation Artemis has been wound up. The website has been taken down. Artemis was unsurprisingly unpopular with game keepers (click here for their response).
Hen Harrier appears to have been eradicated from the North Yorks Moors in winter as well as in the breeding season. I now have not seen one for 2 years and know of only one record recently.
It is arguable that Artemis was a blunt instrument to deal with Hen Harrier persecution and that a different approach might be more successful. If we do nothing the species will be extinct in England soon enough. The Bowland population will not be sustainable in isolation imho and anyway do we really want just one relict population of a species that should be widespread on our moors, and in winter, over our marshes?
If we wish to see Hen Harrier returned to England we will need to work with the landowners and game keepers and develop an approach that they can stomach. Whatever our opinion of the game keeping fraternity, and we should remember the benefits of their activities as well as the detrimental persecution of raptors, I think we will have to build bridges.
Well that's today's lecture done with and as I'm grievously infected with some dire lurgy back to the arm chair, tea and toast and "Garden Birdwatch".
Yes it's come around again, the Big Garden Birdwatch, click here for more info.
Yesterday at Blacktoft 3 Shovelers were repeatedly diving in one of the lagoons, other Shovelers nearby were feeding normally. BWP does state that Shovelers infrequently feed by diving, perhaps these had found some especially tasty snails.
Stewart, here's a bit of Phragmites for youAs is no doubt apparent there have been few opportunities for any birding or other wildlife observation over the last week - thus the musical interlude. Grey Wagtail over work on a couple of occasions have been the only noteworthy(ish) observations. Normal service may (or may not) be resumed shortly.
(Terrafolk are on the scale of epic live if you ever get the opportunity.)
The Great Skua (British Sea Power) is a nice tune but doesn't really capture the essence of the species - more Great Shearwater if you ask me.
I've always associated Joy Divisions's Atrocity Exhibition with the Bonxie but here's an acceptable alternative as Terrafolk butcher this rather well known Davis/Mitchell ditty.
A private members bill receives its second reading on 25th January. The bill will impose regulation on the practice of ship-to-ship oil transfers and thus help to protect seabirds from the catastrophic effects of oil spill. Please write to your MP and ask them to support this bill. I've written a letter (no great shakes but hopefully adequate) which you can find here. You're welcome to half inch it if you wish.
The RSPB page explaining this issue is here.
Thanks in advance for your support from WhitbyBirding.
Managed to get out late this p.m. for a couple of hours and headed for the "new patch" Saltwick Nab. Piles of gulls all over the place. I ignored the small gulls in the fields by the road as I wanted to get to the sea. A couple of hundred of each of Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull were loitering on the water's edge of the in-coming tide as I arrived. A buzz through them found no "white" gulls but a good number of argentatus amongst the local argenteus Herring Gulls.
The wader feeding field held just 39 Curlew but down on the shore there were about 300 Oystercatchers, 40 Redshank, 10 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin.
I wandered down to the beach flushing a Song Thrush from the Phragmites as I went. Then climbed up in to the undercliff which is an interesting wet area but apart from a Rockit and 4 Carrion Crows there was nothing much doing.
Out on to the cliff top again and those small gulls were a bit distant but as luck would have it a quick scan and the closest group flew revealing the unmistakable flight pattern of a Mediterranean Gull. The bird settled again and through the scope, even in failing light, a smart adult was revealed.
Onward towards the coastguards where 5 Eider and 88 Common Scoter were sharing the water with a couple of Grey Seals. No Velvets today though.
Then the trudge through the caravan site and back to the car with the lure of Magpie fish 'n' chips to round the outing off.
If you want to help the RSPB with its various campaigns you can register as a "Letter Writer". Click here to find out more.
The RSPB reports that the UK breeding population of Common Scoter has declined by 50% in the last ten years. For the full gen click here.
On the Waving Flags video there's a bit where a bird hangs in the wind in front of a navy vessel. But what's the bird? I'm reckoning Common Buzzard myself - any other opinions?
.... and it's a bloody good racket in any case.
I've neglected Egton Banks over the last year but it's a good little spot. There is the potential for Lesser Spotted 'Pecker I reckon. Unfortunately my old BirdTrack site falls in two tetrads so today I split the site in two and kept two sets of notes. I haven't done this for every site but neither of these tetrads have been claimed by anyone, however, I've just taken on one more (see later) so didn't fancy another two full Atlas sites. The lower part of the site, by the river, was quite good today with Marsh Tit, Nuthatch and a decent flock of Lapwings (44) and Common Gulls (c100) and Siskin. The river seemed a bit violent for Dipper and I couldn't find one. The upper tetrad was much quieter, and seemed colder with only Grey Wagtail and Great Spotted Woodpecker of note. There were Roe Deer in both squares, three by the river and one up the hill.
At lunchtime I got myself dropped off (car problems) at Scaling Dam where there was little of note, Mallard, 246; Teal, 199; Wigeon, 34; Tufted, c20; Goldeneye, 8; a Little Grebe and 3 Cormorant. On checking the website I discovered that no one has adopted Scaling Dam as an Atlas site, and my whole BirdTrack site pretty much is within a single tetrad so I've added it to the list. 33 species for this late winter visit. Early in the New Year there had apparently been a Water Pipit here, seen several times by the hide. This bird didn't get on to BirdGuides otherwise I might have nipped over there during my festive break.
The latest British Sea Power album includes a song called "The Great Skua". Bonxie to "The Great Skua" will have to be done. MP3 playing phone at the ready on seawatches until success is achieved, methinks.
Saltwick feeding waders
Abbey Plain Lapwings
Velvet Scoters (honest)Despite a bit of a search the shrike did not reappear - maybe put off by garden tobogganing activities.
However, Peregrine over the garden was a good record also (uncommon here, I wonder why?) Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Marsh Tit and assorted thrushes also put in appearances. The Chaffinch flock was up to about 100 and 8 or so Yellowhammers were also feeding under the bird table.
It flew down into here - that's useful
It sat on the branch next to the peanut feeder
Here are some of the Chaffinch flock in a blizzardLots of snow so doing a little bit of work after breakfast, glance out of the kitchen window to the bird feeders. AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what's that in the oak tree? Great Grey Shrike. It stared at me, I stared at it barely believing. "Louise look at this. Where are my bins?" Can't find bins, shrike feels the thumping of feet in the front room - small people dancing to David Bowie's Changes - and wisely decides on the peace of the valley bottom. Louise provides perfect description of Great Grey Shrike in flight as I fail to see it fly as I'm looking for my bins. Fail to relocate it in the valley bottom. Great bird, slightly frustrating brief view. Brilliant garden tick.
Oystercatcher
Redshank
Curlew bathing
Curlew (click for big)
