V

Birthday visit to Duff on Wednesday via the Dentist in York. I know how to have a good time!

Still dry but I had a pleasant couple of Hours. Highlight was a record count of FIFTEEN Cormorants South in V formation which I initially mistook for Geese tut tut...hence no record shot. I had a nice chat with a retired couple from York, the Lady went to my old school! A male Peregrine, Stonechat and three Snipe were also noteworthy.

As I returned home a Woodcock flashed across my headlights on Snakey.

To Tick or not to Tick (2)

Whilst trawling Bubo on yet another looooong evening. I discovered the facility to view other Birders Lists and what they have counted. Controversial ground I know but fascinating, at least to me. A history of their sightings, giving clues as to when they started this wonderful pastime/obsession.

My Twitching curiosity was fired in 1987 as I unfortunately dipped the Suffolk GREAT BUSTARDS!!! A one of Sunday attempt with John Walton and his mates from Stallingborough during my Footy days. I wasn't aware of the significance of this at the time. Still stings...a bit! I balanced this out with the DOUBLE -CRESTED CORMORANT at Gillingham. Again, totally clueless of the long term significance. It's been hits and misses ever since.

When to add?

Looking at various experienced Twitchers lists, it becomes clear that all (as far as I can see) add Species they have seen that have been added to Cat A even if an individual record hasn't been accepted by BBRC...eg Ross's Goose (Norfolk) and RED-HEADED BUNTING (Flamborough). I was unaware of this. 

Again for balance, the Snow Geese at Swine Moor and the recent SCARLET TANAGER seem generally acceptable already. Therefore I've decided to add them to my British List to come into line. Nothing is black and white as I am keeping the RHB as pending regarding Yorkshire!?

I have missed Birds in the past (provenance, taxonomy, COVID) that have cost me but that's my decision/s.

It's just a bit of fun at the end of the day... isn't it?

To Tick or not to Tick?

The (prove)nance debate is unsurprisingly raging once again, regarding the SCARLET TANAGER. Here's my two penn'orth...

Having been in the game for some Years now, I get a little tired of the inconsistencies and hypocrisy. Not that I'd ever exhibit such characteristics?! I try hard not to. 

I've seen a couple of extremely detailed and balanced accounts flagging up reasons for and against. It occurs to me that many/most points could be applied to many MEGA appearances?

Location - Inland? If the Bird was on an island or a headland would their be the same debate? 

Occurrence - They have occurred before!

Washing line - Wild Birds DO perch on them!

November - Many American Birds have turned up in this Month and later e.g CAPE MAY WARBLER and BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Some have Wintered e.g. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

Weather - Not favourable BUT the find date isn't necessarily the arrival date! American BIRDS are still arriving in Europe.

1st Winter AND Unringed AND extremely elusive - All BIG pluses. Innocent until proven guilty.

Committee or Personal - I've always adhered to the Official Decision whether I agreed with it or not. You've probably gathered by now, I'm no Scientist! However, I have found some acceptances and rejections bizarre over the Years but I appreciate a decision has to be made. This time I've made my own decision and this Bird is on my Personal List.

Truth is, I don't know...no-one does!!!

This morning found me down Easington straight with a dual mission. A probable NORTHERN HARRIER had been seen along the South Lincs Coast yesterday afternoon...heading North! You never know? Whilst waiting with considerable optimism in the gloom a flock of Brent Geese landed close by. I wonder...?

Black Brant

Needless to say no sign of the NH or any other Harriers!

Snow Geese and SCARLET TANAGER

Blimey!!!

Been a whirlwind 36 hours. 

It all kicked off yesterday morning at 7.11...

East Yorkshire 2 adult white-morph Snow Geese at Swine Moor with Pink-footed Geese

These Birds had been seen on the Humber at Read's Island while I was on Scilly and had also visited Norfolk! There was conjecture over whether they had been IN Yorkshire whilst on the Humber. There is also the inevitable provenance issue!?

Anyway, they were worth a look. Unfortunately by the time I arrived around 9 they had left with what was considered to be c15,000 Pink-footed Geese!!! I could see a few other hopefuls over the River Hull including Steve Lawton and Rich Willison. I spoke to them both on the phone before Steve joined me in my car and we decided to have a drive around the area hoping to get lucky. With the days being short it made sense to hang around and hope they may return to roost if we couldn't locate them? We couldn't...so we returned to Swine Moor just after 1.

Richard was back in position with his mates. A few other Birders arrived as the afternoon progressed and the gloom intensified. Nothing by 3.30. All sorts of theories abounded. Had they moved on...was it just an overnight stop etc etc. Then the first wave appeared...

No white ones!

Then a second wave around 4.10. Still no joy.It was getting dark now and hopes were fading with the light. I said I was going to give it till 5. Then...Andy Holden picked up another large skein approaching!? Remarkably...he had them in his 'scope...at considerable distance!!!

A tense few minutes passed before I had them descending onto the Moor. This could be a candidate for my worst ever record shot...

It was 4.32!!!

We'll see what comes "out in the wash"...BUT they're as good as any for me?

I arrived home around 6.30...rather tired. I checked my messages...

17.46 West Yorkshire SCARLET TANAGER 1st winter male reportedly photographed at undisclosed site in recent days

Interesting!!! VERY Interesting. Thoughts immediately returned to October 2011 when I had possibly my worst ever dip. I've just checked my Blog to recall the events but it isn't there? I must have erased it from my memory lol! So, here's a brief summary...

We were travelling down for our week on Scilly and I'd obviously booked our flights months earlier. We were booked on the first flight across on Saturday the 22nd. Trouble was a SCARLET TANAGER had turned up at St Levan on the 20th and was still present on the 21st!!! For a small fee I was able to change our flight time to lunchtime, to enable me to try for the Bird first thing. A good plan...I thought?!

We arrived at dawn and waited with the other hopefuls. The Bird didn't materialize. However another...or the same(?) did...ON SCILLY!!!!!! Of course, by the time we arrived the Bird had disappeared. 

OUCH!!!

This was personal. Would I "get even"? More news came out as the evening progressed and a location was given. Game ON! A strange location and question marks BUT no hesitation from my perspective. Alarm set for 4am.

An early walk for Bud, then car loaded and off West. I arrived at 7.10 via McDonald's after an aborted Greggs! I decided to park on the main road and walk the short distance to the Site. Steve obviously had the same idea as he was getting out of his car as I prepared...so was another mate Simon Slade. Talk about co-incidences! We walked onto the exclusive estate and joined a small group of other "Early Birds"...pardon the pun! The group included Lee Evans...no surprise there! No-one really knew where to concentrate their efforts and Birders were just roaming around scanning in hope as dawn broke. A few rumours circulated but nothing definite. We walked to the end of the cul-de-sac and joined 4 Birders which included Lee. They were looking intently into a distant bare tree. They could see an interesting Bird but they weren't sure what it was. One of them took a photo and enlarged it. BINGO...

7.50

This was incredibly fortunate as the area was large and there was plenty of cover. Still I'll take it. 

I had my redemption!!!

The Bird soon dropped down into a large garden and out of view. Google Maps came into force with some checking the layout of the immediate area. Apple Tree was mentioned! Time went by and there was still no further sign. Tony Dixon arrived, he'd been caught in traffic and was obviously disappointed to miss the sighting. Anyway, eventually it popped up again into the same tree, although I couldn't get on it this time...but thankfully Tony did!

It was past 9 now and the crowd was understandably increasing as positive news was out. Many familiar faces were seen. Steve had left and I was thinking about it. Then I/We got lucky as the Bird flew across the back of the adjacent house and landed in another tree, albeit still distant...

Then, it moved again to a better spot. Unfortunately my camera starting playing up and I had to restart it. Fortunately the Bird hung around JUST long enough for me to get my pic...

A magic moment and THIRTEEN Years of hurt washed away. The Bird was unringed and is already on my List! It almost certainly arrived earlier in the Autumn and has probably filtered through Britain ending up in West Yorkshire. Handy!

Who'd have thought it?...not me...BUT that's what makes it special. Never underestimate November...

This Week

Monday had me over at Duff hoping for more Winter action. Dull conditions on arrival and things deteriorated further when I saw workmen and pumps on the Carrs as I entered the Geoff Smith Hide. The little water that was present was being drained into the River. No surprise that Birds were at a premium!

It later transpired that a faulty pump was being repaired. Unfortunate that the work couldn't have been done earlier?

The session was saved by the appearance (just after 4pm) of this gem...

Tuesday morning produced 4 Yellowhammers down Seaside...scarce at this location...

I had a couple of Hours on the Humber in the afternoon. No luck with Hen Harrier BUT plenty with this SEO...

It flew right past me and landed in the grass with prey...

Fortunately it lingered long enough for some better images...

Always special.

A couple of Great White Egrets were also present...

As I reached the car...a bonus at 4.35...

Thursday had me back on the Humber. Still no Hen Harrier...or SEO...BUT...a flock of 23 Twite more than compensated...

Record shot through the gloom

Back to Duff on Friday. Still no luck with the Willow Tit but a trio of Stonechats was a good opener. c50 Redwings circled around the Platform, eventually landing in the Riverside bushes...

No sign of the workmen thankfully BUT no sign of much avian activity! With a dry Carrs it was hardly surprising! I managed a couple of Marsh Harrier sightings and 5 Fieldfares. Again, I had a late result...I deserved it lol! A distant call alerted me to 8 Swans flying purposefully down the Valley and alighting on Bubwith Ings....

Whoopers

Water!

I added Red-legged Partridge (101) and Redpoll (102) to the Year List.

Sunshine is required...

Double Duff

2 visits, Wednesday and Friday. The main news being a flock of magnificent Whooper Swans (45) were present, albeit distantly...

I was hoping some would have returned by now. Even better tosee them actually ON the Carrs, as they can spend long periods on Ellerton and the Farm fields over the road. I was joined by Haydn on both occasions. Friday was the better day weather-wise and we enjoyed a good hour out on the Platform. I "had" 26 Pink-footed Geese going South on arrival...

...followed shortly afterwards by 3 Whooper Swans off the Farmland to the South, low over my head!

Haydn mentioned he'd had a Willow Tit on his way out but we couldn't locate it on our return, although he heard it. However I did score with Stonechat (97)...

...Goldcrest (98) and Bullfinch (female).

Once in the Hide Haydn picked up FIVE cc Marsh Harriers hunting just beyond the far end of the Reserve on Ellerton Ings. We later had a male on Duff. Not bad for an Inland Site! A superb large, female Peregrine was present on the grass for a good hour. A couple of Red Kites circled over the Poplars. Buzzards (4) were present throughout, including one pale individual in a bush, standing out like a sore thumb in the Winter sunshine.

An uplifting 4 hour session in ideal conditions. Sunshine throughout which is much appreciated in Dullvember. I'll be back next week.

Eastern promise for the weekend. Maybe a late result?

Duff - 98