Going Stateside

Just a quick one! Last minute decision to visit the wonderful US of A for 3 weeks. Flying into New York on Saturday and touring New England, out to Detroit, down to Washington. I reckon some birding might be involved to boost the ABA list!!

Might send a few posts if possible.

Record those Swifts

Back to the Brigg

Had a couple of hours over at Filey yesterday to take a peep at the KING EIDER. Just made it at 3.45 before it was flushed by jet-skiers and flew off into the bay. Been a while since I've visited, used to be a regular for me but I guess Spurn took over. Funny, doesn't seem to get as many decent birds these days?

The run of records of KING EIDER is interesting as well...like buses! Missed the South Gare bird by a whisker (was it accepted, not on RBA?)  Got out of the car to be told it was flying across the Tees to Hartlepool!! Scored with the Flamboro' bird, at dawn on the second morning. Always worth seeing and still a special bird. Let's face it we had a long wait...it was 1846 before that!!!

Something for July Sir!

How about one of these!!! In Yorkshire of course...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO_sgn9_QbA&feature=player_embedded

It's not that far away?

Bempton

Made my trip with Louise and Rock. Bit windy but definitely not complaining after a week of steaming heat! Always enjoy seeing 'our' seabirds, so lucky to have such a site in Yorkshire. It was fairly busy, but no trouble viewing with a little patience. Only slight hassle, as usual, was ensuring Rocky didn't get into any male dog situations! We gave the old boy a good walk from one end to the other and enjoyed the spectacle, the noise and well maybe not so much the smell!

Towards the northern end of the reserve I noticed a group of Gannets very close to the path...new site for me? This enabled me to try a few digiscope shots through my Leica APO 62 using Louise's TZ7 Panasonic Lumix. You've heard my views on photography before so I won't go on...phew! Anyway just placed the camera over the eyepiece and pressed! Most of them just...nice, like this one. Note the soft focus!!

Quite pleased with these though...

n.b. All photos also viewable on Flickr

Footy today - Bempton tomorrow

Just watched the Germans crush the Argentinians. Amazing mentality, got to be favourites now. Opposite of us...average club players, great internationals!

Going to make the annual pilgrimage to Bempton tomorrow. Might even post a photo or two...not too many of course.

n.b. Added my Scilly list to Bubo

Double Doldrums

Won't mention the Football (well only once) becuase we didn't play any! Couple that with the usual June dearth of rarities and birds in general as the breeders lie low and I can't help but long for the Autumn. Might try a trip to Bempton to liven things up a bit.

Where did that Bridled Tern go?

D-Day

Well...this is it! Just about remember '66. Loved '70 and '82. So close in '90. Now we have players who are undoubtedly world class...for their clubs! We have had a string of highly regarded managers...they can't all be bad? Today is the day to become world class for your COUNTRY! It's up to you lads...COME ON ENGLAND!!!

Quail? - YES!

Took a walk N along the east bank of the river from Bubwith. About half-way up Duff' could clearly hear 1/2 Quail calling from on the reserve. Also had a Grey Wagtail and a pair of Oystercatchers.

Quail?

Just in case anyone was wondering I haven't heard any Quail in my frequent visits to NDC with the hound.

More Bubo

Added my ABA and Texas lists to Bubo. Suppose it's my stateside equivalent to my British and Yorkshire efforts. Don't want to appear too sad, so probably just add my Duff list and leave it there. My details can be found by clicking the Bubo Link on the sidebar.
Looks like the Marmora's has departed. Rare Tern on the way? Bridled please!

Interesting reading the different styles of Blog. Some loaded with photos, some loaded with swear words, some funny, some mysterious, etc etc. You may have noticed I have a mixture on my Blog list from both ends of the spectrum!! The bottom line for me is that it's all about what we love...BIRDS!

Bubo!

Just for a bit of nostalga I traced through my British and Yorkshire lists...strictly BOU of course! So they're now on Bubo for the world to see...and check (like anyone is interested). I enjoyed the experience however, and it brought back many great memories of cracking birds from the past. The lists are easy to use and give you pointers to acceptance. There are one or two elements that I find inconsistent however. House Finch (which I saw) and Alder Fly (which I didn't) are listed although they haven't been accepted yet? This makes the league aspect |(if that concerns you) rather ambiguous. I repeat though I like the idea and full marks to the designers of the site. To access it just click the banner above with my totals on . I have actually reduced my British list on research and placed Wilson's Snipe and Royal Tern in the 'pending' envelope! There's integrity for you...

Been a good year for the Cuckoos?

Definite increase in Cuckoos singing in this neck of the woods. A very positive note! I've even heard one for the last few nights from my garden.

Little Shearwater

Bit puzzled by the release of the news. Bird in a sensitve breeding area with no chance of a sighting. As we know some will push it to try and get a view. Difficult one, but might we be talking searchlights from boats etc etc...?

Eagles everywhere?

As you know I am positive to sightings...most of the time. This being confirmed by my recent trip to Suffolk! No, I didn't go to Hampshire. Today we now have sightings of "possible" LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE!!
I sincerely hope this bird/s can be pinned down and identified, ideally photographed. Alas, the various sightings and variable species claims surely can't help the cause of these reports?
N.B. Managed to sort out my photos into sets on Flickr. I'll add some of my better efforts from my trips over the past few years. Just added some Owl shots. Also added a slideshow.

Eagle Eye

Being a super optimist I decided to make the most of the half-term holiday and Louise's nail appointment by driving down to Suffolk to try for the BOOTED EAGLE. I had some info' off Birdforum and found the spot with no trouble. Spent a pleasant three hours scanning the skies with three others but no joy. Did have nice views of Hobby though.

Marmora's Warbler

At last. Been hoping to claw ths one back for a long time. Missed the Spurn bird, although I was there at dusk when others fortunately connected! St Abb's Head a misjudgement!
Anyway, got there, found the spot easy and within 15 mins was enjoying great 'scope views of the bird singing in a holly bush in bright sunshine. A glorious bird in a a glorious location. Definitely better views than at Spurn. Still need it for Yorkshire though.
British List 471 BOU
p.s. Rafa biting the dust finished off the day nicely!!!

Better View Desired

Woke up early this morning. As I was 'on my tod' I decided on the spur of the moment to re-visit Old Moor for hopefully better views of the SAVI'S WARBLER. Arrived to a long line of cars...surely can't be that many here? Drove around the roundabout to see they hadn't opened the gate yet! Eventually we all got in and parked and then trudged down the path again to the stake out.
The bird was heard singing almost immediately and within 20 minutes most people had managed to get very good views through a variety of 'scopes. I had amazing scope filling views of the bird singing through Gary Dayes Leica APO62, mine was somewhere down the line? The atmosphere was excellent with a very helpful attitude throughout.
Decided to go back home to drop the pooch off and freshen up. I'd met Richard Willison at Old Moor who said he was going to have a drive out to Spurn, so I decided to join him. Needed to pay a visit when I arrived , this almost certainly cost me views of a Golden Oriole which Richard had just seen at Sammy's Point! Never have had much luck with this species. Had a bit of lunch with the chaps then decided to return home as the weather went pear shaped.
Unfortunately this meant I caught some of the England game. Lets hope it's alright on the night!!

Rush Bird 1 - Common Nighthawk

For those of you who follow my ramblings I promised I'd give brief anecdotes of my favourite twitches listed in the RUSH BIRDS section of this Blog...So here goes:-
1. COMMON NIGHTHAWK - Scilly (Bryher) 24/10/1999
I'd paid a few visits starting in 1991 (Sora Rail). I'm tied to the half-term holiday, but at least I get one in October so I'm not complaining. I hadn't been every year due to having a young family but I'd managed to see some crackers nonetheless. Had been there a few days and was trying to keep costs down by not spending every night in the pub (it wasn't easy!). So I was blissfully ignorant of the news of the day.
Came down for breakfast chatting to the owners when a friend of theirs casually mentioned that there had been a report of the above flying around the pub on Bryher the previous evening (pre-pager days for me). Scramble!!!
Next thing I was down on the quayside with a boatload heading to Bryher.
We spent the whole day combing the island with no luck. About 5pm most people had decided to stake out the area it was seen in last night (made sense). Time marched on and the sun was setting...then over a CB came the unforgettable cry of "I'VE GOT IT". The bird still wasn't in view to most but eventually was located and seen by all flying around our heads with birders cheering, shaking hands and even hugging each other? A magic moment indeed. News was obviously put out and we had the bizzare scene of another boatload searing across from St Mary's in virtual darkness! After much deliberation this goes down as my ultimate RUSH BIRD.

Time for Spurn to come to the party?

Whitehead's prediction is for something decent this Bank Holiday weekend. I say this just to add extra spice to my Birding!
What ever it might be I hope it's in Yorkshire (Spurn) rather than Cornwall...Collared Fly?
What do you fancy?
N.B. Added a few more links