Queensbury Predictions 2018

The following are potentials for the area after much thought and consideration.

January - March Cedar Waxing
April - May Egyptian Plover
June - July Roller

August - Remedial Psychiatry

An Appalling Session Rewarded

After enduring staying in for a couple of days I cracked up this morning and did Raggalds to Mixenden Res.

The Flood held just 2 small gulls. Soil Hill had just one imbecile. Ogden Res was refused at the first hurdle; I daren't risk the wet icy footpath after an initial skid.

Mixenden Res had 1 each Grey Wagtail & Cormorant plus the gulls. It also coughed up a personal site record count of 6 Goldeneye - the original Pr and a separate group of a drake and 3 females.

I must do less birding more often, it can be rewarding.

Casual Review of 2017

Some Random thoughts from memories of this year without referral to records submitted on Birdtrack. There is no pattern e.g chronological order and being in probably the worst area for birding in the country no doubt the negatives will outweigh the positive 😁.

First thing that comes to mind is the paucity of Autumn/Winter migrants. Jack Snipe and Snow Bunting sightings have been dismal. I've not had the former this year and the only Snow Bunting was back in February. Soil Hell used to produce both but this venue is now overgrown and needs a good churning up on the top. Brambling and Waxwing are also on the No Show list, inspiring the thought that global factors are an issue rather than local ones. Whooper Swan numbers have been low so I count myself lucky to have seen 7 of them within the last month or so.

Spring migrants clanged big time; in previous years I've always managed Redstart and Wood Warbler but not this season. Spotted Flycatcher appearances have also been at an all time low.
Other missings include Merlin, Hobby & Short-eared Owl. On the other hand I'm happy with my tally of Barn, Little, Tawny & Long-eared Owl, Buzzard & Sparrowhawk.
Ring Ouzel is another bird that seemed to give Soil Hill a miss along with Whinchat. However both species appeared in the HX Golf Course and Hunter Hill area. This is where I also got my best Wheatear counts which again was down in numbers on the hill from hell.

Some good news now. I did get 8 Shelduck on Mixenden Res back in May, and a drake Pochard in the summer months. 3 Little Ringed Plover also showed up here on the same day that 3 Dotterel were in the Cold Edge area. An unusual record in June was a pr Pink-footed Goose and a loudly calling Turtle Dove at Ogden Res. Finally I just remembered that Woodcock showed better this year than in the previous two.

So, 2018 looms and along with it a resolution or three. Firstly I must try and do more local drinking and less birding. Secondly, I must do more birding in other more productive parts of the country and of course abroad. Thirdly, this year I must rid myself of this over positive attitude to birding in general 😎

Raggalds To Swalesmoor

Arctic Queensbury conditions in a 0815 hrs start which I'd like to say was enjoyable in challenging windy and snowy weather - that's what I'd like to say 😬👎.
Raggalds Flood was full but empty. The field at the top of Roper Lane opposite the Ale House held c45 Lapwing and a similar no. of small gulls with more of the latter on the sports field.

On Xmas Day I was informed by a very reliable local stalwart that in the past few days hundreds of Fieldfare & Redwing were to be seen on Swalesmoor, so off I trudged. I didn't seen any but I'm not too pissed off given the way the stiff W'ly wind blew the snow straight into my 👀s. There were a few large gull sp. present along with the smaller and the usual plethora of caaawvids. Also 1 Pied Wagtail & 3 Meadow Pipit.

On the way back home Shibden Head produced a GSW but that was it really. Oh! I did get a reminder that the area is a notable stronghold for House Sparrow.

Same Old Route

An outing of exercise value only all told. A strong W'ly wind loosened a few teeth and tested the insulation properties of one's clothing.

c30 Lapwing at Mountain. Raggalds Flood had just  7 small gulls.
Soil Hell was passage only.
Ogden was gash so much so I thought a distant Gull was a potential Kittiwake but I  now accept it was the manifestation of a rancid imagination.

Mixenden Res. F Goldeneye very actively diving but the drake seems to have departed. I now wonder if this female can't fly through injury. Also 2 Cormorant and small gulls.

Raggalds to Mixenden

Light rain and misty throughout visibility poor
Raggalds Flood 2 BHG only. Plenty more on the sports field.
Soil Hill 1 Meadow Pipit & Wren.

Ogden Res was difficult to work but I'm positive the Teal from yesterday have left.
A few large gulls seen but accurate Id  impossible.

The old trooper BHG bearing leg ring X2T6 was on the railings. This bird originates from the Hiddensee N Germany.
6 Coal Tit seen, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Chaffinch, 3 Blackbird and one unid flying Thrush.

Mixenden Res was mist shrouded to the extent I could only see halfway across the water but I'm pleased to say a drake Goldeneye has joined the long staying female.
Canadas & Jackdaws in the fields here.

Queensbury and Ogden

Local Tawny Owl sounding off at Bleedin 'Ell O'clock Tues 19 Dec.

I had a medical appointment this am so ruled myself out of a trip with DW & DM. Here's a double edged sword; I'm deemed a fairly healthy old bugger by the physician but I'm an envious one to boot.
Here's why.

10 Teal on Ogden Water. A similar number of LTT & Goldcrest not on the water and the killer blow 5 (Five) Treecreeper seen throughout the woodland! Also 1 GSW.
Methinks there's been an influx from the continent so I think I know where I'm going tomorrow.

Well done lads.

Raggalds to Mixenden

Raggalds Flood still 80% frozen over at 1030 hrs with just a fly over Pied Wagtail there.
Soil Hill was chronic. 1 Herring Gull over NE.

Ogden was contaminated by the usual Dullards & small Dulls. A Moorhen has discovered the benefits of hanging around Ducky Corner. The misery was broken by a Kingfisher seen perched in a bush on the Western shoreline and then flying over the drink.
Others: 2 Kestrel, 3 Meadow Pipit ditto Blackbird.

Mixenden Res still holds the f Goldeneye as well has a Moorhen, 2 Cormorant, 1 LBBG ditto Herring Gull, several Canada and the small gulls. 3/4 Blackbird in the Stod Fold area.

Low Moor Gulls Ringing News

Nigel,

Many thanks for the sighting and photo.
It is difficult to make out the final digit of the colour ring.

Based on the age of the bird at ringing it could be 71,72 or 79.
What I can say is that it’s a bird which was colour-ringed ringed at Harewood Whin landfill site, to the west of York, (53.960 -1.177). The bird was caught using a Cannon Net and is one of around 2500 Gulls which have been caught and colour ringed to date.

Harewood Whin is one of the decreasing number of Landfill sites in the UK where it is possible to operate for the catching and ringing of gulls. Whilst with us the gulls feed on the Landfill site during the day and roost on the floods in Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve or on the Humber Estuary.

The bird was rung on 30th June 2017.

I hope you find this of interest and many thanks for taking the time to report your sighting.

Best Regards

Mike Jackson

PS from NK: The Green ringed BHG seen on the same date appears to be a Norwegian bird.

Horton Bank Country Park

via Queensbury Sth in almost lethal conditions. I saw a number of people give up walking and return to their homes. Contrast this with a young lady I warned about a particular hazardous stretch of ice that I'd struggled with - she almost waltzed across it. Proof positive I'm an old insecure wrinkly.

This was my first visit to HBCP in a few years but I'm glad I persevered as I got a personal site tick - a drake Tufted Duck.

Another good record was the sighting and photographing of 4 Herring Gulls among the several BH & c8 Commons that were present.

Also present: 6 Mute Swan, 3 Canada, c8 Moorhen, c17 Coot, Dullards.

Just a few Lapwing, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Mistle Thrush, Dunnock & Great Tit seen on the Queensbury/Shelf Moor stretch.

Who Would A Birder Be?

Just before lunch time today I could stand being hovel bound no longer so despite knowing the weather forecast, I togged up and went through Littlemoor Park and returned home via the Cross Lane route. It was a very quick walk and incredibly wet to boot, needless to say birds weren't exactly bountiful.
c35 Lapwing, c100 Starling, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, few Goldfinch.

It did prompt me to publish these pointers about the pitfalls of birding that have been festering in the recesses for a month or so.

There isn't enough light about to see any birds with/It's far too sunny and the light is hitting me straight in the eyeballs.

There is too much rain, apart from getting soaked it's keeping the birds down/I wish it would rain, the ground is rock hard and it will drop some birds in.

This severe gale that's blowing should drive some cracking birds into our area/For chrissakes when is this bleedin wind gonna stop it's no use going up Soil Hill in this crap.

The extended cold snap should bring us some morsels from the West:East:North/I hope this frost goes and it gets warmer I can't stand being out in it for too long.

These binoculars are great, the high definition gets me another 90 yards of clarity/These binoculars are rubbish, I never get any good birds.

This camera is shite it can't take any good photographs.

Queensbury and Low Moor

Another session in icy conditions and brilliant sunshine.
Just after seeing 20 Lapwing in the adjacent fields I bumped into a Shelf birder in Cross Lane. He mentioned he was looking for Brambling reported a day or so previously by a colleague. I spent a few minutes searching but couldn't even manage a Chaffinch. Pr Pied Wagtail on the return home.

Low Moor 1050-1225 hrs. Harold Park Lake coughed up many BH Gulls one of them sporting a Leg ring (White on Green) on the right limb and a metal ring on the left. I took a few pics and think I'll be able to discern the country of origin at least.
Others: 1 Herring & several Common Gull, 1 Goosander, c24 Tufted Duck plus the Coots, Moorhens & 4 Mute Swan.

Park Dam had another leg ringed Gull, this time a 1st Winter type LBBG. The ring was black on yellow Y:7? possibly Y:77 on the left leg, the right leg was unadorned. Once again I should be able to determine the country of origin. It looks as if I'm going to be busy tomorrow.

Others: 3 Cormorant, pr Mute Swan, 1,GC & 3 Little Grebe, 16 Tufted Duck, Coots, 7 Moorhen, 1 Goosander, several BH & Common Gulls, 1 Herring and another LBBG. Pr Great Tit,,1 GSW.
Blackbirds seen throughout.

PS The Yellow leg ringed gull ain't a LBBG as stated. I should have gone the other way, it's a HERRING and was ringed in York - details to follow.
I have given up on the BHG the vague details don't tie up with the ringing project codes. 

Shibden Valley Trek

An exhilarating yomp  through the light snow, ice and thick mud of the valley in brilliant sunshine, the kind of day that makes you feel alive (zombies - I didn't mean to upset you).
Some good news about the NW track that leaves Swalesmoor Road and heads down in the direction of the old YWA building. Men in machines have cut a swathe through the area and done away with the potentially dangerous overgrown ditch, also removing fallen tree trunks.

(Hoss thought:This poor sod must be a simpleton)

Birds were sporadic but there were some quality moments, e.g at Bare Head Tunnel I disturbed a male Sparrowhawk that had just made a kill. It flew a few metres into the undergrowth carrying off a Robin sized bird. Presumably the same hawk was seen about 50 mins later flying across Shibden Head.

A Buzzard came out to do a lap and a half for 2/3 minutes. I walked past a bramble patch and was surprised by a Thrush type that twice called loudly as it flew close toward me. It veered off and dived into cover but was so quick I could only narrow it down to Song Thrush or Redwing respectively by sight. Hopefully when I play the call back from Xeno Canto I'll nail it.
Others: 1 Grey Wagtail, Kestrel & 1 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 8 Blackbird, 2 Jay ditto Chaffinch, 1 Pheasant & several Jackdaw.

Swillington Ings

Courtesy of DW with DM representing Northowram on a mild calm day. In no particular order: Red Kite, Buzzard, c12 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Reed Bunting ditto Pied Wagtail, c20 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch.

The water was Fowl: a really good count of Pochard all things considered c22 birds  present. 6 Goldeneye, similar Pintail, several Goosander, Shoveler & Gadwall, numerous Tufted, a few Wigeon.
2 Redshank, c300 Lapwing, c11 GBBG, few Herring Gulls, Cormorants, Greylags, 2 Grey Heron.

Not forgetting Willow Tit👀😁, (Pics by DW) Kingfisher, Stonechat.

Saved By The Swans

Raggalds to Mixenden via Soil Hell and Ogden approx 1020 hrs. 11 Lapwing on the Flood, few small gulls in the vicinity.
Once again the Hellish Hill had nothing to offer on the top but a Kestrel. Down at the bottom were c210 Lapwing and a Grey Heron.

At 1125 hrs I had just gone down the Adventure Centre slope toward the Ogden plantation when I turned round for some inexplicable reason. Oh boy! 7 Whooper Swan were flying over > SE going across Soil Hill southern slope in a direction that would take them over Bradshaw and Queensbury.

Ogden Res had 2 drake Teal out in the middle, 1 LBBG, small gulls and a few Canadas.
The walk to Stod Fold and Mixenden Res produced a couple Chaffinch, 4 Blackbird, ditto Redwing, 1 each Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk & f Goldeneye.

PS A Tawny was hOwling at nightmare o'clock this morning over the back yard and a Grey Wagtail was on BD Mills roof as I returned home.

Low Moor Circular

Queensbury to Low Moor and back via Shelf Moor. It's the old story: drop below the heights of the parish and you will get birds.

Low Moor Dams: 30 Tufted Duck, 11 Goosander, (26 & 8 at Harold Park respectively. 2 Herring Gull and numerous smaller varmints.

1 each Cormorant, Grey Heron & Grey t Crested Grebe 😏😀. 2 Little Grebe, c50 Canadas, 8 Mute Swan, c8 Moorhen & an epidemic of Coot. 2 Chaffinch, 1 Mistle Thrush, 8 Blackbird.

Shelf Moor: c22 Lapwing, c18 Meadow Pipit, 1 each Pied & Grey Wagtail, 3 Blackbird ditto Fieldfare - my first local of the winter.

Dire Straits

Except there was nothing strait about today's quick outing from home via the Raggalds upto Soil Hill down Taylor Lane thence back home. Dire it certainly was; amazing that somebody who is obsessed by birds should visit Soil Hill.

Raggalds had a few small gulls present. Persecution Rd had a sizeable number of House Sparrers. The hill from a medieval horror story had no sign of life whatsoever on the top. Down in the bottom field were a large number of Lapwing along with some Starling.

Atop Taylor Lane a Robin was perched in the ancient harvesting machine, needless to say the Little Owl wasn't there. No other birds were seen save a few small gulls.
At least my new boots passed the test.

Raggalds Flood Delivers

1030 hrs full to the brim the flood held 2 pr Wigeon and some small gulls. The corner where the Snipe hang is covered in H2O as is the adjacent section over the wall.

Soil Hill had to be abandoned in a wall of water coming down from the sky with not one bird apart from a few caaawvids being seen.
Ogden was the pits 'nuff said.

Mixenden Res had 1 Cormorant present with the 2 f Goldeneye reported previously still there. Also a number of small gulls.

Slippin N Sliding down South

Chronic Birding Land approx 0915 hrs Cold with some ice underfoot. Littlemoor Park was being prepared for a cycle race and although a number of homo sapiens were about I can't blame them for scaring birds away particularly as there were none to scare. 
Psycho Nuthatch was evident along with a couple of Blackbird and a Chaffinch.

The remainder of the walk through High Cross Lane to lanes Corporal & Green produced:
1 Lapwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, mebbe a distant Redwing & 1 Goldfinch. 2 Meadow Pipit, 15 Canada Geese, c25 Common Gull, similar Jackdaw (no Nordics I'm afraid) Starlings Wrens n Robins.

Blown Away

I was wrong in thinking Soil Hell has the monopoly on strong wind. The gale I experienced today took my back to the halcyon days of hurricanes in Belize. When I got back to the hotel I took time out to scoop sand out of my eyes.

I came across this Redshank resting on the beach so sneaked one in with the mobile. It was more of the same species generally but Black-tailed Godwits had shot up to around 220 birds. Oh and the wind had blown the Twite out of sight.

Posting pics from Blogger Mobile is one helluva pain, hopefully I may be able to tidy up on arrival back in Queensbury the home of chronic birding.

PS I did.

Down Came The Rain

Not too much wet stuff but enough to invoke a half days rest.
I recced an area to south of the pier which is sandhill country. Probably ok for SEO & Harriers when dry. Relocated theTwite flock now at c50 birds.
Pinkies in small groups over the town, I suppose local birders don't bat an eyelid. Same applies to the Oystercatchers that group together on the grass adjacent to a large retail building. This am there were probably 20 of them making a racket.

Still They Come

A morning start revealed more of the same as yesterday for example Black-tailed Godwit numbered around 80 birds and Pintail were off the scale. Pinkies continued to delight giving good photo opportunities and with the high tide Shelduck were showing well.

Toward the end of the long trek I encountered c20 Twite in the same area as yesterday and they were in camera range as a bonus.
New birds today were 8 Gadwall, numerous Teal, Wigeon & Tufted Duck, several Canada & a few Greylag Geese, pr Stonechat, 1 each Reed Bunting & Kestrel, c10 Skylark, c24 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail. Gulls plentiful and one Herring sneered at me as I got a shot of it with the mobile bone.

Birder Outnumbered

What an assault on the senses this afternoon has been; so many Pinkfeet,  they even flew over the town centre. Shelduck were in the highest numbers I've ever encountered pity the tide was out.
A mind blower after just 20 minutes along the beach was a party of c15 Snow Bunting flying around. Shortly after a similar sized group of brown jobs did the same but they were briefer and I really can't bring myself to say they were Twite. I hope to encounter them tomorrow when I take an extended walk along the beach.

Other players: 7/8 Black-tailed Godwit, c45 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, c20 Redshank, c12 Little Egret, 6 Little Grebe, ditto Pintail, c400 Coot. Also Lapwings, Cormorants, Mute Swans and other watery fowl.
Some photos to follow whenever.
This location is almost as good as the flood 😆

Quiet Queensbury South

Bright Sunny Calm conditions. A very conspicuous noisy Nuthatch in Littlemoor Park along with a few Blackbird & Chaffinch.
22 Lapwing, 2 Bullfinch, Jay, several Jackdaws and small Gulls, pr Mistle Thrush, 4 Redwing and that's it.

Want Some?

To The Leeds Maggot

You know who you are oh insignificant one. I chose to remove my previous  post myself for reasons you don't need to know. However since you need to play God cop for this one:
If your eyes offend thee pluck them out.
Now get real and run along like a good little Europhile.

Saved By Pinkies

Another dour session until I was halfway round Ogden Res. Nowt on the Raggalds Flood at 0955 hrs. Soil Hill produced a singing RLP & a Kestrel on the top with a pr of Moorhen & a possible (distance) Little Grebe on the bottom pond.

Ogden was dire until I was twixt the Ogden and Skirden bridges. There I heard quite clearly a small party of Pink-footed Geese flying over the embankment area heading towards Cold Edge. The trees thwarted any chance of a visual but then fortune smiled in the shape of another birder.

JL was walking up from the lower golf course and he had seen and photographed them so at the time the pair of us guestimated up to 40 birds. No doubt a clearer picture will emerge once John has posted the image.
While we were expostulating a flock of c100 Lapwing were circling above for 10 mins unsure of where to go.

Mixenden Res had a couple off LBBG in with the load of small gulls & 2 f Goldeneye. Nearby fields held Canadas & several Jackdaws.

Raggalds to Mixenden

The Flood at 0940 hrs. 1 Teal & 1 Lapwing. No Snipe showing but I suspected this could change and sure enough DW got 4/5 in the open at around 1245 hrs. A Blackbird that will never strum guitar again was on the pavement.

Soil Hill top even in very mild conditions was quiet; perhaps the Sparrowhawk & Kestrel I saw were responsible? Somehow I don't think so. Down at the bottom were a large flock of Lapwing c220 birds along with several small gulls and Starling.
6 LTT were in Coal Lane a very scarce sighting.

Ogden produced 3 Redwing ditto Bullfinch, 1 each Mistle Thrush & Kestrel, few Goldfinch and a Herring Gull in a field which didn't stay (the field of course did stay). 5 Blackbird were present and this was the predominant passerine throughout the walk with c23 birds being seen in total.

A drake Goosander was on the water and it seemed to glow Pink though the ropey pic I took doesn't reflect this and ain't worth publishing.

Around a dozen BHG were on the railings and amazingly two of them were sporting leg rings VS20 & X2T6. Both birds are old stagers one from Norway t'other subject to checking from Germany.

Mixenden was still holds the f Goldeneye numerous small gulls and several Canadas.

Raggalds Snipe Fest

DW rang me at 1225 hrs to say there were at least 8 Snipe probably more feeding in the open in the boggy section of Raggalds Flood.

Photos: DW

This is a good count; I can't recall any number like that being previously recorded.

Littlemoor Park was quiet and so was the rest of the area I covered under the aegis of Queensbury South. 1 Snipe, 8 Lapwing, 4 Blackbird, 3 Pied Wagtail, couple Mipit, 1 Mistle Thrush ditto Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, few small gulls, numerous Starling.

Windy Queensbury South

0910-1050 hrs Bright sunshine and cold, birding sparse. Seeing there is a sign up in Foster Park saying Littlemoor Park, that's how it shall be referred to forthwith. 2/3 Bullfinch, 1 each Blackbird & Chaffinch. A Nuthatch stayed perched on a branch for quite a while calling often; I managed these two mediocre shots.

5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail ditto Dunnock, 2/3 Goldfinch, 1 Mistle Thrush. c12 Redwing at distance over Shibden Head, 8 Lapwing, several Jackdaw and small gull species.

Bradshaw Ogden Mixenden

Bradshaw Good - Woodcock flushed from about 3 square metre of track side undergrowth.
Ogden gash as ever. Usual scuzzers, Cor Moron, 3 Blackturds, Dullnock.
Mixenden acceptable - very mobile f Goldeneye, 31 Canada, 2 Lazy Black Backs, Grey Wagtail, mobile party 5 LTT, Blue & Gt Tits 2/3 Goldcrest.

Swalesmoor and Oats Royd

1305-1505 hrs.- Poor returns for a hard slog. Swales had a plague of corvids and a few small dulls otherwise deserted. At the Ploughcroft end were 12 Mipit, Dunnock, few House Sparrows, Blackbird, few Goldfinch, Blue/Gt Tits.
OR - 6 LTT, Blue/Gt Tits, 3 Redwing, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, plenty Jackdaws, few small dulls. I've seen more action in a smashed up greenhouse at 4 in the morning in December at -6C.😬

Walsham Dean

Courtesy of DW with DM on a bright day's stroll. Very sporadic birding but it ended with first autumnal winter thrushes for the three of us.

4 Coal Tit, Blue Tits, ditto Chaffinch, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch ditto Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel. A Buzzard hung around through the duration both flying and perching.
Lower Gorple had just a f Teal Spotted by DM but nothing else. 3 Meadow Pipit ditto Red Grouse, 1 Bullfinch ditto Blackbird.
Finally the ones we were hoping for: 3 Redwing & c30 Fieldfare.

Raggalds to Mixenden

1030 hrs the flood recedeth; it held zip. A flock of c115 Lapwing were in the field on the left hand side at bottom Persecution Rd with an even bigger no. of small Dulls.

Atop the same thorofare there lies a big heap of hoss shit which produced zilch. At the bottom of said pile something fowl was on the pond. Alongside was a flock of c75 Lapwing.

Ogdeeeewwwwn was torpid just more Dulls & Dullards. The plantation did have c12 Goldfinch & 2 Chaffinch present.
Stod Fold and Mixenden finally came up with a few birds including the best of the day. 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail ditto Blackbird & Dunnock. On the drink  among others were 2 LBBG & a female Goldeneye my first of the autumn.

Meanwhile DM went down from Northowram into the valley and got Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Buzzard & 3 Kestrel.

Low Moor Dams

1150 hrs a steward outside BPA football stadium asked me if footbal kit was in my rucksack as they were one short of the game against Blyth Spartans. I bet he's glad I refused to play as they went on to win 4-1.

Meanwhile next door in Harold Park were: 1 Grey Heron ditto Mute Swan, 10 Tufted Duck, 2/3 Goldfinch, 5 Goosander, several Coot, less so Moorhen, 1 each Grey & Pied Wagtail.

Park Dam: 10 Cormorant, 5 Little Grebe & 1 GCG. A pr Tufted Duck, c34 Canada, 1 each Herring & LBB gulls, 1 Blackbird, 6 Coot & 5 Moorhen.
Let's not forget the many small dull sp. & Dullards at both sites.

Queensbury South

Bullfinch, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Blackbird, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail ditto Snipe, 1 Meadow Pipit. What a bleeding liberty 😦

Queensbury to Ogden

At least 87 Lapwing on Raggalds sports field plus 3 small Gull sp. & 2 flyover Dullards.  The flood is receding at the same rate as my hair and had nowt on it. A Chaffinch was in the bush across the frog.
Soil Hill was gash; 1 each Moorhen, Kestrel & Snipe plus a pr Grey Partridge.
Ogden Res was an aquatic cemetery and not worth the effort. Woodland sp. down to 1 Jay, 2 each Coal Tit & Goldcrest.
A Dunlin seen at Fly Flatts by DP.

Hartlepool Area

Courtesy of DW who drove brilliantly with the one hand the other having been bitten badly when he offered me the invitation to go. Two calling Tawny Owls out back provided early am stimulus to leap out of bed in time.

2 Curlew, c36 Oystercatcher, c 200 Golden Plover, c300 Lapwing, c18 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover, many Turnstone.

Cormorant, 1 each Shag & Guillemot, Eider, 1 Red-breasted Merganser & GC Grebe, c50 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver.

2 Water Pipit, ditto Rock Pipit, few Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, pr Reed Bunting.
1 each Kestrel, Sparrowhawk & Marsh Harrier.
Fulmar, BH, Common, Herring, LBB & GBB Gulls.
Canada, Greylag & Barnacle Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail, Pochard, Teal.
Blackbird, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Coot, Moorhen, Pheasant.

TBC... Photos, Elaborations, Bullshit & True LIes.

Queensbury Bonus Bird

Queensbury South 0820-1020 hrs. Birds were sporadic with quite a few quiet stretches however I got a cracker in Foster Park aka Littlemoor. Just about 50 yards inside the top entrance I startled a bird on the ground which in turn startled moi. Twas a Woodcock which took flight going across me then veering right and into the trees showing all identification criteria.
Otherwise a Nuthatch and a couple of Goldfinch were noted. Prior to that as I'd left the house a GSW was calling from the back and two Redwing flew over my garden.

c180 Starling and a few Mipit were around the track circuiting the golf course. For the first time in a while the Cross Lane bog was empty. I got 9 distant thrush type from Shaw Lane but can't say for definite that I've seen my first Fieldfare of the year. c44 Lapwing & c56 small gull sp. were in Corporal Lane along with a few Woodpigeon. A Green Woodpecker was heard brieflyand a few Jackdaw seen at Green Lane and that was it.

Park Lane News

Hi Nigel,

Welcome back. Despite your earlier doubts, you seem to have seen plenty of good birds on your holiday.

Photo DS

The Brambling was in this afternoon; it seems to be quite settled. I've been putting niger down with the seeds in that usual spot opposite the patio doors.
The Sparrowhawk  has been coming in sporadically so you were lucky with it. We've had Treecreeper, Jay, female Bullfinch up to 12 LTTs  and Song Thrush lately along with our usual suspects..

3 Hawfinches on our vis-mig, in Huddersfield, on Monday and I managed to get a couple of shots.
Good luck with the Brambling, you might catch it another day.
Denise

Queensbury South

1040-1205 hrs a walk in bright sunshine from Park Lane through Foster Park terminating at Shaw Lane end.
Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush, Common Gull & 5 BHG.
2 Snipe ditto Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackbird, 3 Chaffinch and an odd mix of 5 Meadow Pipit in with 5/6 Goldfinch hanging round bushes. Also 3 Goldfinch seen elsewhere along with Blue/Gt Tits & a Dunnock.
A Fox was present in the Cross Lane bog.

Queensbury to Mixenden

What a crap un it turned out to be 😣. Raggalds Flood: 19 Canada, 11 Lapwing, few small gulls with c100 on the sports field.
Soil Hell c70 Lapwing even more small gulls. 1 Snipe, 3 Goldfinch, c50 Woodpigeon > SW, 3 Mipits, Kestrel, singing Red-legged Partridge.
Ogden: c14 Redwing, c17 Goldfinch, Goldcrest and usual detritus on the brimful reservoir.
By the time I got to Poxenden I'd lost the will to live. 1 Blackbird & Mistle Thrush Grey Wagtails, 3 BHG, Jackdaws.

Moorland Baptism of Mire

Dire Mire it was too with Messrs DM and DW as witness's. The water isn't exclusive to Ogden and Warley Moor (aka Fly Flatts) Reservoirs; there's bathtubs of it upon t'moors.
1 Snipe by the Withens; 3 Grey/Red-legged Partridge very briefly at FF also a Kestrel there. c11 Red Grouse seen throughout the walk. A Golden Plover was heard in the vicinity of Ogden Clough where a Green Woodpecker was seen from the track approaching the res.
3 Redwing were seen briefly and heard calling at Ogden which produced very little; just a Coal Tit & Goldcrest were the only other Passerines. Besides these it was down to 5 LBBG plus several smaller Gulls and the Dullards.

I didn't want to pester DM to stop by the Raggalds after such an arduous walk but I'll give it a bash in the am because 15 mins ago I got this text from DW...
"Just been to farm shop.  3 wigeon on Raggalds Flood.  The male looking well in this sunshine".

Manavgat Grand Finale

Day 11 Migration evident in a NE'ly  breeze. 1 GCG, 3 Snipe, c26 WW, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Stonechat,1 Whinchat, 4 each  Lesser Whitethroat & Red-Backed Shrike. 1 f RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER😎 ditto WRYNECK & BLACK REDSTART. Cormorants were flying around in small groups. Also a f Blackcap 1 Richards Pipit, ditto Robin & Spotted Flycatcher. 3 Kingfisher were seen and finally Phil O'rope seems to have migrated too.

This was a good last day as I got photos of the Red-breasted Fly, Black Red & Wryneck which were all in the same area together and made for a frantic 20 minutes.

Lake and Sand Dunes

Day 10 1 Whinchat, 6 Stonechat, 2 Redstart, 3 Red-Backed Shrike, 4 Lesser Whitethroat ditto Corn Bunting, 1 each Marsh Harrier, Sardinian Warbler & Spotted Flycatcher, c24 Greenfinch, c15 Goldfinch, 3 Great White Egret in flight, 1 Blackbird ditto Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfisher, Red-necked Phalarope. 3/4 Tree Pipit flight calls heard.

An interesting sight was 2 Laughing Doves doing a dance routine. They would circle each other then jump up over one another repeatedly. Was this 2 males establishing mastery. This is a very late date for a breeding foxtrot surely?

Does anybody want to take advantage of scores of RB Shrike and Phalarope photos on offer, say at £25 the lot? What's that you say more like £35? OK deal I'll credit your bank account within the next 2 days 😆.

Sand Dunes and Lake

Day 9 I needed to have a less arduous walk today and allow my leg stumps to grow back so I spent the morning bummin around the sand dunes and pines. I came across a cat that spoke english😼. I saw it licking it's lips so I said "You've eaten all the birds haven't you?" It replied "Me How?"

5 Robin, few Gt Tit, 2 each Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat & Red-Backed Shrike.1 Sparrowhawk, ditto Black Redstart 😆, 2 Redstart, 3 Cettis & WW. 2 Kingfisher, 4 Stonechat, 1 Graceful Prinia & Phil O'rope. 3 Laughing Dove, 2 Cormorant & 6 passing Swallow.
I'm pleased with the Black Red as I got off 3/4 decent shots of it.

More Manavgat Movement

Day 8 and another satisfactory session by close of play. 5 Lesser Whitethroat possibly 6 because as you know Lesser is more 😆. 1 each Red-Backed Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher & Stonechat. I got a Kestrel which was quickly followed by a Marsh Harrier with a bunch of Hooded Crows in attendance

2 Lapwing were a bit of a surprise as they were Northen and not Spur-winged. 1 Grey & Yellow Wagtail, Cormorant, 4 Jay. 10 Little Egret decided to fly round in a large circle.
After just finishing rinsing my kidneys I was fortunate in walking straight into another splendid Richards Pipit. Have to admit at first I had it as a Tawny thankfully my photos are good enough to confirm the Id.

On the final leg back to the hotel ( I should say butt cheek ) I happened to encounter a most efficacious WRYNECK. I'm electing this as bird of the week because over Five and Twenty years have passed since the last one.
Not forgetting the White Wagtails 3 BHG. 2 Cettis Warbler. YLGS, 2 Kingfisher & Phil the Phal  (before I get accused of sexism it could be Philippa).

Down By The River

Day 7 Hard work again but birds slowly crept in at the end. Singles Robin, Redstart, Sardinian Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Black Tern, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail. 2 Red-Backed Shrike ditto Stonechat, 3 Jay ditto Great Tit. Not so many White Wagtails or Crested Larks today. The Irish wader Phil O'rope is still with us as are the Grebes & Coots despite a large dredger churning up the lake bottom.
Not without some skill I managed to dodge the Kingfishers today but still fell foul of the Bulbul crowd.

Inspired by BS great find of a Caspian Gull back home I took on the onerous task of going through the hundred of YLGs by the riverside. Every age group is present but after a while I realised I'd have a job for life. Far better to hope for a singleton or even a couple to fly by separately. Just 2 BHGs were also noted.

Manavgat Mini Migration

Definite signs of movement this am after a poor day yesterday on Day 5 when winds kept things down and the only new bird was a Grey Heron. Otherwise it was down to 2 WW, 4 Kingfisher, 5 Spectacled Bulbul, 6 Laughing Dove, 2 Grey and a few White & Yellow Wagtails, YLG, Hoodies & a Graceful Prinia.

Today's birds Day 6 4 Red-Backed Shrike. Red-necked Phalarope, Cormorant, 1 each Redstart & Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Corn Bunting, many YLG, Crested Larks, many White Wagtails. Little Egret, pr Great White Egret, Sanderling, 6 Spectacled Bulbul, Greenfinch, 2 Jay, 1 Whinchat, 5 Cettis Warbler, 3 WW. I need to check Lark songs as I got a prolonged burst of definitely Not Crested

The Black Terns may have moved on but the Phalarope continues to stay close to wherever one may be. Now there is an additional peril; the Sanderling came up and let itself be photographed at a range far too close for comfort. I mean a bird like that could take your leg off at the elbow!

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More from Manavgat

Day 3
Cormorant, Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Red-Backed Shrike, Black Tern, Kingfisher, White Wagtails & Yellow, 7 Jay, Great Tits, Graceful Prinia, Mallard, Whinchat, Red-necked Phalarope.
The Phalarope is unbelievable. It comes up so close one has to step back to focus on it. At one stage I had to chastise a cat for trying to eat it. All was well, the moggy settled for a tickle 😆

Day 4 Manavgat river. Richards Pipit, Whinchat, c230 YLG, Black Tern, BHG, Little Gull, Sandwich Tern, Little Egret,  LRP, pr Kentish Plover, Sanderling, 2 Swallow, 2 Cettis, Little Grebes now c16, Red-Backed Shrike.
I left it late in coming here on Oct 11 a lot of birds have left the area. Still it's nice to see all the new hotels and roads that weren't here 3 Years back.😨
Many Pics to follow...

Manavgat Turkey

Day One
House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Serin, Goldfinch, Collared Dove, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Unid Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Graceful Prinia, Crested Lark, Night Heron, Black Stork, Jay, Hooded Crow, Blackbird, Sand Martin, Swallow, Coot, Moorhen all in the am.
After lunch: Shoveler, Little Grebe, Spectacled Bulbul, YLG, Commic Tern, Black Tern, Red-necked Phalarope, Icterine Warbler?

Day 2
Hard work very dry at Manavgat. c22 YLG, pr Red-Backed Shrike, 2 Kestrel, 4 Whinchat, Quail, Richards Pipit, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Crested Larks, Yellow & Pied Wagtails, 2 Jays, Blackbird, many moving Laughing Dove, Graceful Prinia, Spectacled Bulbul. Probable Eastern Bonellis Warbler.

More Down South

1220-1430 hrs same route as before but quieter. 3 Chaffinch, 1 Nuthatch, ditto Jay & Kestrel. 5 Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackbird, 3 Snipe, c50 Jackdaw, 3 Rook, few Goldfinch, 8 Meadow Pipit, c30 small Gull sp, 1 Collared Dove.

I bumped into L... a young lady who lives in the area and though a keen birder had no knowledge of the local bird blogs. Fear ye not she is now up to speed on how to discover info on the rich bird life in and around Queensbury 😎😏 arf arf snigger snigger.