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Donna Nook, 15th Oct 2016
(Preview)
My first 'twitch' for many years and managed to get good views of the Red-flanked Bluetail that has been at Donna Nook for a couple of days now. Other birds seen included: Little Egret, c12 Brent Goose, c500, Hen Harrier, 1 ringtail, Buzzard, c6, Kestrel, c6, Grey Plover, c20, Golden Plover, c2000, Du...
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David Nuttall
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0
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178
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East is East!
(Preview)
 The Easterly winds had started over a week ago and focus was one question? - When will we be going to Spurn and environs?  After much dithering Sunday the 9th was the chosen day and I met Craggy (Mr C) at about 5am. We set off at a relaxed place and reached out first point just before 7.30am. This was...
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sarfraz
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2
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179
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Another Good Day at Spurn. Sunday 9th October 2016
(Preview)
The type of wind and weather fronts almost guaranteed a good weekend for migrant birds on the east coast. So, with 2 of the A team joining with 2 of the lads from York, who had been to Spurn the day before, we would almost certainly have a good day`s birding! I picked up Bob K in Milnrow, in the dark, the...
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David Ousey
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0
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133
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Flamborough Head. Sunday 2nd October 2016
(Preview)
The regular influx of birds being seen on the east coast was just about getting going, so it was time for a trip to Flamborough Head. Myself, Steve B and Chris B left Newhey in the hope that we might see the Taiga Bean Goose that had been seen a few times at North Marsh at Flamborough. This was also a new par...
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David Ousey
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0
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137
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Annual Spurn Trip 23/9 to 25/9/2016
(Preview)
Due to family commitments the date of our annual get together had to be brought forward a couple of weeks and with the lack of any rentable caravans in the area a change of accommodation also. A later start also with myself and Bob K going in the same car with Steve K joining us a little later. Our first s...
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David Ousey
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0
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136
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Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire
(Preview)
Had the birding itch last week because Spurn had been delayed and it was a choice between Leighton Moss and Environs, some of the sites in Yorkshire such as Old Moor, Hatfield and Swillington Ings and Alkborough Flats/Blacktoft Sands. Craggy, Craig and I were joined by a new addition - Paul Burke. ...
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sarfraz
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5
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169
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Northern France.
(Preview)
I don't normally bore you with my annual visit to my family in France, but sitting here beer in hand and a good internet connection and the grandchildren being quite for a change I thought I would check the club website for anything interesting at home. Looks like things are moving through and Craig's b...
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brian
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7
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207
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Spurn at its best. Sunday 18th September 2016
(Preview)
The east coast in migration time is very difficult to beat and with a nice forecast, myself and Bob K headed once more for the Spurn/ Kilnsea area. Upon arrival quite a few birders seemed to be leaving the Church Field ringing area, the reason, a Blyth`s Reed Warbler had been trapped, rung and released...
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David Ousey
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0
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113
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Burton Mere Wetlands, Ainsdale and Marshside
(Preview)
The answer to the legendary A Team, the B Team consisting of myself, Craggy and Craig Bell or should I say more likely Z Team managed to make a trip first to Burton Mere Wetlands in Cheshire and then onto Ainsdale. The temptation of 12 Spoonbills which have been present for a few weeks at Burton Mere an...
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sarfraz
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3
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196
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Swamphens and Peatbogs. Sunday 11th September 2016
(Preview)
The full A team assembled in Newhey (after brief introductions) and after a small discussion we decided to head for Alkborough, North Lincolnshire as the Western Purple Swamphen was still present. As two of the team still needed to see this species, we soon arrived on a beautiful Lincolnshire (8 mil...
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David Ousey
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0
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108
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Skua`rd at Spurn. Sunday 4th September 2016
(Preview)
A call on Saturday to one of my mates from York, Mark K, resulted in me asking him if he was going out birding on Sunday, he invited me along saying there was room. I met Mark K, Nigel S and Paz on the main street at North Cave (of Spotted Crake fame) on a mild morning in Yorkshire. We arrived at Spurn around 9-1...
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David Ousey
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1
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149
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White winged Black Tern. Rishton Res. 4th Sept '16.
(Preview)
There has been a White winged Black Tern on Rishton Res, Blackburn this afternoon. Mostly very distant spending most of the time near to the far banking and the left bay so scope needed really for decent views.. A decent local bird with only a few if any east lancs records. Craig. 3 heavy cropped distant...
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C Bel
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0
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125
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Mallorca, August 2016
(Preview)
21.08.16 - 28.08.16 Took a holiday to Mallorca this year and still as good as ever, five years since my last visit, with the following being noted: Dabchick, c6 at Albufereta, Cormorant, just a couple noted, Shag, c20, Little Bittern, single flew over 3 times at Albufera, Night Heron, 2 at Albufereta...
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David Nuttall
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0
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146
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Cornwall Trip (Again?) Sunday 7th August 2016
(Preview)
After lasts weeks trip to dip the Dalmatian Pelican I did not think that I would be going back again so soon. With the bird seemingly settling down again in West Cornwall, it do no harm to have another go would it? A little persuasion was not needed from Mark K, so we met in Milnrow at 3am on Sunday morning, w...
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David Ousey
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0
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137
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Bad Times and Good Times (and a rest in between). 31/7/16 & 2/8/16
(Preview)
I dont often chase after birds that might not get accepted by the great bird gods, but, I had a lapse and thought about the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall. I saw a message from Dave W, from Huddersfield, on RBA asking for a lift or offering transport to see the bird. Steve K has always wanted to do a silly n...
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David Ousey
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0
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118
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St Bee's RSPB in Cumbria
(Preview)
Middle of last week after a 7 years wait I finally managed to visit St Bee's. I have wanted to go for 7 years but it always got put off. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive form Rossendale but my first stop was Foulshaw Moss. The Osprey showed distantly but because it was cloudy no reptiles, dragonflies or bu...
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sarfraz
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0
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129
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Burton Mere Wetlands - 30/7/16
(Preview)
After the Avocets today I had to go to Warrington and once finished there decided to go to Burton Mere Wetlands as Spotted Crake has been showing over last few days. Within minutes of arriving at the visitor centre the Crake popped out and I managed to add another bird to my life list. It was very distan...
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sarfraz
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1
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155
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Swillington Ings/RSPB St Aidans near Leeds - June 2016
(Preview)
Went to Swillington Ings/St Aidans in 3rd week of June and had a great time. Not only a brilliant place for birds but for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies and other insects. Highlights of the day including a few Yellowhammers, many Warblers including Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blac...
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sarfraz
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2
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145
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Sunday 24th July 2016. Flamborough Head, Troutsdale, Wykeham & Wharram Quarry (Yorkshire)
(Preview)
This quiet time of the year for birding, usually gives way to trying to see some interesting insects and flowers etc. Myself, Bob K with Chris B at the helm set off from Newhey to visit a few different sites. Firstly calling at Flamborough Head for a spot of sea watching, only to see Brett Richards leavin...
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David Ousey
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0
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135
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White Winged Black Tern.10/7/2016
(Preview)
As I am always a sucker to go and see White Winged Black Terns anywhere, it followed that when one toured Yorkshire and settled at Rother Valley C.P that we would go. Myself at the wheel and Steve`s B & K left a drizzly Rochdale at 8am and soon found the country park around 9-15am. The last time we were...
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David Ousey
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0
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144
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London Birding
(Preview)
I had a work trip to London at the end of Sunny May so whilst there I decided to visit a couple of places. On arrival to the capital I met a good friend at Euston and then we headed to newly opened wetland in the North East of the capital not far from Upton Park tube station. Woodberry Wetland was run by th...
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sarfraz
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0
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149
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Success & Failure. 3/7/2016
(Preview)
The arrival of post breeding birds back into the country is always an exciting time for us birders, so when an American White Winged Scoter was seen in Aberdeenshire it was time to gather the troops. With my friends from over the border in Yorkshire being "up for it" and no real response from the regula...
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David Ousey
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0
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148
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Yorksire Trip. 26/6/2016
(Preview)
After a very unusual week at home, it was really good to know that I have a lot of friends around me to tell my troubles too. So, when Bob K asked me to go out on Sunday, I could not miss the opportunity. A nice Steve K type start time of 9am with Bob at the controls, we headed for Broomhill Flash not far from Ol...
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David Ousey
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0
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112
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Hesketh Out Marsh, Marshside and Lunt Meadows
(Preview)
Did a day trip on Sunday with Paul Burke and first stop was Hesketh Out Marsh. No birders there just dog walkers - not a good sign! Unless they had gone on a twitch locally somewhere but nothing was showing on Birdguides. There were Shelducks, Mallards, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Little Egrets, Bla...
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sarfraz
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1
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137
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It was Knot meant too be. 18/6/2016
(Preview)
The news that a Great Knot had been found at Titchwell, Norfolk, did`nt have any of us dashing about to see it, as we all had seen the Teeside bird (or great dot as it was called) But after a conversation with one of our York birdwatching friends, I thought it might be nice to acompany him as he planned to go...
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David Ousey
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0
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116
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An afternoon in East Yorkshire. 12/6/2016
(Preview)
By way of a change four A Teamers did an afternoon/evening/night trip in search of a few birds that we would have normally seen on our annual Norfolk trip. We are not going this year unless something "good" turns up. The weather forecast was not to promising as we departed Newhey at 3pm and headed along t...
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David Ousey
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0
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113
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New Forest, Hengistbury & Beyond, June 2016
(Preview)
Spent a few days on the south coast and managed a couple of hours, early morning each day, in The New Forest or Hengistbury Head. Most sites were difficult birding with low numbers of birds showing themselves apart from Redstart and Stonechat which were everywhere! The following were noted: Manx She...
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David Nuttall
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0
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128
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Cuckoo Brandlehow Woods 30-05-2016
(Preview)
First Cuckoo for me this year in Brandlehow Woods along the shore of Derwent Water Keswick For me one of my favourite bird calls, nice too see and hear One highlight was 4 Spotted Flycatchers all feeding for insects from the same bush along the River Derwent Borrowdale Cheers Craggy
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craggy
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0
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154
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East Yorkshire.29/5/2016
(Preview)
Just two A Team members enjoyed a good trip to our second favourite county, Yorkshire. We met in Milnrow at a reasonable time and in Steve K`s car headed for Spurn Point. Yesterday there had been some good birds,Red backed Shrike and Turtle Doves, but upon arrival it was apparent that everything had cl...
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David Ousey
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0
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115
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Martin Down, May 2016
(Preview)
Spent a couple of hours at Martin Down, Hampshire, with the following highlights: Hobby, 1 feeding on insects, Grey Partridge, 2 calling birds, Turtle Dove, a good count of 16 purring birds, mainly from deep in the Hawthorns, with just 1 bird seen, Cuckoo, 1 calling bird, Skylark, c12, House Martin,...
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David Nuttall
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0
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115
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