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Hatfield Moors, Doncaster
(Preview)
A slightly later than planned arrival at Hatfield Moors Nature Reserve near Doncaster but still we kept hope. On arrival a Barking Deer was heard giving it's blood-curdling call. A quick check at the spot where I previously had Woodlark but nothing heard. Probably too late in the morning and in t...
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sarfraz
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0
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116
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Common Rosefinch 10/6/2023
(Preview)
With a trip up to the Lake District stopped off to see the Rosefinch which would be a lifer It had been showing on and off along Crook Road near Kendal. On arriving ten people was already watching the Rosefinch showing at the top of a conifer tree in full song which was nice to listen too but quickly move...
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craggy
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124
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Gait Barrows, Warton Crag and Leighton Moss - 22 May 2023
(Preview)
It had been a year since my last visit to Leighton Moss and the Silverdale area. My main aim was to see the Duke of Burgundy butterfly which appears in May and June at the Gait Barrows Nature Reserve. I tried last year and we were sent in the wrong direction. The weather did not help too that day. On arri...
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sarfraz
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0
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137
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Devon/Cornwall
(Preview)
Just spent a few days away visiting my Dad who lives in Cornwall and who is a keen birder. Not that we was out getting ticks we was more just enjoying doing something that wasnt Sunderland football club as we are both from the north east originally. we managed to clock up some good miles and enjoyed the vie...
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Phillip
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112
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Marsden moor 220423
(Preview)
A good few hours walking over the moors, wheatear pair, Merlin kestrel Sparrowhawk Buzzard Short eared Owl 2 of, cheers, Phil
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Phillip
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115
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Little Gulls Elton Reservoir 21/4/2023
(Preview)
Elton Reservoir With reports of big movements of Little Gulls at Pennington Flash on 21/4/2023 with over 60 Little Gulls at Elton on 19/4/2023 of 28 Little Gulls thought Elton Reservoir would be worth a trip On arriving I was soon watching up to 9 Little Gulls could have been more thinking some were c...
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craggy
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0
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102
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Good day for a Night Heron. Sunday 9th April 2023
(Preview)
When two adult Night Herons were found on the 6th of April by the River Calder, Ossett, Yorkshire it meant a trip to see these overshooting migrants was planned. I have not seen one in this country for about 25 years, so an early start leaving Kevin C`s house at 7am along with Craig B was arranged. At a...
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David Ousey
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1
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139
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A Good Birding Weekend. 31/3 – 2/4/23
(Preview)
In reverse weekend order, we all decided to go to St Aidan`s/ Swillington thats Bob K, Kevin C and myself and contacting Dave W to meet up on Sunday morning. We set off and just as we got near Castleford in Yorkshire, a message told us that a White Spotted Bluethroat had been heard singing and glimpsed...
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David Ousey
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97
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Alpine Swift Elton Reservoir 31/3/2023
(Preview)
A text from Sarfraz saying a Alpine Swift had been reported at Elton Reservoir, asked if he was going but unfortunately he was busy with work. With reports over the last week of Alpine Swifts being reported all around the coastlines i was hoping one would show a little closer to home, with this one bein...
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craggy
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1
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111
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Oliver`s Mount in Scarborough, Wykeham and RSPB Bempton Cliffs. 26/3/2023
(Preview)
A recent influx of at least 50 Alpine Swift`s (Apus melba) into the UK had us all hoping that some would make their way north. So when a couple of them were found in Scarborough, plans were made to go early on Sunday morning. No problems with the clock`s going forward for us as has happened in the past, ha...
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David Ousey
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0
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87
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High Tide February 21st
(Preview)
The RSPB had advertised a high tide event at Parkgate in the Wirral around the 21st of February. A 10.1m tide was forecast all it would need is a good wind. The last time I visited a spring high tide in this area may have been 6-7 years ago. I had visited the Wirral in October and we had luckily crossed p...
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sarfraz
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0
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103
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Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire day out. Friday 3rd March 2023
(Preview)
Friday was unusual choice for a day out with Dave W, but we covered some miles and both enjoyed it. Drove over to Barnsley to pick Dave up and we were soon on our way, firstly to try to see a very strange occurrence of a Pallas`s Warbler. A species usually associated with our east coast at autumn time, it...
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David Ousey
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0
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81
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Waxwing and Elton 4/03/2023
(Preview)
A trip over to see the long staying single Waxwing at Bolton having not seen one for quite some time and not to be disappointed as it was showing really well on arriving saying that because it has a tendency of disappearing for hours on end so my timing was very lucky it stayed around feeding for around t...
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craggy
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0
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97
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A Lancashire Day out (and a bit of Cumbria) 5th Feb 2023
(Preview)
A sharp frost overnight slightly held up mine and Bob K`s departure from Whitworth, picking up Craig B in Rawtenstall and heading over Grane. Our plan was to try to see the Hawfinches in the Eaves Wood area that had been seen the day before. We called at Conder Green, Pine Lake and headed for Gait Barr...
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David Ousey
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0
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85
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A winter trip to Nottinghamshire. 8/1/23
(Preview)
After a chat with Dave W it seemed a good idea to visit some of the winter delights of Nottinghamshire. After picking up Kev C at 7am we headed to southern Yorkshire to get Dave W and at 8-15am made our way to the first stop at Thoresby. This area had been home to some Hawfinch this week, but after a good 40 m...
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David Ousey
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0
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91
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RSPB Marshside and Lunt Meadows nature reserve 6/01/2023
(Preview)
RSPB Marshside and Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve With a weather forecast dry and sunny over at Southport sounded good for a trip over to the coast Thought Id start at the Old Sand Works, there was four local birders already looking out over the marsh pointing out raptors out on the marsh soon we was havi...
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craggy
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0
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90
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Lancashire Day Out. 2/1/2023
(Preview)
First trip of the year in dry conditions after all the rain etc. Heading off into the Lancaster/Fylde area with Bob K & Kev C at the pleasant time of 8am. First stop at Darwen services to try to find a Yellow-legged Gull that seems to like the bins adjacent to MacDonalds takeaway, straight away the...
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David Ousey
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0
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93
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Alkborough Flats and Potteric Carr Nature Reserves - July 2022
(Preview)
After a successful and enjoyable birding trip the week before to Bempton and Blacktoft Sands we decided to give Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve a try and then Potteric Carr. It was forecast to be a nice sunny day and Phillip was driving. I suggested we try Alkborough in the afternoon because a rare...
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sarfraz
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0
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96
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Long-tailed Duck Elton Reservoir 6/11/2022
(Preview)
Long-tailed Duck reported on Elton thought Id fit it in with a walk around the area Feeding station Goldfinch Greenfinch Bullfinch Chaffinch 1 Jay Long-tailed Tit On Elton reservoir 1 Long-tailed Duck 18 Tufted Duck 12 Great Crested Grebe 30+ Teal 20+ Coot 1 Goldeneye 1 Wigeon Withins rese...
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craggy
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0
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97
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Marshside and Lunt Meadows
(Preview)
Marshside has been on good form over the last 6 months in relation to rare birds. In Spring a Black Winged Stilt appeared and stayed a few days followed by a Broad Billed Sandpiper. I am sure other rarities would have been recorded. Autumn has been as interesting if not more. A Buff Breasted Sandp...
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sarfraz
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0
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119
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Lesser Yellowlegs RSPB Marshside Southport 26 October 2022
(Preview)
Lesser Yellowlegs I had a trip over to Marshside to have a look at this rare American wader on its fifth day there would be a lifer for me. Reports of it showing well on Crossens Pool, but on arriving there was no sign of it or enyone else. But at the far end of the marsh was a small group of birders watching so...
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craggy
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102
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Bumper fall of migrant birds at Spurn, Yorkshire. 21/10/2022
(Preview)
With all of the rare birds this autumn being found on places like Shetland, Scilly Isles & Ireland it felt that we had been starved of good birds during this exciting time. None of our team are what you may call chequebook birders (Having limitless money and time to twitch rare birds anywhere) So...
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David Ousey
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0
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90
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Martin Mere 06/10/22
(Preview)
There had been some good run of local and national scarcities at Martin Mere in late September. A Purple Heron which first appeared at Brockholes briefly pitched up at Martin Mere and had made occasional forays out towards Marshside. Other notable species recorded included Willow Tit, Cattle...
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sarfraz
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0
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86
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Red-footed Falcon Marton Mere 3/9/2022
(Preview)
A day out along the coast making the most of the good weather just had to make a small detour to see if a could catch a glimpse of the reported Red-footed Falcon. Walking along the track to the mere a local birder was looking out over the mere I asked if hed had any luck, saying he had seen it a good hour ago an...
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craggy
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0
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91
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Greater Sand Plover at Redcar, Yorkshire (or Teeside if you prefer) 26/8/2022
(Preview)
Its been a long 34 years since I saw my last Greater Sand Plover in Britain on Walney Island, Cumbria (or Lancashire, if I prefer) So, when one was found on Redcar beach last night around 7-30pm, I alerted a few of my rare bird enthusiast friends. This bird is probably the same bird seen last week in Ab...
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David Ousey
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0
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87
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The Turkestan or Red tailed Shrike revisited. 21/8/22
(Preview)
With the change in wind patterns, good weather and the lack of many rare birds, we decided to have another look at the long staying Turkestan or Red tailed Shrike at Bempton, Yorkshire. A 7am start from Castleton along with Bob K, Kevin C, Craig B and myself we headed for our first stop at Flamborough...
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David Ousey
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110
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North Cave N.R. & Blacktoft Sands. 16/8/22
(Preview)
A midweek trip out to try to see a couple of nice birds that have begun their migration through Britain. Myself, Kevin C and Craig B left Rochdale at 10am (to hopefully miss the M62 snarl) on a warm, pleasant morning. Our plan was to head for North Cave nature reserve about 20 miles west of Hull to see a S...
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David Ousey
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0
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80
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Cape Gull at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire. 7/8/2022
(Preview)
After a very hectic night out for me at a couple of friends wedding reception, getting into bed at 1-20am. The last thing you would expect is for a first for Britain to turn up! As we know us seasoned twitchers Always expect the unexpected Waking at around 10-15am my fuzzy head was plotting what to do wi...
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David Ousey
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0
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82
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Yorkshire Birding trip 20/07/22
(Preview)
Not often a day off collides with someone wanting to go to see the Black Browed Albatross with the added bonus of the Turkestan Shrike. I needed something different as over the last 2 years I hadn't done much travelling of over 1 hour. The day before the Shrike was not reported. I said that we would only go...
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sarfraz
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2
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176
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RSPB Blacktoft Sands near Goole, Yorkshire. 27/7/22
(Preview)
With lots of species of wading birds beginning their return from the breeding grounds in the Arctic, it was time to visit one of the best places to watch them, Blacktoft (Toft being an old English word meaning Homestead) An early start to hopefully beat my pet hate the M62, now known as The Carpark....
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David Ousey
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74
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