Mystery Bird Quiz Week 6

Great White Egret

 

Last weeks mystery bird was a Great White Egret which I saw at Fairburn Ings earlier this year.

Well done to Rob Stokes, Mark Lucas, Mike Buckley, Mark Lewis, Paul and Bluenorsebirder for all getting the right answer. Unlucky to those who got the wrong answer but thanks for trying.

 

Here is this weeks new mystery bird.

I will reveal the answer next Saturday.

Thanks for having a go.

Cliffs and Valleys

Today our plan was to go to Forge Valley for Nuthatches and then afterwards head of to the cliffs around Flamborough and Bempton.

When we arrived at Forge Valley, we went to the part of the valley were there was some feeders. While we were watching out for the Nuthatches we saw on the feeders Coal, Blue, Great and Marsh Tits. We also saw a Robin and a few Chaffinches. After a while a beautiful Nuthatch finally dropped in which stayed for a while allowing us some superb views! We got within a few metres of this cracking bird.

Nuthatch

Robin

 

Afterwards we went to Flamborough. When we arrived we decided to have a walk around the edge of the cliffs. While we were walking along we saw a few Cormorants go past also we saw a Kestrel hovering over the fields in the distance. We decided to find a good spot to do a bit of sea watching were we didn't see anything accept for more Cormorants.

 

After Flamborough we went to Bempton Cliffs. At Bempton we saw several Rock and Meadow Pipits in the fields which was a nice surprise. Also we saw a very nice Kestrel hovering over the fields, which was amazing to watch.

Kestrel

 

Afterwards the light started to go so we decided to go home but while we were walking through the visitor centre they had a live Peregrine on the cliffs from the Jubilee viewpoint! So we rushed of to the viewpoint as fast as we could before it took of. When we arrived sadly there was no sign of the bird but then my Dad spotted something flying low just of the cliffs and it turned out to be the Peregrine!

 

After a great days birding we went home.

Mystery Bird Quiz Week 5

Short Eared Owl

 

Last weeks mystery bird was a Short Eared Owl which I saw at Flamborough earlier this year.

Well done to Rob Stokes, Jason Ward, Ryan Mottram, Keith, John Mathers and Mark Lewis for getting the right answer. Unlucky to those who got the wrong answer.

 

Here is this weeks mystery bird.

 

 

I will reveal the answer next Saturday.

Thanks for having a go.

Mystery Bird Quiz Week 4

Common Tern

 

Last weeks mystery bird was a Common Tern which I saw at RSPB Saltholme earlier this year. A big well done to Rob Stokes, Mark Lucas, Jason Ward and Phil Gatley. Unlucky to those who didn't get the right answer but thanks for having ago.

 

Here is this weeks mystery bird.

What is it?

 

thanks for having a go

Fantastic Flamborough

Today we went to Flamborough. We got up at about 7:30am and then left the house at 8:00am. We arrived at Flamborough at around 9:00am. At Flamborough it was very sunny with hardly a cloud in the sky.

At first we decided to have a check in the Millennium Wood to look for the Serin which had been sighted there recently. On the way through the wood we asked a few people if it was still showing and they all replied yes. When we arrived at a weedy field we saw lots of birders at the other side of the field so we walked over there. While we were walking over 4 birds flew over our heads 3 of them were Goldfinch but the one at the back looked different and then the birders said to us just as we reached them they said the bird at the back was the Serin! We were very glad to have seen it even though we only got a quick glimpse. After a while of waiting the Serin was finally picked up again in some trees in the wood with some Goldfinches, we got some good views through the scope before it flew of again. We waited about an hour or so to see if it came back but it didn't so we carried on to the cliffs.

When we arrived at the cliffs we started walking down a path to get to a bit were we could get our scope set up to do a bit of sea watching. While we were walking down a man said  'there has been lots of Stonechats down this path' so we decided to take a path which entered a marshy type area. As we got about half way down the track we spotted a lovely male Stonechat! Afterwards we kept seeing loads more of them, there must have been at least 5 in the bushes. We watched these great little birds for about an hour before finding a spot to sea watch.

 

 

Stonechats

 

During our sea watching session we didn't see much apart from a Gannet, Shags and a few Oyster Catchers so we decided to walk back to the car to have one last quick check on the Serin to see if it was showing any better. On the way back to the car I spotted a big bird of prey fly over a hedge which was quite far away so I took a few photos of the bird and then shouted 'Short Eared Owl!!!'

This was amazing. We watched it for about 10mins before it disappeared over a hill in the background. It was fantastic to watch! Also on the way back to the car my Dad spotted a Stoat emerging from a bush a few meters away from us!

Short Eared Owl

 

Afterwards we only had about 10mins left before we had to go home so we had a very quick check on the Serin, and it tuned out to be showing slightly better than before! I managed a few record shots of the Serin. Also it showed nicely through the scope.

 

After a great day we left Flamborough with 2 great life ticks which included Serin and Short Eared  Owl.

A Great Day To Fly A Kite

Today we went to a place near Otley in search of Red Kites. As we set of the weather was great, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and although it was quite sunny it was very cold.

As we arrived all we could see were Red Kites! There was loads of them, some of them even landed in the field next to us but they were a bit to far away for a decent photo. Some of them flew right over the top of the car.

Red Kite

 

In amongst the Kites there was also a few Buzzards which were showing just as well as the Kites. Whilst we were watching 2 Red Kites perched up in a tree we noticed something come out of the wood we were standing next to, when I got a better look at it I noticed that it was a Fallow Deer! It came right out in the open allowing us to get some great views and photos.

Fallow Deer

 

After watching this beauty, we decided to have a little bit more of a walk around the area were we saw more Fallow Deer, a big herd of Red Deer and more and more Red Kites. Afterwards we decided to go and have a walk down by a river which we saw on the way there but while we were walking back to the car we noticed some birds flying around in the woods just ahead of us so we went over to see what they were. In the trees there was several Goldcrests, Coal Tits and a single Tree Creeper, at one point one of the Goldcrests came really close to us were we got cracking views.

Goldcrest

 

Afterwards we headed of to the river. While we were walking down it I noticed a big flock of birds fly out of a field next to it, I looked through my binoculars and then knew that it was a big flock of Golden Plover! Around 300 in total. There was a path were you could enter the field so we went on the field to get a better look at the Golden Plover. On the field with them there was Lapwings, Black Headed Gulls, Ringed Plovers and in the distance there was a few more Red Kites. After about an hour of watching these great birds they flew off over the field into another field were we were not allowed to enter.

 

After we went home after a very enjoyable days birding!

 

Golden Plover

Mystery Bird Quiz Week 3

Bittern

 

Last weeks mystery bird was a Bittern which I saw at RSPB Oldmoor earlier this year. Very well done to Rob Stokes, Mike Buckley, Mark Lewis, Tom Moore, Mark Lucas and Stewart Melbourne for getting the right answer.

 

Unlucky to those who didn't get the right answer. Many thanks everyone for having a go at the quiz.

Here is this weeks mystery bird, I will reveal the answer next Saturday.

 

What is this bird?

 

If you cant send a message through my blog DM me on Twitter.

Thanks for having a go.

Bird Quiz Week 2

Last weeks quiz was a Pectoral Sandpiper which I saw at RSPB Saltholme from the Phil Stead hide. Well done to Michael Buckley, Mark Lucas and Tom Moore.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Here is question 2.

 

What is this bird?

 

If you can not send me a message on the blog please DM me on Twitter.

I will tell you the answer next Saturday.

Thanks for having a go.