Mystery Bird Quiz Week 19

Stonechat

 

Last weeks Mystery Bird was a Stonechat which I saw at Flamborough last year, there was around 5 birds present. Well done to Rob Stokes, Mark Lucas, Ben Moyes, Mark Lewis, Mike Buckley, Richard Webb and Bob for all getting the correct answer. Unlucky to the people who got the wrong answer but thanks for having a go.

 

Here is this weeks Mystery Birds.

Its a bit different this week, you have to try name all 3 species in the picture.

 

 

I will reveal the answer next weekend.

if you cant send me your answer through the blog DM me Twitter @ellisethanfox.

Thanks for having a go

Summer Plumaged Laplands!

Yesterday we went to Bempton Cliffs in search of some of the summer plumaged Lapland Buntings which had been hanging around the Bempton and Buckton area fairly recently. Also on the way back we stopped of at Allerthorpe in hope of finding some Adders.

When we reached Bempton sadly it was quite misty, this weather carried on for most of the trip. Firstly we asked in the visitor centre to see if the Lapland Buntings were still around and ask which direction its in as we aren't very good with directions lol. The people said "yes they are" and then they pointed us in the right direction. With high hopes we headed of to the spot of where they have been sighted. On the way we asked a man if he had seen them and he said no! We couldn't believe it but thankfully as we arrived at the spot a man told us they are quite flight and said they should be back soon. In the field they had put down a massive pile of seed, presumably for the Lapland Buntings and the other birds in the area. After a while of standing watching the seed we decided to have a walk around the edges of the field where we spotted several Skylarks, Linnets and Meadow Pipits. When we got about half way round I saw a small group of about 5 birds fly
over which sounded like the Lapland Buntings but I wasn't 100% sure. After we had walked round the field we had another look at the seed but still there was nothing feeding on it. We then started to have a look across a field just beside the other one but there wasn't much in this one either other than lots of Meadow Pipits. We had been looking for about 40mins now so we decided one more walk round then start looking along the cliffs. As we were about a quarter of the way down I saw a bird come into view just from behind a stump, I took one shot looked at and shouted "Lapland Bunting!" And it was one of the stunning summer plumaged males! I then noticed another one just slightly behind it! They are really hard to spot against the mud unless you either see them move or see them take flight. Both of them showed really well for a good 2mins. What a bird! I was really pleased to finally see one as I have always wanted to see one plus I am really glad to have seen them in summer plumage.

Lapland Bunting

 

After they flew of round the other end of the field so we decided to go and have a look to see if they were there. When we got to the other side there was no sign of them. we waited for a while but nothing. After we had one more walk round the field before heading of to have a look around the cliffs. We got to the bit of where we saw them before, we started scanning across the field and then suddenly one took flight and landed on a stump giving amazing views! I think it may have been the same male as before but I am not entirely sure. We even caught it singing this time. Amazing Birds!

 

Lapland Bunting

 

After we had a walk along the cliffs where we spotted lots of Gannets, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Herring Gulls and Fulmars. Some of the Gannets flew right over our heads which was an amazing sight.

 

Razorbills

Gannet

 

On the way back we decided to have a quick look around Allerthorpe. As soon as we stepped out of the car we heard a Chiffchaff and it was long until we saw it singing at the top of a tree. Afterwards we had a walk through the wood to get to a part of the wood where usually lots of birds are around. When we got there we heard more Chiffchaff, lots of Green Woodpeckers and we also spotted a few Yellowhammers. One of the Yellowhammers gave great views. After we decided to walk to the spot of where Adders show usually really well. On the way we had a Common Crossbill fly over. When we reached the spot we didn't see any Adders but we did see a tiny Pygmy Shrew, he let us have a good look at him until he ran away into the bushes.

 

Chiffchaff

Yellowhammer

 

After a cracking and very enjoyable days birding we went home.

 

 

 

Mystery Bird Quiz Week 18

Juvenile Grey Partridge

 

Last weeks Mystery Bird was juvenile Grey Partridge which I saw at least 6 juveniles with one adult bird at Oldmoor last year. A very well done to Rob Stokes, Mark Lucas and Mark Lewis for all getting the correct answer! Unlucky to the people who didn't get the right answer but thanks for having a go.

 

Here is this weeks Mystery Bird.

 

 

I will reveal the answer next Saturday and if you cant send me your answer through the blog DM me on Twitter. Thanks for having a go. 

 

In Search of Eagles and Gulls

Yesterday we went in search of the White Tailed Eagle in Wykeham Forest and then afterwards go to Scarborough in search of Med Gulls.

When we reached Wykeham Forest we firstly headed of to the Raptor Watchpoint in search of the Eagle. As we arrived there was already a man watching across the valley, we asked him to see if he had seen the Eagle but he said no but he did say he saw a Goshawk. Within about 10mins a Goshawk came into view, although it was quite distant we enjoyed decent views of this stunning bird of prey. About 2mins later another Goshawk came to join the other one! This was brilliant! What awesome birds. About 20mins later at least 3 Buzzards also passed over. After waiting for a good hour we decided to get in our car and have a drive around the wood to see if we could spot anything. As we were driving my Dad spotted some thing very pale sitting up on a dead tree, we had a look through our binoculars and noticed that it was a Buzzard. We parked the car and decided to try and get closer to it. This was one of the most pale Buzzards I had ever seen! It was flying around with another Buzzard but this one wasn't as pale. They both gave great views flying around the field just in front of us. Eventually both of them flew over a hill were we didn't see them again.

Buzzard

 

After having no luck with the White Tailed Eagle we decided to go to Scarborough in search of the Med Gulls. First we decided to have a look in Scalby Mills to hopefully see some waders on the rocks. As we were walking along I spotted a Redshank which kept on creeping closer, it came within a few feet! As we were watching this great bird we also spotted a Curlew and many Common and Black Headed Gulls but no Med Gulls yet.

 

 

In the photo below you can just see it eating a crab.

Redshank

 

Afterwards we went to Holbeck car park as there has been sightings of Med Gulls in and around the car park. On the way there it started pouring down with snow, hail and rain but thankfully as we arrived it all stopped. When we arrived there wasn't a single Gull in the car park. We went down this hill just in front of the car park as we saw some birds flying around in the bushes, in the bushes there was a stunning Male Bullfinch, a few Greenfinch and a Dunnock. While we were watching them my Dad looked up and shouted "Med Gull!" I quickly turned around to see it flying around the car park and then it landed in the car park! Me and my Dad crept closer and closer until we became within a few feet of this stunning bird. I was really happy to get really close to this awesome bird, most of the time it didn't seem bothered by anyone! They are fantastic gulls!  

 

Med Gull

 

After a while it flew of and then afterwards we waited for a while but it didn't come back. After this brilliant moment we headed of home after a fantastic days birding!

 

Mystery Bird Quiz Week 17

Yellow Rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler)

 

Last weeks Mystery Bird was a stunning Yellow Rumped Warbler which I saw in Shincliffe, Durham also that day I saw 3 Waxwings which was a real bonus. A very well done to Rob Stokes, Mark Lewis, Steve Waite and Bob for all getting the correct answer! Unlucky to the people who didn't get the right answer but many thanks for having a go.

 

Here is this weeks new Mystery Bird.

 

 

I will reveal the answer next Saturday also if you cant send me your answer through the blog DM on Twitter.

Thanks for having a go.

 

Snowing In Filey!

Today was the hottest day of the year so far and the 'snowing' refers to a beautiful little bird I have been searching for, for ages.

Today we went to Filey and Bempton in search of Snow Buntings and sea birds.

Firstly we went up to North Cliff Country Park as this was the place where the Snow Buntings had been sighted. As we were walking along the cliff top we saw Gannets, Fulmars, Cormorants and Herring Gulls flying past the sea also Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were singing in the fields. Some of the Meadow Pipits occasionally flew onto the fence which allowed fantastic photo opportunities.

Meadow Pipit

 

Afterwards we had a walk through a field of where we thought the Snow Buntings might have been. As we were walking through we found even more Skylarks and we also saw a few Linnets but still no Snow Buntings. By now we had been searching through the field for at least an hour, just as we were about to give up hope I spotted a group of about 30 birds fly past us. They landed just ahead of us, I quickly looked through my bins and then realised it was the stunning Snow Buntings!!! I am extremely pleased to have seen them as it is a bird I have always wanted to see. We kept on creeping closer, at first they didn't seem to let us get very close but after about 10mins they didn't seem that bothered. At some points some of them came within a few feet! Sadly after about 40mins of watching them a dog walker flushed them and they flew quite far away but we went straight back over to them. After a good hour and a half we left them in peace to feed in the field. What brilliant birds!

 

Snow Buntings

 

After that fantastic moment we decided to go to Bempton. On the way back to the car we had a cracking Peregrine fly over our heads. When we arrived at Bempton we went over to some feeders right outside the visitor centre where usually Tree Sparrows showed really well. Loads of them showed really well sitting at the top of a bush just beside the feeders.

 

Tree Sparrow

 

Afterwards we had a walk over to the cliffs in hope of getting some good Gannet shots. Loads of the sea birds showed really well including Fulmars and the Gannets. We had a walk around another part of the cliffs where we had even better views of Gannets. On the sea there was several Guillemots and Razorbills.

 

Gannets

 

After this superb days birding we headed of back home.

 

 

 

 

Mystery Bird Quiz Week 16

Long Tailed Duck

 

Last weeks Mystery Bird was a stunning Long Tailed Duck which I saw at RSPB Saltholme on the east lake. A very well done to Rob Stokes, Mark Lewis, Chris Small, Richard Webb, Toby Carter and Bob for all getting the correct answer. Unlucky to the people who guessed wrong but thanks for having a go.

 

Here is this weeks new Mystery Bird.

 

 

I will reveal the answer next Saturday and if you cant send me your answer through the blog DM me on twitter.

Many thanks for having a go.

 

Mystery Bird Quiz Week 15

Great Grey Shrike

 

Last weeks Mystery Bird was a Great Grey Shrike which I saw in Bradbury, Durham.

A very well done to Rob Stokes, Mark Lucas, Mike Buckley, Stuart Mundy, Mark Lewis and Rob for all getting the correct answer! Unlucky to the people who guessed wrong but Many thanks for all the people who had a go.

 

Here is this weeks new Mystery Bird.

 

 

Either send me your answers through the blog or DM me on Twitter.

You are allowed as many guesses as you like.

Thanks for having a go.

 

Frosty Findings

Today we decided to head of to Allerthorpe Common to see what we could find and then afterwards go to North Cave to see what was around. The weather wasn't very good as it was really misty so we could hardly see anything.

As we were setting of to go to Allerthorpe we noticed something down our street in the distance, my first thought was a Cat but as it came closer I noticed it was a Fox! We tried to creep closer but then sadly it went into someone's garden. What a start to the day!

When we arrived at Allerthorpe we almost immediately spotted a stunning Great Spotted Woodpecker making its way up a tree. After a little while of watching this cracking bird we decided to have a walk through the woods. While we were walking through the woods we saw tons of Robins, a few Wrens and we also heard a Green Woodpecker. We decided to have a check on the spot where we had found Adders in the past but sadly we didn't see a single Adder. On the way back through the wood we saw a bit more this time such as a stunning Yellowhammer, a Linnet, Reed Buntings, a small flock of Common Crossbills and lots of Goldcrest! After about 2hours of walking through the wood we decided to have a drive over to North Cave.

As we arrived at North Cave I went straight over to some bushes where House Sparrows usually gave brilliant photo opportunities. Within a few seconds I was enjoying great views of these fantastic little birds!

House Sparrow

 

Afterwards we decided to head of to the Turret Hide in search of the Smew which has been hanging around North Cave for quite some time now. As we arrived we could only see half of the lake as the mist was covering the other part. We searched the part of the lake that we could see for the Smew but we couldn't find it. We then decided to have a walk around the reserve then come back to see if the mist lifts a bit.

 

On our walk we spotted a fantastic pair of Great Crested Grebe! We were hoping to get to see them displaying but we didn't see them do it in the end despite waiting for over an hour. Although we didn't see them do it they were still great to watch. Afterwards we had a walk up to a hide at the far end of the reserve. When we arrived we got a superb surprise, there was a Grey Wagtail feeding right in front of the hide! We managed fantastic views of this stunning little bird, it was really nice getting so close to a bird I haven't see for quite a while, I really enjoyed watching this little cracker!

 

Great Crested Grebes

Grey Wagtail

 

After all the excitement we noticed the mist had cleared up quite bit so we decided to head back of to the Turret Hide. On the way we saw loads of birds flying around in amongst the trees, most of them were Dunnocks, Long tailed Tits and there was also a few Wrens feeding in some bushes but then my Dad spotted something different, I then saw the bird land on a branch just behind a small tree I managed a shot of it before it flew of and I then looked at my shot and then saw that it was a Chiffchaff! This is the earliest I have ever seen one! We found the Chiffchaff again a few mins later but it was right at the back of some trees.

 

Dunnock

Chiffchaff

 

As we were about to step into the Turret hide a man quickly informed us that the Smew was showing right at the back end of the lake! We rushed into the hide and within a few seconds we were enjoying decent views of a superb little Smew!!! This little beauty eventually came a little closer to the hide but still was quite distant. I was really pleased to have finally seen a Smew as I have pretty much always wanted to see one of these stunning birds. Just as we were about to leave I saw the Smew take of and then I couldn't believe it, it had landed right in front of the hide!!! It was amazing! It eventually flew to its regular corner at the far end of the lake. I was really happy to have seen it so close!

 

Smew

 

After a superb days birding we had to go home.