North Yorkshire - 11th May 2008

Me and my dad spent the morning at the North yorkshire Moors Railway setting of from my house at 05.30. We spent several hours at the railway waiting for some of the North Sea mist to lift at Bempton but no joy unfortunately...when we got there we could only see 20ft infront of us

North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Diesel Gala
Pied Wagtail at Goathland Station

We walked from Grosmont Station to Goathland across the moorland so I picked up a few nice birds - Marsh Tit, Red Grouse, Dipper, Yellowhammers singing
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
My dad only 10-15ft away :S
10 years since my last...
The main target for the trip was Puffin, and after about 30 mins on site and a decent scan of the auks, I managed to spot orange legs/feet and a clown like face staring at me. My first vews of Puffin were at the same site back in April 1998 when I joined the RSPB (my first proper bird watching trip), and I havnt seen one since so to come away with 8 birds found in such horrible conditions was something very special indeed

Kittiwakes were by far the commonest birds

It was nice to be able to get close enough to see the auks clearly unlike the Gannets that appeared rather pterodactyl like in the mist, and several Fulmars thrilled me as they are one of my favourite commoner birds
(on the way home I also saw a couple of displaying Yellow Wagtails which was another first for the year

Beacon Fell Country Park - 10th May 2008

Tree Pipit

Sightings -
3 Tree Pipit
2 Whimbrel over
14 Lesser Redpoll over
possible 'heard' Crossbill
Hobby over Inglewhite in Field hawking Hirundines

Neumanns Flash and Failed Marbury Park - 3rd May 2008

Black Winged Stilts - Neumanns Flash

Whilst heading for Marbury Park, we stopped in a layby to look at the map for directions when we realised we were parked to the entrance to Neumanns Flash. Black Winged Stilts sprung to mind, and within 3 minutes were were onto the pair that have been seen to mate. I wonder if these two are the two that failed to breed at Martin Mere WWT in 2006. If so, maybe there is a chance Lancashire/Cheshire can get a regular pair of Stilts...that would be nice
Also on Site were c50 Swift, Grey Plover and lots of Whitethroat



Marbury Park - Supposively one of the top sites in the North West for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Today marked my 15th Visit in 4 years...to mark the occasion the wood provided me with the same views as every other time...none existent!

Not to worry though, I managed 4 Year ticks which was nice. Black Winged Stilt, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler