A 3 hour afternoon visit (after Bempton). The high temperatures in the early afternoon seemed to kill off any raptor activity with just 1 Common Buzzard seen. Male Siskins were displaying and showing very well and a few Crossbills were heard in the forest behind. Then after about 3.30pm a few raptors started to appear with approx 5 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel and finally a pale Honey Buzzard appeared very high up over the valley and disappeared over the trees. 2 Common Crossbills also then flew over.
1 Red Kite was seen above the A64 near Tadcaster on the way home. I nearly always seen them here.
Neil Blood said
Sun Jun 19 7:14 PM, 2022
Decided on a weekend trip here with a friend. I personally haven't seen a UK Honey Buzzard for a few years and this was our first trip to Wykeham. On RBA the post code is YO13 9EB, I typed this into Google maps, which tried to send me down a very dodgy looking track, complete with Beware of the Bull signs! Clearly this wasn't right and with no 4G signal, I switched over to the car's satnav, which revealed we were on the wrong side of the valley and it was still 9.5 miles away!
Eventually we arrived at YO13 9EB, but this post code isn't the raptor watch point, its seems to be a post code, covering a few different back lanes in a general area. After driving around blindly for a while, again with no 4G signal, we eventually found the Raptor Watch Point car park. 5 hours later, looking across the valley and no sign, although oddly we were getting messages that birds were being seen? Whilst waiting we had both calling Marsh Tit and flyover Common Crossbills.
Late afternoon, we walked back to the car park and explored the lane on foot, looking for Turtle Dove, which had also been reported earlier in the day. I then picked out a raptor flying quite low over a nearby field, which turned out to be a female Honey Buzzard giving great views! We then bumped into a local birder, who said he'd put the earlier messages out and that the Honey Buzzards, had been showing on and off all day from the road. Apparently 3 females and 1 male are present this year. He also said that in his opinion, the road viewing was generally a better option than the watch point.
Stayed in Scarborough overnight and this morning the plan was to go to Bempton Cliffs for the Albatross, but as it hadn't been seen for a week, we instead headed back to Wykeham again viewing from the road. We soon picked up a loan Honey Buzzard over the same area as seen yesterday. Of interest when leaving Scarborough first thing, I again tried Google maps and again it wanted to send us completely the wrong way. Trust me do not use it to navigate to the watch point! The lane the watch point is on, appears to have no name (checked it on DEFRA's Magic map site), but it is between Cockmoor Road and Moor Road.
Other birds seen this morning, included Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler, Stonechat, Yellowhammer and Red Kite.
-- Edited by Neil Blood on Sunday 19th of June 2022 07:20:42 PM
dstrath said
Sat Jun 4 3:53 PM, 2022
Had a visit from 0900 to 1300. In the four hours I was fortunate to see 3 birds in the air at once, some wing clapping, and 2 super side on views of a dark bird and then a stunning pale morph. There were plenty of pairs of eyes to help with the sightings.
Tony Koziol said
Wed Jul 21 4:37 PM, 2021
Saturday 17th July-Tuesday 20th 2021
Question....Why Come ?
After last years miserable failure we just had to return. Saturday morning 09.00/12.15 resulted in one Hobby a couple of Common Buzzard, one Common Kestrel and one Sparrowhawk we then had to depart. On Sunday again 09.00/12.00 Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk we again had to leave for a lunch appointment.
Monday saw us arrive at 12.30 as we had been to Bempton earlier. At 13.45 Cath saw a raptor briefly I just managed to catch a quick look, a pale bird and longish tail and that was it. Fifteen minutes later the only other birder there shouted "Honey" we looked over and there it was one of our dip birds it glided over back to the right of the view point it was only a short view thirty seconds or so but enough to get some ID features. Our new friend kindly explained one or two features to us Honey virgins and background to this regular bird. We stayed until 17.00 with no other sightings apart from Common Buzzard, our friend departed for Bempton. Monday provided two lifers for us.
Tuesday saw us arrive around noon after a wild goose chase for Turtle Doves. The view point was busy with all seats taken but we were allowed the end of a seat by a kind chap from Hartlepool who had been on a boat to see the Albatross at Bempton and he had some stunning photographs. We chatted and recounted tales, he left to go to Troutsdale. Another birder approached and he joked that a Honey would turn up soon. In the meantime a call went up "hawk" in the distance a large hawk was gliding towards us it was clear this was a Goshawk, it was right in front of us at one point, it moved over the valley then decided to embarrass a, Common Buzzard by bombing it and moving away at the last split second its agility was astounding the Buzzard looked like it was be well and truly whipped after a few minutes both went there separate ways. This was our first proper sighting of a Goshawk which totally beats our distant view of a bird at Carburton in 2017
Time was fast approaching then just short of 14.00 two minutes short in fact the Honey appeared as if to order, a pale bird it glided over the valley having appeared from the right hand side of the view point. We noted how it glided effortlessly over never making a wing beat, its head clearly extending beyond its body and longer tail. My friend assured me this was a regular bird he had seen several times and would have been the bird we saw on Monday and had indeed shown around the same time over the weekend!!
So Why Come ? twenty two hours looking for Honey Buzzard and Goshawk has produced two Honey observations and one Goshawk. Once they showed we had vey good views with a great aerobatic display from the Goshawk. We had six dips on the trot never fun but that is birding when the hit came it was well worth the wait and now unforgettable.
Whilst we were there on Tuesday a couple turned up and recounted how their granddaughter had told them how wonderful the view was across the valley. They then placed their seats with their backs to the valley munching their butties and left after twenty minutes....
At 14.15 we called it a day and moved in search of Turtle Doves. Thirty minutes later we parked up then walked up a farm track, we had a great chat with a big red faced farmer who supports Sunderland. He advised us to nip down the track where most people see the Doves. As we moved down I caught a bird fly which at first looked like a Collared in a split second it turned into a Turtle Dove it promptly flew into a nearby Sycamore where we enjoyed some great views before it and we departed.
On this trip we found one dead Stoat, one dead Sloworm, one dead cat and we saw one live Stoat in classic Meercat pose.
Our trip had four target birds and for once we got them all....untypical.
Tony Koziol said
Wed Sep 9 9:20 PM, 2020
Why Come:
5th - 8th September:
Three seperate visits which lasted over eight hours observation produced over sixty Common Buzzard sightings with eight in the air at one time. One ify Honey Buzzard call and three Goshawk calls which we couldn't count due to inexperience of the two species!! Believe it or not we had the place to ourselves so had no help to call on.
We had lots of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Best of all four Hobby together.
Overall disappointed with my inexperience of the two species despite some hard preperation however a great learning curve.
A trip over the moors to " Aidensfield" produced a fabulous male Merlin right over us so that more than made up for the previous disappointment.
Dave Ousey said
Wed Aug 5 11:01 AM, 2020
Youre very lucky Steve, we have been going to Wykeham for a few years now and have not seen that many unusual birds in all that time. We call it "why come" Well done though.
Dave Ousey.
Steven Nelson said
Mon Jun 15 11:42 PM, 2020
Had a couple of hours here the afternoon after the morning at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (see thread). First time visit here. Within 5 mins I had an adult Goshawk briefly low over the trees on the opposite side of the valley. Goshawk has been my bogey bird for years ! A few Common Buzzards soared and mewed distantly. Then a Honey Buzzard appeared right over the viewpoint circling and giving great views for a couple of mins before heading over the forest behind me. 2nd lifer! A pair of Crossbills landed in the trees showing well. A few minutes later a flock of 16 flew over and then another pair making a total of 20. A male Siskin sang and displayed and a family group of Bullfinch and 2 Nuthatch. Then just as I was about to leave a juvenile Goshawk flew out of the forest right behind me, straight across the front of the viewpoint at low level and powered off. Superb!
On the drive home a Red Kite circled over the A64
Mike Chorley said
Sun Aug 18 9:22 PM, 2019
A reasonable couple of hours here this a.m. with a good conclusion, then a quieter afternoon with a scattering of mostly distant sightings.
Common Buzzard 6 minimum (all in the air together) with probably at least 2 more birds. There seemed to be a group of 3 or 4 birds (of clearly different sizes) roaming all along both Troutsdale and Deep Dale displaying and play-fighting, with single birds appearing from time to time from the opposite direction to the one in which the group had disappeared. Kestrel 2 (M & F) Sparrowhawk 1 F harassing one of the more distant Buzzards, then chasing after hawking hirundines over Deep Dale. Goshawk 2/3 1 adult and possibly 2 juveniles. The morning's highlight was a juvenile which came up in front of us from Troutsdale and passed south-west just behind the trees at that end of the viewing area - 2nd best and certainly closest view I've had of a wild bird. Later in the afternoon it or another came south low over the ridge from Deep Dale and interacted with a Buzzard before dropping into the woods. Finally an adult bird got up briefly from the woodland during one of the fly-overs by the 'gang of four'. There was one distant sighting of a possible Honey Buzzard late in the morning but it was too high and distant by the time we got on it to confirm/count it.
Apart from the usual gulls, crows and Wood Pigeons 2 Tree Pipit 2 Redpoll 2 Siskin 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard
Also 1 Painted Lady, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood
Mark Burgess said
Thu Jul 5 4:10 PM, 2018
8.45 - 11.45 from viewpoint,
Honey Buzzard, Several sightings over the morning some distant some down to 50 metres, 3 all in the air together including a pale morph bird Common Buzzard 4 Tree Pipit 2
Rob Creek said
Mon Aug 7 12:03 PM, 2017
Sunday 6th Aug. Morning visit with Simon Gough and Chris Chandler. Nice to see Darren Ward and the Yorkshire crew.
Raptor Watchpoint - Honey Buzzard 1 (at first) Finally showed late morning, and show it did, in all its glory flying right over our heads at the Viewpoint after being harassed by a Goshawk that in turn was being harassed by a Kestrel at the same time. It gave a clapping display before flying off, only to return within a short time to display again.
- Goshawk (???) Not sure how many altogether but we saw 3 up together at one point with 2 displaying and having mid air tussles. We had plenty of sightings all morning that could've been repeat birds, who knows.
- Marsh Harrier 1 Fooled a few people at first and Black Kite was called out, but after watching it for a while we all steered away from that and although I wasn't 100% sure we came to the conclusion it was most likely a Marsh Harrier.
Other birds at the viewpoint included.. - Common Buzzard 4 at least - Sparrowhawk 1 - Siskin 1 - Bullfinch 3 - Crossbill heard
Cockmoor Road Plantation - Honey Buzzard 2 Viewed these from the car as we drove through the plantation area. They didn't look like Common Buzzards so I stopped the car and alerted Simon and Chris, which I'm glad I did as they were indeed Honey Buzzards, 1 of which was the male from earlier with the 'missing feather' from the trailing edge of each wing.
Also here... - Goshawk 1 - Common Buzzard 2 - Crossbill 2 (1m 1f) - Lesser Redpoll 5 - Siskin 1 - Spotted Flycatcher 3 - Goldcrest 1 - Willow Warbler 1 - Treecreeper 1 - Yellowhammer 2 (100yds down the road) ...and a Field Vole ran out infront of the car and turned back again along Cockmoor Road.
A quality day all round
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 7th of August 2017 12:24:33 PM
Had a couple of sessions at the watchpoint this weekend. Highlights as follows:
3 Honey Buzzard, including extended views of their 'butterfly' display today on 2 occasions at 12.20 and 13.20.
Also 1+ Goshawk, 5 Common Buzzard, 1+ Turtle Dove, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Crossbill on Saturday at 4pm, 2 Bullfinch, Siskin, Kestrel, Red Legged Partridge on road up from Wykeham, Goldcrest.
Simon Gough said
Mon Jul 10 8:57 PM, 2017
Rob Creek and I headed up on Saturday 8th July. I'm posting on this thread so that people can see the sightings from this year [2017] in the context of the sightings from previous years.
2 Honey Buzzards, 1m and 1f, the male displaying. We had one long sighting of both birds for around 5-10 minutes in around 3.5 hours at the Watchpoint. 4 Goshawk, 1f, 2m and one distant probable male. Really enjoyed the business of ID'ing these birds, and one which lifted up from just in front of the viewpoint showed beautifully as it quickly circled and gained height.
Other raptors were predictably Buzzard, Kestrel and Hobby. Also from the viewpoint Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch, Siskin.
We certainly benefitted from the great conditions. When you are limited to birding at the weekend you really want the weather to help, and it really did on Saturday.
No sign of Turtle Doves for us and a suggestion that no more than 1 or 2 were present in the Forest. Thought-provoking when posts from a few years back talk about double-figure sightings
Answers on a postcard why a visit in the same week in 2016 with similar weather produced a single Goshawk and no Honey Buzzards. It was great to connect well this year.
Mark Jarrett said
Sun Jul 27 8:12 AM, 2014
Visited yesterday, arriving at 10.15 and drew an absolute blank. Not only no Honey Buzzard or Goshawk but hardly anything else at all. Only bird worthy of note being Siskin with a small party of around half a dozen birds. Left for Bempton early afternoon before returning to Wykeham for about an hour on the way home.
Disappointing obviously but that's birding. Cracking location though with great views northwards. A couple of spots across the valley look good for Nightjar where tree felling has taken place.
Richard Would said
Sun Aug 4 8:09 PM, 2013
It's been about 10 or 15 years since I've been to Wykeham, so thought I'd give it a go today.
Better weather over there than we had in Manchester. No rain and about 50/50 cloud and blue sky, plenty of sunshine and a decent breeze.
Disappointing, as no Honey Buzzard. Saw about half a dozen Common Buzzards, a Peregrine and a couple of Goshawks, including an aggressive female that was scrapping with a party of 3 Buzzards. Good opportunity for size comparison at close range.
-- Edited by Richard Would on Sunday 4th of August 2013 08:09:59 PM
Rob Bell said
Wed Aug 29 7:19 PM, 2012
Saturday 25th August:
Raptor viewpoint:
The clouds were low and the weather not so great for it so no honey buzzard (my second attempt). but a Goshawk flying low and close to me coming out of the conifers was a good second best. Also, when I was driving past the Wykeham nursery I spotted a Turtle Dove on a telephone wire in a farm field. Great close up views. Not a bad morning after all.
Rob
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Aug 13 5:03 AM, 2012
Watchpoint only - 10.00am - 3.30pm
At least two Honey Buzzards knocking about (we had two up at once), had distant prolonged views of a Goshawk mobbing one of them. In the afternoon a single bird flew right over the watchpoint about 50yds up.
Several gosses, at least two juveniles - if every bird I saw had been a different individual I'd have seen twenty two!
Many Common Buzzards, two Kestrels and a single Sparrowhawk. I picked up a very distant Hobby, later another flew right over the watchpoint.
Other birds around the watchpoint, heard only in most cases, were Willow Tit, Treecreeper, Crossbill, Siskin, Goldcrest, etc.
Mike Chorley said
Tue Jul 24 4:05 AM, 2012
Morning visit yesterday with Riggers and Karen Foulkes (Mr Rayner opted to stay behind and watch men in lycra climaxing on the Champs Elysees)
Honey Buzzard 1 Common Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk1 Red Kite 2 Kestrel 2 Goshawk 2
18 other species around the watchpoint, including Crossbill, Siskin, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, with Linnet, Yellowhammer and Whitethroat on the approach road.
Also see: Ringlet - in good numbers Ribband Wave Migrant Hawker Common Spotted Orchid and a single specimen of Common Centuary
Rob Bell said
Wed Jul 11 5:12 AM, 2012
Hi Chris
Well done on getting the nightjar and Goshawk. I was surprised how many common crossbills there were which is always good to see. Just wish I couldve got a honey buzzard. Nice to meet you Chris.
Rob
Henry Cook said
Mon Jul 2 2:17 AM, 2012
01/07/2012 - A single brief Common Buzzard was the only raptor myself, Phil Owen and Alex Jones saw between 12pm-2pm. Other stuff seen:
1 Tree Pipit c40 Common Crossbills 5+ Siskins 1 Yellowhammer
Rob Bell said
Sun Jul 1 7:29 PM, 2012
An OK morning's birding at the raptor viewpoint:
1 Hobby close to the viewpoint 12 Crossbills flying from the woods behind and out in front of the viewpoint 2 Common Buzzards Goldfinches Chaffinches No sign of Honey Buzzard but they had been seen before we got there No sign of Goshawks but they had been seen before we got there
Nursery Area: No sign of Turtle Doves 1 Spotted Flycatcher
A good days birding but not much look on finding the rarities. Plus was limited on time.
chrisdorney said
Sun Jul 1 7:25 PM, 2012
Hi Rob. Don't think anybody saw the turtle doves.have to be content with hearing them although while I was looking for them a goshawk got chased over the tree line by crows.it then soared for 5 minutes before a pigeon flew past.at which point it turned and stooped at some speed after it.didn't see what happened as they went behind the trees.birds seen through the day were: Garden warbler 3 Tree pipit 3(1 singing) Goshawk 3 Buzzard Kestrel Sparrowhawk Hobby Bullfinch Crossbills(several parties flying over) Skylark7+ Pied wagtail Jay carrying an unfortunate chick Coal tit(100+!just a guess but they were everywhere) Goldcrest Siskin Yellowhammer 10(one of which was displaying in the road and only moved when I got out of the car) Grey partridge(surrounding farmland) G.s.woodpecker Red kite(on the way up in the car) Plus other warblers finches tits etc. Hares and a roe deer buck that seemed lost. After a miserable few hours of rain and nearly heading for home I set myself up in a likely area at 9.00.at 9.15 a woodcock started Roding and was soon joined by another(and didn't stop until I left at 10.40!).10 minutes later a nightjar started churring in the tree behind where I was stood.it then flew out right past me calling then perched close by and started singing again(got some footage but quite dark).it was then joined by the female which later on flew round my head about six feet away sending me dizzy.magical.apart from that it was rubbish...(this post is for yesterday 30/6/12)
-- Edited by chrisdorney on Sunday 1st of July 2012 07:27:47 PM
Dennis atherton said
Sun Jun 26 10:17 PM, 2011
late report for saturday, 5 common buzzards, 2 honey buzzards 1 showed really well with a low flyby in the valley, a distant goshawk, 7 crossbills flying past, mainly females, 1 male,
from the nurserys area around 10 turtle doves minimum, probably more, all feeding and sunbathing in the feilds
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jun 21 8:21 PM, 2011
Spot on, Rob, I agree wholeheartedly, a cracking rule of thumb that works throughout the bird world....... usually
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Jun 16 12:40 PM, 2011
I agree with paul re Montys, but there is another rule of thumb you can use wheen seperating problem species such as Common & Honey Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & Goshawk and Hen from other Harriers, provided that you are fairly familiar with the commoner bird, if you think it is the rarer one it probably isn't, you'll just know when it is. Sounds simplistic, but it does work!
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Thursday 16th of June 2011 12:41:16 PM
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jun 15 2:22 PM, 2011
You're welcome, John, I hope that you DO have the chance to put it into practise very soon. It's not the definitive guide of course, just a few pointers to try out when faced with a ringtail harrier species
John Barber said
Wed Jun 15 1:19 PM, 2011
Thanks Doc, very interesting and informative. I hope I get the chance to put the information to the test !
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jun 15 9:59 AM, 2011
Shame about the Montys guys, but it is a brilliant place & seems like your estimate of the Turtle Doves was about the same as ours, Sid. There's probably more, in recent times I don't know of anywhere else where the population is so high and they're so easy to see.
For ID of female Montys it is usually down to jizz, John, they are a slimmer, longer winged more 'dainty' bird than Hen Harrier. They also, to me, appear to be more well defined in their markings, just somehow cleaner. The underwing banding seems to stand out more clearly and the face pattern looks more 'severe'. Some folk have a rule of thumb way of seeing whether to consider Montys - if it gives an accipiter-like first impression (broader, slightly blunter wings) then it's a Hen, if it gives a falcon-like first impression (narrower, more pointed wings) then it's a Monty.
Counting visible primaries is a clincher but often not practical, and the slower more elastic flight of a Monty is distinctive, but if there's no other bird to compare it with that is difficult to be definite about, as can be structure as even a Hen Harrier looks dainty when you've been watching Buzzards!!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 15th of June 2011 10:00:53 AM
John Barber said
Tue Jun 14 7:57 PM, 2011
Great day in beautiful country, must go back for the Montagu's ( not sure looking at the reference books though how you would tell a female from a female Hen Harrier at distance ) Any tips ?
sid ashton said
Tue Jun 14 5:44 PM, 2011
My second visit to the forest in five days today in the company of Nick Isherwood and John Barber. We arrived at the view point at about 09.30 to find approximately 40 birders present. We had good views of at least 3, probably 4 Honey Buzzards and two common Buzzards for comparison. Like the Doc we watched two of the Honeys give "wing clapping" displays. The Honeys were a first for Nick and John. We left the view point at 12.00 only to find out later that a Montagu's Harrier had been seen ten minutes after our departure
Off into the forest to find Nick and John's second life-time first in the form of the Turtle Doves. Thought I did well last Wednesday but today there were possibly 10 separate birds either seen or heard. Also seen during the visit Willow Warbler, Red-legged Partridge, Siskin, Garden Warbler and Yellowhammer.
On the way home at Snainton, a Barn Owl flying across the A170.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 06:56:03 PM
Phil Owen said
Tue Jun 14 5:30 PM, 2011
A quick visit around lunchtime gave me good views of 2 Honey Buzzards including a male indulging in some wing-clapping.
Also seen:
5 Common Buzzards 1 Goshawk 1 Kestrel 1 Garden Warbler 1 Turtle Dove
Bumped into Messers Ashton, Barber and Isherwood in the car park who must have only just have missed the Montagu's Harrier by minutes (presumably the same ringtail bird that was reported last week) and was again seen by several birders at the watchpoint who mentioned it to me on my arrival there.
Good to chat with one or two familar faces at the watchpoint and I will certainly be revisiting soon.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Jun 12 10:23 PM, 2011
Seeing that the weather forecast was for rain by lunchtime an early start meant that we were at the raptor watchpoint by about 9am this morning, in bright sunshine with conditions perfect for our hoped-for species. On arrival at the watchpoint three raptors were already circling, two Common Buzzards but also a dark female Honey Buzzard, the latter bird being seen several times subsequently. Thereafter Honey Buzzards were on view almost continuously, with a max of 4 birds showing fantastically well at times, low over the watchpoint itself. One of the low flyovers involved a prolonged 'wing-clapping' display flight by a male Honey.
A Goshawk also showed very well 'buzzing' a flock of Wood Pigeons and demonstrating, by size comparisons, what a large, muscular raptor this species is. A fly through Turtle Dove completed the notable species seen at the watchpoint on a red-letter day there
We then headed to the Wykeham Nurseries area and were rewarded with views of at least 10 Turtle Doves including 4 feeding together on the ground which I managed to photograph, whilst 2 more pairs were in nearby trees purring away. In this area we also had another Honey Buzzard low over (as Jonathan reported too) - I never expected it to get on my 'seen from the car' list!! Also seen here were 2 Crossbills and a Tree Pipit.
As the forecast rainclouds rolled in we left to head home westwards over the M62. For anyone who hasn't been to the raptor watchpoint I would highly recommend it, so far I have a 100% record here for seeing Honey Buzzards, but this year the sightings were my best ever
Pete Welch said
Fri Jun 10 7:21 PM, 2011
Quick late evening visit after dipping that bloomin Robin yesterday saw:
At least three pairs of Turtle Doves Tree Pipit Crossbill Siskin Woodcock roding and a fantastic male Nightjar at around 8.50am so plenty of light to observe it by.
Also two Roe deer, one rat [!], a few Hares and bats and plenty of rabbits on the access road back out of the forest at dusk.
Too late for raptors sadly - and beware if approaching the viewpoint from the North with satnav - we had an interesting long reverse down a tarmac track which suddenly ran out... probably best just heading for the main road and the village then heading back north.
Jonathan Platt said
Sat Jun 4 7:38 PM, 2011
At least three honey buzzards showing today (at one point we had one displaying above us whilst two were circling) between 9.45-10.30am. Also had two goshawks, one distant bird chasing a pigeon. Several turtles doves around the forest, excellent views of one bird by the nursery - also had great views of another honey whilst looking for doves. Tree pipit, cuckoo, crossbills, siskins, etc also seen. Pity it went misty and started to rain at dinner time, otherwise I'd have stayed for the nightjars.
sid ashton said
Thu Jul 22 9:21 PM, 2010
Today, 09.00 - 11.00 - weather damp
Visited the Viewpoint on the way to Filey/Bempton - apart from hearing Honey Buzzard calling a couple of times we had no sightings of any raptors . We did have overflying Crossbills and in the forest Willow Tit and Siskin but otherwise very quite.
A little disappointed with the Viewpoint this visit, looking at some photos from two years ago the trees to the right of the viewing area have grown, as trees do, obscuring the valley in that direction which was where we had great views of the Honies on that visit and from where today's calling was taking place. There was also evidence of camp fires and on one, the remains of one of the benches .
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 23rd of July 2010 11:45:12 AM
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Jun 10 10:52 AM, 2010
5th & 6th June 2010
Sorry for the late post, I've been busy!
Raptors were almost non-existant, mainly down to poor weather conditions (mist on Sat, rain all day Sun). Managed a hobby and a gos, plus several common buzzards and a spar between 12.00-1.00pm on Sat, just a single buzzard and a kestrel in 4 hrs on Sunday! Had a good wander around the forest on Saturday afternoon though, which was excellent. Usual woodland birds; nice tree pipit and garden warbler showing well by at the watchpoint; found several turtle doves (saw three pairs, two singles and had two birds calling too); loads of garden warblers, easily outnumbering blackcaps, and a couple of green woodpeckers. Best bird was probably a singing wood warbler, I don't think they're regular in the forest? Found a couple of spots that looked good for nightjars and went back in the evening. Superb views of a male wing-clapping as it flew around me around 9.40pm, at least two males and a female in the area. Still enough light left to nip up to the other spot I'd found and again got superb views of what looked like a female (quite dark by then!) as it hunted up and down the lane just feet over my head. Two males churring and another bird calling. An unseen roe barked at me from a couple of yards away as I headed back to my car - scared the living daylights out of me!
sid ashton said
Wed Aug 6 9:34 PM, 2008
Mark
The HBs will (probably) still be there but call the warden Brian Walker 01751 472771 to confirm. The Goshawks will definitely be about - they live there!!!
Cheers
Sid
Mark Evans said
Wed Aug 6 7:15 PM, 2008
Thinking of trying for the HBs this weekend if the weathers ok. Does anyone know if they're still showing, or have i left it a bit late? Cheers, mark
declan savage said
Mon Jul 28 8:19 AM, 2008
Finally managed our first visit to the watchpoint yesterday (Sunday) - got there about 10.00 and stayed to 2pm. Weather conditions seemed ideal and we were well pleased to see (several times) a Goshawk soaring up from the trees behind us, best views I've ever had, and then from midday onwards, the HBs came out, with 2 at quite close range, and another 2 at a greater distance further up the valley. Several Common Buzzards also present for comparison, as well as Crossbills, Siskins, Jay, Kestrel. Apparently someone reported a Red Kite but we missed that. Did see 2 Hobbies from the A170 on the way home though.
Loads of people there yesterday - just 3 others when we arrived, but nearer 40 when we left!
Ended the day at Blacktoft with Marsh Harriers, another Hobby, Green, Curlew and Common Sandpipers, 1 Bearded Tit, several Yellow Wags, usual Tree Sparrows etc.
sid ashton said
Wed Jul 23 6:11 AM, 2008
For anyone going to the viewpoint it is worth noting that the Goshawks sightings we had were over the trees behind the benches - so don't sit there admiring the view the birds may be behind you!!!!! The Honey Buzzards came up the valley but we had those behind us as well.
Rob Smallwood said
Tue Jul 22 11:25 AM, 2008
No further details I'm afraid - but you would not expect anyone to report 7 individual sightings as 7 birds - but who knows!
sid ashton said
Tue Jul 22 11:04 AM, 2008
Rob
Was that 7 separate Goshawks or 7 separate sightings? I ask because having spoken to the warden before we went and a local chap when we were there I didn't get the impression that there were so many in the area.
-- Edited by sid ashton at 11:07, 2008-07-22
Rob Smallwood said
Tue Jul 22 9:09 AM, 2008
BG's were reporting 3 HB's and a staggering 7 Goshawk yesterday - quite amazing.
Mike Baron said
Mon Jul 21 9:41 PM, 2008
A cracking day's birding and thanks to the driver for a safe journey and the good company - cheers Mike
You're very welcome Sid - thoroughly enjoyed the day and just sorry I mucked up the directions for the Bonxie and the Arctic Skuas - not to mention the Porpoises!
The views of the 2 Honey Buzzards were fantastic and the 2 Goshawks were not far behind. First visit for me to Bempton & Flamborough - in the words of Arnie - I will be back!
sid ashton said
Sun Jul 20 9:22 PM, 2008
Mike Baron and myself arrived at the view point this morning just after 0830 and within 5 minutes we had our first views of the Honies - a local lad reckoned they were the best views he had ever had. Then a Gos appeared over the hill - fantastic two lifers for me within half an hour. So that was it target birds ticked - what to do for the rest of the day? We gave the Crossbills and the Turtle Doves a fair chance to come out to play but no joy so off to Bempton - although quite good - with the young Puffins chucking themselves into the sea and Gannets galore - this spot does not compare for me with South Stack as a location - then off to Flamborough Head where Mike found Arctic and Great Skua and I may have done so as well had there not been two oil platforms next to one of which the Skuas were making Sandwich terns cough up their dinner! I of course was looking at the wrong platform.
A cracking day's birding and thanks to the driver for a safe journey and the good company - cheers Mike
Simon Warford said
Sat Jun 28 8:34 PM, 2008
nice work chaps and you didnt miss anything in Wigan
Henry Cook said
Sat Jun 28 8:17 PM, 2008
Nice one Geoff. It sounds like a great spot. I've been looking for years for Goshawk and not got lucky so far, so well done and I'm very jealous! Thanks. Henry.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Jun 28 7:44 PM, 2008
just back from a very pleasant trip to this easily found spot,7.00 start from wigan had us in breakfasting in Pickering at 9.00 found the raptor watch point at 10.00 and settled in on the benches for a session,what a result
1 goshawknever ever thought i,d see one 1 red kitelifer for me cos it,s a sheltered life 2 common buzzard 1 kestrel 3 curlew 6 crossbills 1 male siskin that looked like it had a paint job lots of gulls corvids and hirundines etc to keep you on your toes during a marathon(for me anyway)stake out at a crackin site,we also met 4 'birds' in the cafe who,s vernacular grammer made it a memorable meal.
,2 lifers for me 1 lifer for mr woosey,no honey buzzard, we,ll be back for,it apparantly one flew through with good views 20 mins before we got there
nice day but i,m birded out GOSHAWKcheers geoff/ian/jimmy
Rob Smallwood said
Wed Jun 25 4:54 PM, 2008
The latest report says no sign but Red Kite present.
2 bird theory, or perhaps just a grubby red Kite - watch this space!
There was one further north on Saturday so looks like it is lingering and may be worth a detour on your trip.
Might be one of the escaped London Zoo birds though.......
one near the landfill site ENE of Knaresborough, 1,500m north of the A59, east of the A168
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Jun 24 9:13 PM, 2008
Gentlemen thanks for input,it,ll save a load of internet trawling we,ll let you know how we get on of course,as for the hide situation on the flashes i,ve got some ray mears type 'tarps' stashed around that fit the screens just nice if it turns nasty the flashes borders will be closed on saturday by the way
The high temperatures in the early afternoon seemed to kill off any raptor activity with just 1 Common Buzzard seen. Male Siskins were displaying and showing very well and a few Crossbills were heard in the forest behind.
Then after about 3.30pm a few raptors started to appear with approx 5 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel and finally a pale Honey Buzzard appeared very high up over the valley and disappeared over the trees.
2 Common Crossbills also then flew over.
1 Red Kite was seen above the A64 near Tadcaster on the way home. I nearly always seen them here.
Decided on a weekend trip here with a friend. I personally haven't seen a UK Honey Buzzard for a few years and this was our first trip to Wykeham. On RBA the post code is YO13 9EB, I typed this into Google maps, which tried to send me down a very dodgy looking track, complete with Beware of the Bull signs! Clearly this wasn't right and with no 4G signal, I switched over to the car's satnav, which revealed we were on the wrong side of the valley and it was still 9.5 miles away!
Eventually we arrived at YO13 9EB, but this post code isn't the raptor watch point, its seems to be a post code, covering a few different back lanes in a general area. After driving around blindly for a while, again with no 4G signal, we eventually found the Raptor Watch Point car park. 5 hours later, looking across the valley and no sign, although oddly we were getting messages that birds were being seen? Whilst waiting we had both calling Marsh Tit and flyover Common Crossbills.
Late afternoon, we walked back to the car park and explored the lane on foot, looking for Turtle Dove, which had also been reported earlier in the day. I then picked out a raptor flying quite low over a nearby field, which turned out to be a female Honey Buzzard giving great views! We then bumped into a local birder, who said he'd put the earlier messages out and that the Honey Buzzards, had been showing on and off all day from the road. Apparently 3 females and 1 male are present this year. He also said that in his opinion, the road viewing was generally a better option than the watch point.
Stayed in Scarborough overnight and this morning the plan was to go to Bempton Cliffs for the Albatross, but as it hadn't been seen for a week, we instead headed back to Wykeham again viewing from the road. We soon picked up a loan Honey Buzzard over the same area as seen yesterday. Of interest when leaving Scarborough first thing, I again tried Google maps and again it wanted to send us completely the wrong way. Trust me do not use it to navigate to the watch point! The lane the watch point is on, appears to have no name (checked it on DEFRA's Magic map site), but it is between Cockmoor Road and Moor Road.
Other birds seen this morning, included Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler, Stonechat, Yellowhammer and Red Kite.
-- Edited by Neil Blood on Sunday 19th of June 2022 07:20:42 PM
Saturday 17th July-Tuesday 20th 2021
Question....Why Come ?
After last years miserable failure we just had to return. Saturday morning 09.00/12.15 resulted in one Hobby a couple of Common Buzzard, one Common Kestrel and one Sparrowhawk we then had to depart. On Sunday again 09.00/12.00 Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk we again had to leave for a lunch appointment.
Monday saw us arrive at 12.30 as we had been to Bempton earlier. At 13.45 Cath saw a raptor briefly I just managed to catch a quick look, a pale bird and longish tail and that was it. Fifteen minutes later the only other birder there shouted "Honey" we looked over and there it was one of our dip birds it glided over back to the right of the view point it was only a short view thirty seconds or so but enough to get some ID features. Our new friend kindly explained one or two features to us Honey virgins and background to this regular bird. We stayed until 17.00 with no other sightings apart from Common Buzzard, our friend departed for Bempton. Monday provided two lifers for us.
Tuesday saw us arrive around noon after a wild goose chase for Turtle Doves. The view point was busy with all seats taken but we were allowed the end of a seat by a kind chap from Hartlepool who had been on a boat to see the Albatross at Bempton and he had some stunning photographs. We chatted and recounted tales, he left to go to Troutsdale. Another birder approached and he joked that a Honey would turn up soon. In the meantime a call went up "hawk" in the distance a large hawk was gliding towards us it was clear this was a Goshawk, it was right in front of us at one point, it moved over the valley then decided to embarrass a, Common Buzzard by bombing it and moving away at the last split second its agility was astounding the Buzzard looked like it was be well and truly whipped after a few minutes both went there separate ways. This was our first proper sighting of a Goshawk which totally beats our distant view of a bird at Carburton in 2017
Time was fast approaching then just short of 14.00 two minutes short in fact the Honey appeared as if to order, a pale bird it glided over the valley having appeared from the right hand side of the view point. We noted how it glided effortlessly over never making a wing beat, its head clearly extending beyond its body and longer tail. My friend assured me this was a regular bird he had seen several times and would have been the bird we saw on Monday and had indeed shown around the same time over the weekend!!
So Why Come ? twenty two hours looking for Honey Buzzard and Goshawk has produced two Honey observations and one Goshawk. Once they showed we had vey good views with a great aerobatic display from the Goshawk. We had six dips on the trot never fun but that is birding when the hit came it was well worth the wait and now unforgettable.
Whilst we were there on Tuesday a couple turned up and recounted how their granddaughter had told them how wonderful the view was across the valley. They then placed their seats with their backs to the valley munching their butties and left after twenty minutes....
At 14.15 we called it a day and moved in search of Turtle Doves. Thirty minutes later we parked up then walked up a farm track, we had a great chat with a big red faced farmer who supports Sunderland. He advised us to nip down the track where most people see the Doves. As we moved down I caught a bird fly which at first looked like a Collared in a split second it turned into a Turtle Dove it promptly flew into a nearby Sycamore where we enjoyed some great views before it and we departed.
On this trip we found one dead Stoat, one dead Sloworm, one dead cat and we saw one live Stoat in classic Meercat pose.
Our trip had four target birds and for once we got them all....untypical.
Why Come:
5th - 8th September:
Three seperate visits which lasted over eight hours observation produced over sixty Common Buzzard sightings with eight in the air at one time. One ify Honey Buzzard call and three Goshawk calls which we couldn't count due to inexperience of the two species!! Believe it or not we had the place to ourselves so had no help to call on.
We had lots of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Best of all four Hobby together.
Overall disappointed with my inexperience of the two species despite some hard preperation however a great learning curve.
A trip over the moors to " Aidensfield" produced a fabulous male Merlin right over us so that more than made up for the previous disappointment.
Youre very lucky Steve, we have been going to Wykeham for a few years now and have not seen that many unusual birds in all that time. We call it "why come" Well done though.
Dave Ousey.
Had a couple of hours here the afternoon after the morning at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (see thread).
First time visit here.
Within 5 mins I had an adult Goshawk briefly low over the trees on the opposite side of the valley. Goshawk has been my bogey bird for years !
A few Common Buzzards soared and mewed distantly.
Then a Honey Buzzard appeared right over the viewpoint circling and giving great views for a couple of mins before heading over the forest behind me. 2nd lifer!
A pair of Crossbills landed in the trees showing well. A few minutes later a flock of 16 flew over and then another pair making a total of 20.
A male Siskin sang and displayed and a family group of Bullfinch and 2 Nuthatch. Then just as I was about to leave a juvenile Goshawk flew out of the forest right behind me, straight across the front of the viewpoint at low level and powered off. Superb!
On the drive home a Red Kite circled over the A64
Common Buzzard 6 minimum (all in the air together) with probably at least 2 more birds. There seemed to be a group of 3 or 4 birds (of clearly different sizes) roaming all along both Troutsdale and Deep Dale displaying and play-fighting, with single birds appearing from time to time from the opposite direction to the one in which the group had disappeared.
Kestrel 2 (M & F)
Sparrowhawk 1 F harassing one of the more distant Buzzards, then chasing after hawking hirundines over Deep Dale.
Goshawk 2/3 1 adult and possibly 2 juveniles. The morning's highlight was a juvenile which came up in front of us from Troutsdale and passed south-west just behind the trees at that end of the viewing area - 2nd best and certainly closest view I've had of a wild bird.
There was one distant sighting of a possible Honey Buzzard late in the morning but it was too high and distant by the time we got on it to confirm/count it.
Apart from the usual gulls, crows and Wood Pigeons
2 Tree Pipit
2 Redpoll
2 Siskin
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard
Also 1 Painted Lady, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood
Honey Buzzard, Several sightings over the morning some distant some down to 50 metres, 3 all in the air together including a pale morph bird
Common Buzzard 4
Tree Pipit 2
Morning visit with Simon Gough and Chris Chandler. Nice to see Darren Ward and the Yorkshire crew.
Raptor Watchpoint
- Honey Buzzard 1 (at first)
Finally showed late morning, and show it did, in all its glory flying right over our heads at the Viewpoint after being harassed by a Goshawk that in turn was being harassed by a Kestrel at the same time.
It gave a clapping display before flying off, only to return within a short time to display again.
- Goshawk (???)
Not sure how many altogether but we saw 3 up together at one point with 2 displaying and having mid air tussles. We had plenty of sightings all morning that could've been repeat birds, who knows.
- Marsh Harrier 1
Fooled a few people at first and Black Kite was called out, but after watching it for a while we all steered away from that and although I wasn't 100% sure we came to the conclusion it was most likely a Marsh Harrier.
Other birds at the viewpoint included..
- Common Buzzard 4 at least
- Sparrowhawk 1
- Siskin 1
- Bullfinch 3
- Crossbill heard
Cockmoor Road Plantation
- Honey Buzzard 2
Viewed these from the car as we drove through the plantation area.
They didn't look like Common Buzzards so I stopped the car and alerted Simon and Chris, which I'm glad I did as they were indeed Honey Buzzards, 1 of which was the male from earlier with the 'missing feather' from the trailing edge of each wing.
Also here...
- Goshawk 1
- Common Buzzard 2
- Crossbill 2 (1m 1f)
- Lesser Redpoll 5
- Siskin 1
- Spotted Flycatcher 3
- Goldcrest 1
- Willow Warbler 1
- Treecreeper 1
- Yellowhammer 2 (100yds down the road)
...and a Field Vole ran out infront of the car and turned back again along Cockmoor Road.
A quality day all round
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 7th of August 2017 12:24:33 PM
Had a couple of sessions at the watchpoint this weekend. Highlights as follows:
3 Honey Buzzard, including extended views of their 'butterfly' display today on 2 occasions at 12.20 and 13.20.
Also 1+ Goshawk, 5 Common Buzzard, 1+ Turtle Dove, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Crossbill on Saturday at 4pm, 2 Bullfinch, Siskin, Kestrel, Red Legged Partridge on road up from Wykeham, Goldcrest.
2 Honey Buzzards, 1m and 1f, the male displaying. We had one long sighting of both birds for around 5-10 minutes in around 3.5 hours at the Watchpoint.
4 Goshawk, 1f, 2m and one distant probable male. Really enjoyed the business of ID'ing these birds, and one which lifted up from just in front of the viewpoint showed beautifully as it quickly circled and gained height.
Other raptors were predictably Buzzard, Kestrel and Hobby. Also from the viewpoint Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch, Siskin.
We certainly benefitted from the great conditions. When you are limited to birding at the weekend you really want the weather to help, and it really did on Saturday.
No sign of Turtle Doves for us and a suggestion that no more than 1 or 2 were present in the Forest. Thought-provoking when posts from a few years back talk about double-figure sightings
Answers on a postcard why a visit in the same week in 2016 with similar weather produced a single Goshawk and no Honey Buzzards. It was great to connect well this year.
Disappointing obviously but that's birding. Cracking location though with great views northwards. A couple of spots across the valley look good for Nightjar where tree felling has taken place.
Better weather over there than we had in Manchester. No rain and about 50/50 cloud and blue sky, plenty of sunshine and a decent breeze.
Disappointing, as no Honey Buzzard. Saw about half a dozen Common Buzzards, a Peregrine and a couple of Goshawks, including an aggressive female that was scrapping with a party of 3 Buzzards. Good opportunity for size comparison at close range.
-- Edited by Richard Would on Sunday 4th of August 2013 08:09:59 PM
Raptor viewpoint:
The clouds were low and the weather not so great for it so no honey buzzard (my second attempt). but a Goshawk flying low and close to me coming out of the conifers was a good second best.
Also, when I was driving past the Wykeham nursery I spotted a Turtle Dove on a telephone wire in a farm field. Great close up views. Not a bad morning after all.
Rob
At least two Honey Buzzards knocking about (we had two up at once), had distant prolonged views of a Goshawk mobbing one of them. In the afternoon a single bird flew right over the watchpoint about 50yds up.
Several gosses, at least two juveniles - if every bird I saw had been a different individual I'd have seen twenty two!
Many Common Buzzards, two Kestrels and a single Sparrowhawk. I picked up a very distant Hobby, later another flew right over the watchpoint.
Other birds around the watchpoint, heard only in most cases, were Willow Tit, Treecreeper, Crossbill, Siskin, Goldcrest, etc.
Honey Buzzard 1
Common Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk1
Red Kite 2
Kestrel 2
Goshawk 2
18 other species around the watchpoint, including Crossbill, Siskin, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, with Linnet, Yellowhammer and Whitethroat on the approach road.
Also see:
Ringlet - in good numbers
Ribband Wave
Migrant Hawker
Common Spotted Orchid
and a single specimen of Common Centuary
Well done on getting the nightjar and Goshawk. I was surprised how many common crossbills there were which is always good to see. Just wish I couldve got a honey buzzard. Nice to meet you Chris.
Rob
1 Tree Pipit
c40 Common Crossbills
5+ Siskins
1 Yellowhammer
1 Hobby close to the viewpoint
12 Crossbills flying from the woods behind and out in front of the viewpoint
2 Common Buzzards
Goldfinches
Chaffinches
No sign of Honey Buzzard but they had been seen before we got there
No sign of Goshawks but they had been seen before we got there
Nursery Area:
No sign of Turtle Doves
1 Spotted Flycatcher
A good days birding but not much look on finding the rarities. Plus was limited on time.
Don't think anybody saw the turtle doves.have to be content with hearing them although while I was looking for them a goshawk got chased over the tree line by crows.it then soared for 5 minutes before a pigeon flew past.at which point it turned and stooped at some speed after it.didn't see what happened as they went behind the trees.birds seen through the day were:
Garden warbler 3
Tree pipit 3(1 singing)
Goshawk 3
Buzzard
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Hobby
Bullfinch
Crossbills(several parties flying over)
Skylark7+
Pied wagtail
Jay carrying an unfortunate chick
Coal tit(100+!just a guess but they were everywhere)
Goldcrest
Siskin
Yellowhammer 10(one of which was displaying in the road and only moved when I got out of the car)
Grey partridge(surrounding farmland)
G.s.woodpecker
Red kite(on the way up in the car)
Plus other warblers finches tits etc.
Hares and a roe deer buck that seemed lost.
After a miserable few hours of rain and nearly heading for home I set myself up in a likely area at 9.00.at 9.15 a woodcock started Roding and was soon joined by another(and didn't stop until I left at 10.40!).10 minutes later a nightjar started churring in the tree behind where I was stood.it then flew out right past me calling then perched close by and started singing again(got some footage but quite dark).it was then joined by the female which later on flew round my head about six feet away sending me dizzy.magical.apart from that it was rubbish...(this post is for yesterday 30/6/12)
-- Edited by chrisdorney on Sunday 1st of July 2012 07:27:47 PM
from the nurserys area around 10 turtle doves minimum, probably more, all feeding and sunbathing in the feilds
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Thursday 16th of June 2011 12:41:16 PM
For ID of female Montys it is usually down to jizz, John, they are a slimmer, longer winged more 'dainty' bird than Hen Harrier. They also, to me, appear to be more well defined in their markings, just somehow cleaner. The underwing banding seems to stand out more clearly and the face pattern looks more 'severe'. Some folk have a rule of thumb way of seeing whether to consider Montys - if it gives an accipiter-like first impression (broader, slightly blunter wings) then it's a Hen, if it gives a falcon-like first impression (narrower, more pointed wings) then it's a Monty.
Counting visible primaries is a clincher but often not practical, and the slower more elastic flight of a Monty is distinctive, but if there's no other bird to compare it with that is difficult to be definite about, as can be structure as even a Hen Harrier looks dainty when you've been watching Buzzards!!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 15th of June 2011 10:00:53 AM
Any tips ?
Off into the forest to find Nick and John's second life-time first in the form of the Turtle Doves. Thought I did well last Wednesday but today there were possibly 10 separate birds either seen or heard. Also seen during the visit Willow Warbler, Red-legged Partridge, Siskin, Garden Warbler and Yellowhammer.
On the way home at Snainton, a Barn Owl flying across the A170.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 06:56:03 PM
Also seen:
5 Common Buzzards
1 Goshawk
1 Kestrel
1 Garden Warbler
1 Turtle Dove
Bumped into Messers Ashton, Barber and Isherwood in the car park who must have only just have missed the Montagu's Harrier by minutes
Good to chat with one or two familar faces at the watchpoint and I will certainly be revisiting soon.
A Goshawk also showed very well 'buzzing' a flock of Wood Pigeons and demonstrating, by size comparisons, what a large, muscular raptor this species is. A fly through Turtle Dove completed the notable species seen at the watchpoint on a red-letter day there
We then headed to the Wykeham Nurseries area and were rewarded with views of at least 10 Turtle Doves including 4 feeding together on the ground which I managed to photograph, whilst 2 more pairs were in nearby trees purring away. In this area we also had another Honey Buzzard low over (as Jonathan reported too) - I never expected it to get on my 'seen from the car' list!! Also seen here were 2 Crossbills and a Tree Pipit.
As the forecast rainclouds rolled in we left to head home westwards over the M62. For anyone who hasn't been to the raptor watchpoint I would highly recommend it, so far I have a 100% record here for seeing Honey Buzzards, but this year the sightings were my best ever
At least three pairs of Turtle Doves
Tree Pipit
Crossbill
Siskin
Woodcock roding
and a fantastic male Nightjar at around 8.50am so plenty of light to observe it by.
Also two Roe deer, one rat [!], a few Hares and bats and plenty of rabbits on the access road back out of the forest at dusk.
Too late for raptors sadly - and beware if approaching the viewpoint from the North with satnav - we had an interesting long reverse down a tarmac track which suddenly ran out... probably best just heading for the main road and the village then heading back north.
Visited the Viewpoint on the way to Filey/Bempton - apart from hearing Honey Buzzard calling a couple of times we had no sightings of any raptors . We did have overflying Crossbills and in the forest Willow Tit and Siskin but otherwise very quite.
A little disappointed with the Viewpoint this visit, looking at some photos from two years ago the trees to the right of the viewing area have grown, as trees do, obscuring the valley in that direction which was where we had great views of the Honies on that visit and from where today's calling was taking place. There was also evidence of camp fires and on one, the remains of one of the benches
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 23rd of July 2010 11:45:12 AM
Sorry for the late post, I've been busy!
Raptors were almost non-existant, mainly down to poor weather conditions (mist on Sat, rain all day Sun). Managed a hobby and a gos, plus several common buzzards and a spar between 12.00-1.00pm on Sat, just a single buzzard and a kestrel in 4 hrs on Sunday! Had a good wander around the forest on Saturday afternoon though, which was excellent. Usual woodland birds; nice tree pipit and garden warbler showing well by at the watchpoint; found several turtle doves (saw three pairs, two singles and had two birds calling too); loads of garden warblers, easily outnumbering blackcaps, and a couple of green woodpeckers. Best bird was probably a singing wood warbler, I don't think they're regular in the forest? Found a couple of spots that looked good for nightjars and went back in the evening. Superb views of a male wing-clapping as it flew around me around 9.40pm, at least two males and a female in the area. Still enough light left to nip up to the other spot I'd found and again got superb views of what looked like a female (quite dark by then!) as it hunted up and down the lane just feet over my head. Two males churring and another bird calling. An unseen roe barked at me from a couple of yards away as I headed back to my car - scared the living daylights out of me!
The HBs will (probably) still be there but call the warden Brian Walker 01751 472771 to confirm. The Goshawks will definitely be about - they live there!!!
Cheers
Sid
Loads of people there yesterday - just 3 others when we arrived, but nearer 40 when we left!
Ended the day at Blacktoft with Marsh Harriers, another Hobby, Green, Curlew and Common Sandpipers, 1 Bearded Tit, several Yellow Wags, usual Tree Sparrows etc.
Was that 7 separate Goshawks or 7 separate sightings? I ask because having spoken to the warden before we went and a local chap when we were there I didn't get the impression that there were so many in the area.
-- Edited by sid ashton at 11:07, 2008-07-22
You're very welcome Sid - thoroughly enjoyed the day and just sorry I mucked up the directions for the Bonxie and the Arctic Skuas - not to mention the Porpoises!
The views of the 2 Honey Buzzards were fantastic and the 2 Goshawks were not far behind. First visit for me to Bempton & Flamborough - in the words of Arnie - I will be back!
A cracking day's birding and thanks to the driver for a safe journey and the good company - cheers Mike
I've been looking for years for Goshawk and not got lucky so far, so well done and I'm very jealous!
Thanks. Henry.
1 goshawk
1 red kite
2 common buzzard
1 kestrel
3 curlew
6 crossbills
1 male siskin that looked like it had a paint job
lots of gulls corvids and hirundines etc to keep you on your toes during a marathon(for me anyway)stake out at a crackin site,we also met 4 'birds' in the cafe who,s vernacular grammer made it a memorable meal.
,2 lifers for me 1 lifer for mr woosey,no honey buzzard, we,ll be back for,it apparantly one flew through with good views 20 mins before we got there
nice day but i,m birded out GOSHAWK
2 bird theory, or perhaps just a grubby red Kite - watch this space!
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=435500&y=457500&z=6&sv=435500,457500&st=OSGrid&lu=N&tl=~&ar=y&bi=~&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf
There was one further north on Saturday so looks like it is lingering and may be worth a detour on your trip.
Might be one of the escaped London Zoo birds though.......
one near the landfill site ENE of Knaresborough, 1,500m north of the A59, east of the A168
the flashes borders will be closed on saturday by the way
cheers geoff