Fetch Birdwatchers
166 watchers
Jan 2018
6:55am, 31 Jan 2018
24,790 posts
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Derby Tup
Alternatively Monsaldale 
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Jan 2018
8:31am, 31 Jan 2018
936 posts
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flyingfinn
Good suggestions DT  Thx
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Jan 2018
8:45am, 31 Jan 2018
24,792 posts
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Derby Tup
Stef and I have spotted a dipper several times over the bridge when in the Peak. The first time I met her (for a seven hour run in the Dales, like you do) we saw a dipper in the Walden valley round the back of Buckden Pike so they have a special sentimental value for us  Another great spot is you’re ever in that area is Barden Bridge upstream of Bolton Abbey on the Wharfe. The 4 mile loop from the bridge up to the Cavendish Pavilion and back has fantastic bird-watching - wood warbler, redstart, mandarin, goosander, curlew, red kite, pied fly, woodcock, garden warbler, kingfisher, common sandpiper . . .
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Jan 2018
2:31pm, 31 Jan 2018
136 posts
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um
Just saw a hawfinch in my garden bird bath (90% plus sure) - but it flew before I could take a photo. Is there anything else that looks like them? (very bright yellow head plumage)
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Jan 2018
3:03pm, 31 Jan 2018
21,910 posts
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Dave A
Male and female stonechat at Brandon Marsh today.
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Jan 2018
4:18pm, 31 Jan 2018
937 posts
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flyingfinn
Um the real give away with Hawfinches is the size of the bill, no other finch has anything close. It is also bigger than the other finches we generally see. There are some photos at this link google.co.uk
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Feb 2018
7:01pm, 1 Feb 2018
1,002 posts
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J2R
I met someone in the pub last night I haven't seen for a while, a real serious birder and a proper twitcher in his youth. I was telling him about my desire to see a hawfinch and he wanted to know why it was important to me. I said it was a proper British bird, one of our native species, which I think I SHOULD see, as opposed to some unfortunate Siberian rarity blown in, which will never make it back to where it came from. But in retrospect I'm wondering whether this distinction is meaningless. Yes, the hawfinch breeds here (in ever smaller numbers, alas), so it could be called a 'British bird'. But I'd also call redwings, fieldfares and other winter visitors 'British birds' even though they don't breed here. So is there a meaningful definition of a British bird, as opposed to simply one of the 500+ species have birds which have been seen here? |
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Feb 2018
7:40pm, 1 Feb 2018
24,816 posts
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Derby Tup
I was born in Derbyshire. I'm British, but not really a local up here in Yorkshire. The swifts that spend only a quarter of a year here are British too; and local One of the most exciting birds I've seen is a hoopoe. I was desperate to see one for decades, since I was a child. I saw loads in Egypt on a short holiday. A bird's a bird. Enjoy them for what they are is my way of thinking
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Feb 2018
7:44pm, 1 Feb 2018
2,323 posts
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phal
Some great spottings. Dippers are just scrummy. Probably one of my most favourite bird songs too. Not sure JR2. I’ve never really thought about it, I just like seeing different birds! Look forward to seeing what folks think. I’ve just had a ‘phone call from one of the local bird ringers; weather permitting i’m heading out with them to ‘have a go’ on Sunday morning. Had a taster of it on the course I went on last year and loved releasing the birds and seeing them up close. Hope the weather’s good enough to go on Sunday... (needed to find somewhere to share my excitement where I won’t be looked at like i’ve gone mad!!!) |
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Feb 2018
8:04pm, 1 Feb 2018
1,003 posts
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J2R
DT, just to be clear, this isn't some kind of nationalistic, xenophobic thing about proper British birds, as opposed to bloody foreign birds coming over here, eating our seeds. To be honest it's probably down to something like the Observer Book of British Birds I had as a boy. My first hoopoe was exciting, too, on holiday in Bulgaria, and an absolutely cracking view it was. Like you, I'd wanted to see one since I was a boy. |
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