Awful weather in the morning soon cleared, to leave a chilly but settled afternoon with sunshine later on, and a lovely sunset!
An afternoon walk around Temple Newsam Woods for the final attempt at Woodcock was a failure, but a good recce for tomorrow.
The final total was 153 but as previously mentioned that includes the Cetti's so by proper rules, 152 is the final tally.
Good night 2013 and here's to a successful 2014 on patch if no where else!
The view from the hide
Tuesday 31 December 2013
Monday 30 December 2013
Warm up for Wednesday
I'm not back into work until Thursday, so I thought it have a quick hour down at the hide to get an idea on what to expect on Wednesday.
Some blustery showers with gales is similar to the forecast for Wednesday but more rain is predicted than today.
Nothing really of note on Astley, but 28 species in 1 hour was a little disappointing.
Ducks on show: goldeneye, tuftied duck, pochard, shovelar, mallard, teal & gadwall.
Coot & moorhen as always, with a couple of cormorants, a grey heron & a little egret we're on double island.
Not many gulls, but decent numbers of black-headed, a couple of commons and great black-backed's were it.
Greylag and Canada were the only geese present (apart from the farmyard goose which was in front of the hide). A handful of mute swan also.
A couple of magpie's and jays were kicking about and a lone Kestrel was the only raptor.
Woodpigeon was in smaller numbers than usual, and the only waders were Lapwing, snipe & a curlew through Swilly Park.
Little Grebe, carrion crow and rook completed the list.
Some blustery showers with gales is similar to the forecast for Wednesday but more rain is predicted than today.
Nothing really of note on Astley, but 28 species in 1 hour was a little disappointing.
Ducks on show: goldeneye, tuftied duck, pochard, shovelar, mallard, teal & gadwall.
Coot & moorhen as always, with a couple of cormorants, a grey heron & a little egret we're on double island.
Not many gulls, but decent numbers of black-headed, a couple of commons and great black-backed's were it.
Greylag and Canada were the only geese present (apart from the farmyard goose which was in front of the hide). A handful of mute swan also.
A couple of magpie's and jays were kicking about and a lone Kestrel was the only raptor.
Woodpigeon was in smaller numbers than usual, and the only waders were Lapwing, snipe & a curlew through Swilly Park.
Little Grebe, carrion crow and rook completed the list.
The forecast for New Years Day
I thought I'd check the forecast for New Years Day, and it's not looking good.
Rain and wind all day are likely to cause problems with certain species, and although last years opening day total of 55 was relatively modest, it might not be so easy to surpass that total this time around.
Either way, it's bound to be a busy day and the weather should keep a lot of non birders away for the day.
Rain and wind all day are likely to cause problems with certain species, and although last years opening day total of 55 was relatively modest, it might not be so easy to surpass that total this time around.
Either way, it's bound to be a busy day and the weather should keep a lot of non birders away for the day.
Sunday 29 December 2013
Target Species
Some species missed in 2013 but also some which I have highlighted as difficult species required to get to my target. Some require luck, some need patience. Either way, they will be needed to achieve my 160 goal!
Peregrine
Osprey
Merlin
Hobby
Water Rail
Bearded Tit
Cetti's Warbler
Woodcock
Mediterranean Gull
Crossbill
Jack Snipe
Peregrine
Osprey
Merlin
Hobby
Water Rail
Bearded Tit
Cetti's Warbler
Woodcock
Mediterranean Gull
Crossbill
Jack Snipe
2013 review
We use www.bubo.org as our online tracker, which is a fabulous site to keep your birding house in order from top to bottom!
The Swilly website keeps the list live about once a month but individual users keep their list as up to date as is physically possible via the Bubo site.
I also like to use the BTO's Birdtrack website to record my lists, so the data I collate can be used scientifically and further-a-field than LS26.
2013's personal target of 150 was surpassed with a bit of a cheat as it was Cetti's Warbler, the 3rd record this year which is a new bird on the list for Swillington Ings, but as it was only heard and not seen, it can't be counted for the actual list. That included, my Bubo list has me joint 9th on 153 so I'm pleased that I made the top 10 even without it!
Notable birds missed this year are Woodcock & Peregrine which I have had every year prior to 2013.
No one has seen the Cetti's, so that will be a big target for 2014, but equally high on the list will be bearded tit which was recorded for the first time in living memory (I think) and will hopefully go on to be a breeding species!
Highlights for 2013 will also be the 1st twitchable Crossbills that drew the crowds in January and also the pale phase Arctic Skua which was a fantastic surprise.
Several days of inland Gannet passage was missed by myself, but that was impressive as was a summer plumage red-throated diver (again missed by me) and a summer red necked grebe. That was a milestone bird for me as it completed the list of UK grebes and I've now seen all UK recorded grebes in thd area! Black Redstart in March was nice and the common redstart showed for most listers while I was at work, but I think despite these rarities, my personal highlights were 6 bitterns in June and the spotted flycatchers which reportedly bred.
The blog died a death quickly, but because of the list, my hunger to find birds continued right until the death, so thanks to the challenge, even when its wet windy & cold out, my mind is on what birds I need.
Hopefully 2014 will give me 12 months of blogging but also 160 species on patch.
I also want to get my life list closer to 300, so I may blog about out of area birds too. Who knows?! Just wish me luck and become a Swilly member :)
The Swilly website keeps the list live about once a month but individual users keep their list as up to date as is physically possible via the Bubo site.
I also like to use the BTO's Birdtrack website to record my lists, so the data I collate can be used scientifically and further-a-field than LS26.
2013's personal target of 150 was surpassed with a bit of a cheat as it was Cetti's Warbler, the 3rd record this year which is a new bird on the list for Swillington Ings, but as it was only heard and not seen, it can't be counted for the actual list. That included, my Bubo list has me joint 9th on 153 so I'm pleased that I made the top 10 even without it!
Notable birds missed this year are Woodcock & Peregrine which I have had every year prior to 2013.
No one has seen the Cetti's, so that will be a big target for 2014, but equally high on the list will be bearded tit which was recorded for the first time in living memory (I think) and will hopefully go on to be a breeding species!
Highlights for 2013 will also be the 1st twitchable Crossbills that drew the crowds in January and also the pale phase Arctic Skua which was a fantastic surprise.
Several days of inland Gannet passage was missed by myself, but that was impressive as was a summer plumage red-throated diver (again missed by me) and a summer red necked grebe. That was a milestone bird for me as it completed the list of UK grebes and I've now seen all UK recorded grebes in thd area! Black Redstart in March was nice and the common redstart showed for most listers while I was at work, but I think despite these rarities, my personal highlights were 6 bitterns in June and the spotted flycatchers which reportedly bred.
The blog died a death quickly, but because of the list, my hunger to find birds continued right until the death, so thanks to the challenge, even when its wet windy & cold out, my mind is on what birds I need.
Hopefully 2014 will give me 12 months of blogging but also 160 species on patch.
I also want to get my life list closer to 300, so I may blog about out of area birds too. Who knows?! Just wish me luck and become a Swilly member :)
The Great Swillington Ings Bird Group listers challenge 2014
For those not familiar with Swillington Ings Bird Group and its history, you should visit our website www.sibg1.wordpress.com for more information about the group, news and latest sightings.
We are located to the east of Leeds in the Lower Aire Valley, roughly bounded by the M1 to the west of the site at Stourton, Temple Newsam woods to the north running across to Little Preston in the North East corner, down to Great Preston and Lowther Lake on the Eastern boundary, then follows the River Aire back westerly towards Leeds splitting to include the canal all the way back to the M1. The full site map is on the website.
Membership is only £5 which gives you access to the viewing hide at Astley Lake as well as the annual bird report that is usually published in time for the AGM in early February.
We have members from across the country, so if you aren't already a member, we'd really appreciate your subscription so we can continue the good work we do for the wildlife in the valley.
The challenge is a friendly yet competitive list which has improved the coverage of the site and as a result has increased the annual species list to another record this year.
I'm very much looking forward to the 2014 challenge but as a full time worker I know that I wont be in contention for the top spot but my own personal target of 150 was achieved this year, so I'm going to raise it to 160. As it stands, the total list stands at 181 with a couple of local rarities needing approval, so I think 160 would be a remarkable achievement if not a little optimistic. After all its a challenge for a reason!
We are located to the east of Leeds in the Lower Aire Valley, roughly bounded by the M1 to the west of the site at Stourton, Temple Newsam woods to the north running across to Little Preston in the North East corner, down to Great Preston and Lowther Lake on the Eastern boundary, then follows the River Aire back westerly towards Leeds splitting to include the canal all the way back to the M1. The full site map is on the website.
Membership is only £5 which gives you access to the viewing hide at Astley Lake as well as the annual bird report that is usually published in time for the AGM in early February.
We have members from across the country, so if you aren't already a member, we'd really appreciate your subscription so we can continue the good work we do for the wildlife in the valley.
The challenge is a friendly yet competitive list which has improved the coverage of the site and as a result has increased the annual species list to another record this year.
I'm very much looking forward to the 2014 challenge but as a full time worker I know that I wont be in contention for the top spot but my own personal target of 150 was achieved this year, so I'm going to raise it to 160. As it stands, the total list stands at 181 with a couple of local rarities needing approval, so I think 160 would be a remarkable achievement if not a little optimistic. After all its a challenge for a reason!
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