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11-04-2006, 09:39 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,385
| | | Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
After a highly enjoyable trip to Old Trafford to see Man United beat Arsenal on Sunday (whoops .... sorry .... wrong discussion forum  ), I found somewhere to stay overnight in readiness for my trip around the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
I was up early and scraping the ice off the car windows in temperatures of minus 4 degrees .... did someone say Spring had arrived? 
As dawn arrived, a day of blue sky and sunshine developed  . The Yorkshire Dales were stunningly beautiful and I was rewarded with the sights and sounds of many of the typical moorland bird species.
Red Grouse .... several noisy males and seemingly unimpressed females .... photos for the gallery to follow.
Black Grouse .... 2 separate groups of 8 and 10 males .... not sure where the females were!
Ring Ousel .... a stunning male .... first of the year for me.
Wheatear .... at least 5 .... again, first of the year for me.
Lapwing .... plenty of madly displaying pairs.
Golden Plover .... one pair in stunning summer plumage.
Curlew .... several.
Meadow Pipits .... loads!
Unfortunately no birds of prey such as Buzzard, Merlin, Hen Harrier or Short-eared Owl but nonetheless a very enjoyable day.
Richard |
12-04-2006, 07:21 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cheviots
Posts: 67
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Sounds like a great day out. I used to live and work in that neck of the woods, near Muker in Swaledale.
Which of the dales were the Black Grouse in?
Rob |
12-04-2006, 09:02 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,385
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote: |
Originally Posted by RobF Sounds like a great day out. I used to live and work in that neck of the woods, near Muker in Swaledale.
Which of the dales were the Black Grouse in?
Rob | Hello Rob
8 in Arkengarthdale near Shaw Farm and 10 to the west on Stonesdale Moor. All birds were very distant from the roads but good views through the telescope.
You will know both areas well as a former Muker resident. I went through there on my way south over Buttertubs to Hawes and beyond. Stunning countryside and beautiful weather.
Richard |
12-04-2006, 09:32 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
I am envious of you with having moorland nearby. The nearest Black Grouse site we had was Swallow Moss, north of Leek but sadly that no longer supports them. The nearest place to me now is at World's End, near Wrexham and that is some drive to see these birds.
John |
14-04-2006, 09:54 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cheviots
Posts: 67
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote: |
Originally Posted by rlchew Hello Rob
8 in Arkengarthdale near Shaw Farm and 10 to the west on Stonesdale Moor. All birds were very distant from the roads but good views through the telescope.
You will know both areas well as a former Muker resident. I went through there on my way south over Buttertubs to Hawes and beyond. Stunning countryside and beautiful weather.
Richard | Excellent, thanks for that Richard.
I used to count those leks and dog count the grey hens on those areas, good to hear they're still there!! Our best lek up here was a 12 but they've dwindled down to 5 this year.
I always used to see Ouzel in the Buttertubs pass and up Gunnerside Gill, cracking birds.
Rob |
06-02-2007, 08:39 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
john / richard
do you know of anywhere that i could get within camera shot (ie 500mm lens and 2xtc) of black grouse without disturbing them - and also from your greater birdwatching knowledge is getting to the site under the cover of darness then laying up in a scrape hide with a camnet over you a viable approach or would this still be likely to disturb them ?
I would really like to get some decent (and salable  ) shots but not at the price of disturbing a red data book species as the welfare of the subject is always the highest law.
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06-02-2007, 09:03 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
I have PM'd you Pete.
John |
06-02-2007, 09:09 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,385
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Pete .... I will be doing the same.
Richard |
06-02-2007, 09:17 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlchew  Pete .... I will be doing the same.
Richard | nice one guys cheers
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07-02-2007, 05:07 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yorkshire Dales
Posts: 697
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Can't help thinking this ressurection of a thread is a bit of a cheap shot guys!
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Rob |
07-02-2007, 05:43 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,385
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobSutton Can't help thinking this ressurection of a thread is a bit of a cheap shot guys! | Rob
If this is a reference to the difficulties over on another (closed) message thread, it is precisely the reason why both John and I have responded to eeyore privately. Neither of us wished to have a repeat of earlier events. Sorry if I have misinterpreted your comment.
Richard |
07-02-2007, 06:07 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobSutton Can't help thinking this ressurection of a thread is a bit of a cheap shot guys! | Rob
I fully support reservations you may have but rather than make a comment like that can you actually explain what you mean. That comment could mean almost anything.
Once a full explanation is given by you then constructive replies can be given.
John |
07-02-2007, 10:37 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yorkshire Dales
Posts: 697
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
I have explained myself in PMs to both Richard and John - that's what I should probably have done in the first place. Apologies.
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Rob |
07-02-2007, 06:02 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobSutton I have explained myself in PMs to both Richard and John - that's what I should probably have done in the first place. Apologies. | Hi Rob
I haven't had a PM from you. When did you send it?
John |
07-02-2007, 09:16 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
without wishing to reopen any old wounds could i also ask for reccomendations of good books where i can read up on grouse behaviour (red or black), as i like to know as much as possible about my subjects before trying to photograph them.
I cant think of a good reason why we shouldnt discuss that on the open boards but pm would be fine also if you prefer
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07-02-2007, 09:28 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote:
Originally Posted by eeyore its getting so that we cant discuss anything without people taking pot shots at us - I wish everybody would just chill out | Pete
In some way I can sympathise with Rob's sentiments. Having seen what kicked off on my thread regarding Black Grouse sites to follow up on another thread asking where to find these sites could be construed the way Rob has done.
Rob doesn't really know us from Adam so he probably doesn't know your background of being a warden at a red data site. We do and are comfortable in giving that info but even then it was done via a PM.
I think you have to look at the bigger picture and accept that the timing wasn't quite right to ask a public question like that. I must admit I might have made a similar mistake myself and wouldn't have realised it until someone like Rob had pointed it out so you ain't on your own mate.
John |
07-02-2007, 09:40 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,692
| | | Re: Moorland birds in north Yorkshire
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Pete
In some way I can sympathise with Rob's sentiments. Having seen what kicked off on my thread regarding Black Grouse sites to follow up on another thread asking where to find these sites could be construed the way Rob has done.
Rob doesn't really know us from Adam so he probably doesn't know your background of being a warden at a red data site. We do and are comfortable in giving that info but even then it was done via a PM.
I think you have to look at the bigger picture and accept that the timing wasn't quite right to ask a public question like that. I must admit I might have made a similar mistake myself and wouldn't have realised it until someone like Rob had pointed it out so you ain't on your own mate.
John | I realised that just after I posted which is why I changed my post above , you were just too quick off the mark for me
No offence intended to rob , my comment was more a general observation about the number of pot shots that have nbeen taken at a small number of us in the last three months.
and yep you have a point - tho to be fair I didnt start the thread it is in fact a very old one which significantly predates the trouble yesterday - tho i have to say that I didnt realise that it wasnt a new thread when I posted on it .... doh as they say
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