Its been a while...

Apologies Chavreaders, Chavtwitchers have not blogged in a while due to the decent weather, we see 'birding' as more of a winter hobby - ie. When there is fook all else to do! Ya see, as soon as the temperatures rise we like to indulge in some proper 'bird'watching... (totty, fanny, minge, talent, punani etc...)

Scantily clad are the 'BIRDS' at this time of year (full summer plumage) so we find it extremely difficult to drag ourselves out the beer garden to look for the feathered kind that fly!
We find... breasts, funbags, chebs, hooters, pompadings, boobs and great tits(ha) etc... FAR MORE LETCH-WORTHY than Golden Orioles, Marsh Warblers, Ortolan Buntings, Red-backed Shrikes and Thrush Nightingales at Spurn! But at then end of the day its all a matter of taste, each to their own, whatever turns you on ETC...


...
Think about it gents!!!

HOWEVER...
Whilst soaking up the rays in our East Hull gardens, BBQ on the go, Ice cold beers getting supped and Baby oil applied we have been keeping our eyes peeled...
Single Hobby and at least 3 Buzzards are new garden ticks plus a mistle thrush flyover was a good 'un!

Also we've been getting out the push-bikes to burn them extra BBQ/Beer calories.
Kempy can't wheelie! Fake chav! RUBBISH! (But he can do none-handed!) hahaha!

Anyways on our rides we came across a Peregrine Falcon (getting mobbed by LBB Gull) by The Deep whilst we was on our way to Humber Bridge.

We've also been round Burton Constable area... GSW, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk (with supper), Kestrel and Barn Owls were the highlights.
Thanks for reading... Don't have nightmares!
Jacko & Kempy

North Cave Wetlands

The Chav twitchers had a couple of hours out on Friday and visited North Cave Wetlands. The highlights of the day for us were twitching 4 Raptor Species which included a Kestrel on the way. There was also a single Red Kite over the back of the wetlands.

We then travelled to a nearby undisclosed location which produced a new bird for the venue in the form of a Grey Wagtail, plus 4 Buzzards,and yet another Kestrel.


Plus a Sparrowhawk along with yet another Kestrel on the way home.

We also saw a pair of Green Woodpeckers at North Cave too.
It was good to see people are catching on with our 'Chavtwitching' trend and glad we are showing the way forward in modern day birding, this bloke has certainly seen our Blog and taken note!

A major plus point is that... yes one of our commandments is to 'Not tell your mates what you really got upto at the weekend' but always remember there is always someone doing that something even more ridiculous!!!. We wonder if hes lost his car keys or something!!! HaHa. GET A LIFE!!

Jacko also picked up on a light object in the distance that resembled a bird!!! we thought either a Hen Harrier perched low down or possibly a Grey Heron as it was in a ditch sort of area...funny thing is that 'it was a f*ck*ng Carrier Bag!!!

Tophill Low & Hornsea Mere

68 Species

Kempy didn't leave work at dinner time for a change this Monday, he had the full day off instead!!! He headed for Jacko's to pick him and his Dad Gary up for a morning session at Tophill Low NR. After fuelling up we headed for Hempholme on the River Hull, en route we ticked Starling, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow and Wood Pigeon and when we were 2 mins away from the River Hull we noticed a field stuffed with Thrushes so pulled alongside to pick out many Fieldfare and Redwing.
Parked up and dropped anchor in the makeshift car park and we began gettin our usual kit together (Handheld Cam, Optics, Cigs and Lighter). Kempy got his blue fleece on, Jacko got his Blue coat on and it was especially good to see Gary had come in dress code too, he fitted right in with his white trainees, adidas trackees and blue fleece. Unfortunately, Jacko had to have a word in the ear about COMMANDMENT No6 ... Thou shall not be seen with bins around neck...full stop!
But before anymore was said Gary had gone off 50 yrds ahead ticking Wren,and Dunnock.

As we walked along the river bank heading for Hempholme weir and Tophill Low we heard our first Yellowhammer song of the year, unfortunately this was to be a bogey for us all day as could we frig find it!!! But we saw Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Blue Tit and Magpie.

Carried on along the bank where we got Black-headed Gull BLOGGING, also Common Gull sat in farmers field, there was also a right noisy friggin' Skylark way up high in song. To the right in the small nature reserve were Mute Swan,Greylag and Canada Geese along with Coot, Mallard and plenty of Wigeon. We then picked out some Teal in flight which any duck in flight for us is good as we're sh*t at stuff like that!
Started the long walk up the drain were a distant white looking bird in flight was picked out by Gary turned out to be a lonesome Redshank. Jackdaw was next encountered, appearing to be trying to nest in a Barn Owl box several of the bleeders seemed to be up for some serious squatting! Also a Pheasant sh*t us up as it spooked from under our feet and made the usual racket!!!. Arrived at Tophill along 'D' rezzy we got Grey Partridge and large numbers of Curlew in farmers field adjacent along with Lapwing then a questionable Gull at disance turned out to be a Heron-Gull.. when it took off it became blatently obvious it was the 1st Grey Heron of the day. We then headed straight to purchase our tickets from the machine along the way the usual Goldfinch, Long-Tailed Tits, Greenfinch and quite a few Goldcrest in the coniferous trees in the car park also Chaffinch.

Paid our £2.50 each then headed for the Visitor Centre to check out the feeders and it was only f*ckin closed! Great Tit and Coal Tit both picked up round here then into the first Stash... As soon as flap opened Kempy shouted "Kingfisher!" and spooked it! He and Gary then saw were it landed too. We ticked Pochard and headed for the next couple of stashes to try get a better view or some record shots. No record shots taken although an Oystercatcher did fly over. Robin and Blackbird kept us going along the way to 'O' rezzy. At 'O' rezzy we got Tufted Duck, Gadwall and the highlight of our day were a few Goldeneye picked out at distance.

Only to be out done by a PAIR of GOSHAWKS soaring and displaying at distance! Lifer all round! We got blurry pictures of sky in the hope of a record shot... We love our handhelds hahaha!!! Carried on around 'O' rezzy!!! Taking in all stashes before Watton Borrow Stash Shoveler and Shelduck where seen.
Still no Moorhen BUT! We went into Watton Borrow Pitts stash and we were all scanning there was Cormorant, another Grey Heron, the Smew thats been seen lately didn't show for us, but Jacko picked out the most attractive, best looking Moorhen ever to be seen!!!

That was shortly followed by Kempy picking out a single Ringed Plover.We headed back toward the car park in the hope the Visitor Centre would now be open..Was it f*ck! Jacko had a great idea of ripping the flaming ticket machine off the wall to get a refund! Not to be out done we popped round the back just to see if we could see owt, there was just the usual finches etc. Then Gary picked out a Brambling sat in the top of a bush, lifer for Kempy and Gary!!
Walked back through the wood and when we came out along the wall a very random Pied Wagtail popped up for us.

We then headed back along the river bank to the car. Tophill Total was 54 (Jacko's prediction) we made well sure he had really seen a Rook in a last gasp scan of some Crow species! (well done Jacko good guess!!!) Still only early we decided to head for Hornsea Mere. On the way through brandesburton for a quick sandwich Sparrowhawk, Mistle thrush and House Sparrow were ticked.
Cheers to Gary for the Butties! Then on to the Mere, on way Herring Gull was seen in Hornsea. Setting off on the Mere footpath things seemed VERY VERY QUIET!! Walked through the field where Jacko and Kempy had all but staked all they had on us flushing a Meadow Pipit only to get 75% round and still no sign! We was worried... until one single bird popped up, still we couldn't tick it as we only saw the white flights in the tail and it could still of been a Reed Bunting. But hey, the little bugger decided to give us a few calls as it headed away! Thank f*ck for that!!! Then onto the bank of the Mere were Gary picked out a GSW in the wood behind, no sign of any Grebes still! or bogey Treecreeper! Headed through the fields as did three very timid Jay! We couldnt get within 100 yrds of them bleeders! A Sparrowhawk was also seen heading away from us.

We came to the cottage and again another GSW and alot of Song thrush were round there too.

On the walk back Kempy picked up on a Kestrel perched in the middle of the wood only for it to fly off to the back of the trees and out of sight in the plumage.
On the way back two Deer where seen, they stood, we looked at them...

They looked at us...

Jacko took another pic...

They f*cked off!!!!

Back on the bank we saw LBB Gull, GBB Gull and Jacko Picked out some Ruddy Duck. The last tick of the day went to a 'gang' of Linnet that all left the hedgerow as we were nearly back to the car.

East Park

36 Species:

Black-Headed Gull, House Sparrow, Moorhen, Mallard, Goosander, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Great-Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose, Canada goose, Coot, Common Gull, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Pochard, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Sparrowhawk x2 (Male and Female, think we know were they are gonna nest :D ) Starling, Red-Crested Pochard, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Great Tit, Blackbird, Long-Tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, White-Fronted Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Pintail, Collared Dove, Robin, Mute Swan and Pied Wagtail.


After finding the geese on the 21st, Jacko went for a quick hour round East Park today with his Dad (Jacko goes for a twitch in park a few times a week and Kempy occasionally goes too). Anyways, 3/4 of the way round Jacko comes across a right load of proper geeks, with tripods (triuss poduss) and big f*ck off cameras (bigii fooko offus camerii) !!! Blatantly obvious where the geese was! Some of these guys were like stood, waiting, next to their cameras for proper time! Not talking or anything, OH NO! All eyes were transfixed on these 2 f*cking geese. What the f*ck were they waiting for? Its only a couple of lame geese for f*ck sake, whats all the friggin' fuss about? Get a quick snap (hand-held of course) and f*ck off! Could of understood them hanging about for a couple of mins if a Goshawk was trying to whack one of the geese...

But it wasn't, and they're just a couple of f*cking geese!!!
The snappers were like the paparazzi would be if Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton were having a rug-munching 3some on the hard shoulder of the M62...

But they weren't, and they're just a couple of f*cking geese!!!

Hornsea Mere

51 Species

@ 12:38 Jacko gets the usual monday text off Kemp to say he had f*ck*d work off cos he can't be arsed and the weather is lush. Jacko had no work on either so 10 mins later Kemp was round Jackos. A quick trip to for Kemp to go to the sh*tter, get his handheld camera and don his blues and we were on the road, Spurn point being our destination. We stopped at BP garage on Hedon Road for fuel and refreshments and started ticking. Starling from the garage car park was number 1. On the way to Spurn we saw Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Rook and Lapwing. We got through Patrington and visibility dropped from about 10 Kilometres down to about 10 Centimetres. We decided to sack Spurn off! A quick U-turn and we were on the main road to Withernsea and en route for Hornsea Mere. Through Withernsea we ticked Herring Gull, BH Gull, Collared Dove and House Sparrow. Next we stopped for a smoke and a twitch at a place called Fitling. We added Moorhen, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare to the list.


Also a wader dropped into the field we were overlooking but we are both sh*t at waders (and warblers) so we couldn't ID it. Fags finished we continued on to Hornsea Mere. In the field before the Mere walk Kemp Twitched Greylag and Canada Geese and their were Jackdaws on the house roofs. 22 species so far and we were'nt even there yet!
Parked up opposite the Hornsea Mere footpath we got our benny hats and handhelds and got cracking. Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot and... Jacko shouts "what the f*cks that!" , Kemp : "BITTERN!". Get in there!!! A lifer for both of us and a good bird for Hornsea Mere we thinks??? Anyways we was buzzing our little tits off :D :D :D
Carried on the walk and other birds we got in the 1st field were Wigeon, LT Tit, Wren and Goldeneye's trying to break their necks!!!
On to the next field and another Nice surprise with a funny looking Gull that turned out to be a Barn Owl hunting over the reeds. We both got record shots with our sh*t cameras but ya can sort of see what it is...


While running round the fields for a better pic of the Barney we saw Meadow Pipit, Pheasant, Goldfinch and Blue Tit.
In the next couple of fields there was not a lot going on but we did come across a big pile of feathers and a freshly decapitated crow sp. (the head was nowhere to be found)... Frig knows what elusive killer had whacked it???


We got to the road and the farmer was cutting the hedge so we had no chance of a hedge sparrow round here. We contemplated looking in his waste collection for a dead one but couldn't be arsed rooting about so we cracked on toward the house. On way we got Cormorant, Mute Swan, Treecreeper, Song Thrush, GSW and a fine looking bird with a tight arse walking her dogs! At the end of our walk (at the house with the feeder ; ) ) Greenfinch, Coal Tit and Goldcrest were added. About turn and we were on our way back to the car again. On the way we saw a pure white female pheasant. Is this rare? Has anyone come across this before? We again saw 'THE' Barn Owl also Reed Bunting, Gadwall, Shoveler, GBB Gull and Kempy ran after some Bullfinches for a decent pic with the Bullfinch song ringing out from his mobile! HaHaHa!


Then Jacko picked out a smart looking Long-tailed Duck "billy no-mates" on the Mere. Our last find of the day was to be a cracking male DUNNOCK that Kemp found just before we got to the car.

With the sun setting and the fog coming in we were happy with our afternoon of chav-twitching at the Mere. Some good birds on our day list (we think so anyway) and a few record shots too with our FUJIFILM S5700 sh*tty handhelds!

Trip To The Coast

61 species

Saturday 9th February

Cliff "Face"!!!
Kempy picked Jacko up as Planned in the Focus hire car @ 07:15.
We were debating whether or not to do the trip in our MAXED Vauxhall Nova's, but decided against it because the dump valves might scare the birds and make us even more unpopular with the GEEKS! (if possible?)
Anyway we set off and we were treated to our 1st Raptor of the day in the form of a Kestrel having a kip on a lamp post on the exit road from 'Ull.
We headed For the coast and the venues were to be Filey Dam's, Filey Brigg and Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

Arrived at Filey Dam's @ 08:10,on arrival in car park we were suprisingly greeted by a fellow twitcher who for once was willing to have a polite chat with us and pointed out Two GSW's he happened to notice behind us, thanks mate, shows your not all TW*TS!
We got Robin, Tree Sparrow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Starling, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Blue Tit, Common Gull, Pheasant and Collared Dove on the way to 'East Pool Stash'.
In the stash we ticked Mute Swan, 2x Barnacle Geese, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Teal, Shelduck, Black-Headed Gull and Gadwall.
We then ticked Moorhen, Rook and Greylag Goose in the 'Main Stash'.

Got back in car and headed to the cafe for our breakfast, cheers luv it was super.
Only problem was that the coffee we had to go with the one before we left had taken there toll on us.
By the time we arrived on top of the cliff in the country park, poor Jacko was 'Hanging out' with the rumbles and in great need of a crap.
So we ticked the Skylarks that were only yards away from us on the deck and got a swift walk on down the steps to the beach getting goldfinch and Meadow Pipit on the way.
Got safely to the toilets and in the nick of time as kempy had also developed bowel movements so this turned out to be Jackos highlight for the day, or definately his biggest relief.

So, that done, we headed for the brigg on way we had Sanderling, Redshank, Dunlin, Turnstone and Oystercatchers also a great looking Fulmar blogging around cliffs.

We next headed out onto the Brigg and WOW! so many pot-holes, Boy that thing needs re-surfacing!!
Possible diver on the sea but just too far for bins, so headed out and got Ringed Plover, Knot, Eider and Purple Sandpiper.

IGNORANT TWITCHER!!
Back near the hide a chap in usual green and brown gear etc started to walk away (looked to avoid us) so kempy got him!
He went over and asked if he had seen the bird that he thought was a possible diver? The bloke then proceeded to say...WHAT? A BIRD??? "No a Scuba-Diver ya daft c*nt!" Well f*ck*ng hell did we laff what a loaf of bread he was..(THICK CUT!)
We proceeded toward the ladder where we saw Rock Pipit and 2 extremely tidy Herring gulls.

Surprising how scared we was going up the ladder and cliff (age catching up with us I think).

Back on top of the cliff we were welcomed by the sound of skylarks up in the air and in song, spring is here!
Guillemot, Cormorant and Curlew while on cliff face. Did lap of field where we got Great Tit and Kestrel hunting...

WE LOVE RAPTORS!!!

Back in car and travelled to Bempton, Lapwing and Grey Partridge seen en route.
Went to cliff top to get Kempy the Gannet lifer he wanted...
At the feeders twitched Greenfinch, Reed Bunting and a MASSIVE FAT SCARY RAT!!

Dipped our bogey Short-eared Owl and headed for car.
Called in at Danes Dyke got treated to Treecreeper, Long-Tailed Tit, Goldcrest, House Sparrow and GSW again.
Our total was stuck on 58 so we popped to leven canal on way home and ticked Canada Goose on way, then Song Thrush at the canal, and yet another GSW!
To make it even better and feel more like spring we were treated to a greenfinch in full song which is
Jacko's favourite and got him nice and chuffed,if only i'd heard my favourite! (Bullfinch)
Our total was on 60 a nice round figure, only to see a sparrowhawk been mobbed by a crow to make it a odd number on 61! We scanned the next 2 1/2 miles to try hit our bogey Wagtail or even worse our weekend bogey
Grey Heron but failed miserably! Got back to Jacko's @ 15:30 absolutely knackered!