NORTH EAST
Highlights
All bird news in the region was overshadowed by the (presumed) re-appearance of the Minsmere Purple Gallinule at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire, appearing on 30th. The bird was not seen as closely as when at Minsmere, but appeared to be the same individual. It was still present to mid September at least.
NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Western Swamphen was at Alkborough Flats (from 30th). A Squacco Heron was at Barton Pits (5th-9th). ALKBOROUGH FLATS: Maxima included 700 Teal, 133 Shovelers, 18 Spoonbills, 1,100 Avocets, eight Little Ringed Plovers, five Knot, four Curlew Sandpipers, seven Little Stints, 67 Ruff, 205 Black-tailed Godwits, 27 Spotted Redshanks, 120 Redshanks, 14 Greenshanks, six Green Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper (5th) and seven Common Sandpipers. There was an Osprey (23rd), two Hobbies, two Peregrines, 40 Water Rails, 60 Yellow Wagtails, two Whinchats and a Spotted Flycatcher. BARTON: Highlights included Garganey (5th), Scaup, Goldeneye, 121 Common Scoters, Bittern (6th), Red Kite (16th), 50 Ringed Plovers, 750 Golden Plovers, five Little Stints, nine Curlew Sandpipers, 130 Dunlin, two Ruff, nine Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank (28th), 7,000 Sand Martins roosting (10th), 30 Yellow Wagtails, Whinchat (10th) and Redstart (17th). DONNA NOOK-PYES HALL: Maxima included four Fulmars, two Manx Shearwaters, three Yellow-legged Gulls, seven Med Gulls, 83 Sandwich Terns, 1,630 Common Terns, 10 Arctic Terns, four Little Terns, two Black Terns, seven Arctic Skuas, two Razorbills, 93 Whimbrels, 10 Greenshanks, two Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpiper (28th), two Little Stints and six Curlew Sandpipers. Migrants included Cuckoo (2nd), Green Woodpecker (17th), 20 Willow Warblers (25th), three Redstarts, four Whinchats, Stonechat (17th-18th), four Wheatears, four Spotted Flycatchers (23rd) and six Pied Flycatchers (25th). There were two Garganeys (10th), with singles (19th & 25th), 130 Common Scoters (15th), three Spoonbills(25th-31st), 53 Little Egrets, two Merlins, Ospreys (2nd & 15th-26th), two Marsh Harriers, two Peregrines and two Water Rails. OTHER SITES: Four Ruddy Shelducks were on Whitton Sand. There were 1,200 Teal and 2,300 Avocets at Read’s Island. Two Garganey were at East Halton Pits (27th), 4,800 Black-tailed Godwits at North Killingholme Pits and 135 Knot at Goxhill Haven. A Pied Flycatcher and seven Spotted Flycatchers in Laughton Forest (24th) was the first record there. Graham Catley with Steve Lorand SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: Last month’s White-rumped Sandpiper remained at Frampton (to 6th). A Grey Phalarope was there (15th), with Wryneck (28th) and Red-backed Shrike (22nd). An incredible run of Curlew Sandpipers saw a peak of 258 (23rd). A Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Reservoir (1st-9th) was also at Frampton.
FRAMPTON MARSH: Little Stints peaked at 40 (28th). There were 60 Ruff, 40 Snipe, 3,000 Black-tailed Godwits, four Spotted Redshank, eight Greenshanks, 20 Green Sandpipers and Wood Sandpiper. Spoonbills peaked at four (17th). Garganeys were seen (7th & 26th). Seven Turtle Doves were seen (22nd), with singles throughout. A Short-eared Owl was regular. Sixty Yellow Wagtails were regular. There were two Redstarts, a Whinchat, three Wheatears and a Pied Flycatcher (21st), with similar numbers (23rd), Pied Flycatcher (23rd) and Spotted Flycatcher (24th). FREISTON SHORE: Curlew Sandpipers peaked at 32 and Little Stints at three (21st). Spotted Redshanks were seen (11th & 16th), with 11 Greenshanks (17th). Offshore, there was a Little Gull and Great Skua (16th), with four Black Terns (17th). Toby Collett (Toby.collett@rspb.org.uk)
NORTHUMBERLAND NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND:
Ospreys flew over Budle Bay (3rd), Low Newton (17th) and Yeavering Bell (29th). Another was on Holy Island (26th & 28th). Little Stints included three at Low Newton (4th-27th). Wood Sandpipers were at Charlton Mires (4th), Low Newton (15th) and The Farne Islands (29th). A Black Redstart was at Howick (21st). Two Spotted Redshanks were in Budle Bay (14th-27th). Eight Curlew Sandpipers were at Berwick (21st) with 11 at Boulmer (26th), three at Low Newton (18th-28th), two in Budle Bay (17th) and two on Holy Island (20th). A Barred Warbler was on Holy Island (20th). Other Farne highlights included Long-eared Owl (27th), and Wryneck, Wood Warbler and Hen Harrier (28th). Jonathan Farooqi ( jonathanfarooqi@gmail.com)
EAST YORKSHIRE
SPURN AREA: A Greenish Warbler was at Chalk Bank (18th) but the most memorable event was the arrival of Willow Warblers (22nd), with at least 350; the true figure was likely double this. Red Kites were regular, including three (8th) and at least two Ospreys passed. A Bittern was on Canal Scrape (12th). A good selection of waders in the Kilnsea Wetlands area included up to 23 Curlew Sandpipers, 22 Greenshank, four Wood Sandpipers, six Little Stints and six Little Ringed Plovers (a Spurn record). A Dotterel flew south (28th); sea passage was minimal, with two Sabine’s Gulls (13th & 24th). Tern movement was patchy, with 7,400 Common and 50 Arctics (12th). Easterlies mid-month brought 37 Redstarts, 28 Spotted and 22 Pied Flycatchers, three Icterine and two Barred Warblers, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck and Ortolan Bunting. John Hewitt
NORTH YORKSHIRE
SCARBOROUGH: A Storm Petrel was ringed at Long Nab (5th), where two Ravens flew over (18th). A Pomarine Skua there (28th) was the first of autumn. Ospreys were at Ellerburn Trout Farm (6th and 16th). A Garganey was an unusual fly-by on a seawatch at Marine Drive (3rd). Several Yellow-legged Gulls were reported there and a Caspian Gull flew past (25th). Several Sooty Shearwaters were seen, with Balearic Shearwaters (25th and 27th). Nick Addey (www.scarboroughbirding.co.uk)
SOUTH YORKSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: The Glossy Ibis from July was still at Potteric Carr (1st-7th), with one at Austerfield (8th). A Honey Buzzard flew south over Edderthorpe Flash (21st) and a Baird’s Sandpiper was at Hatfield Moors (30th-31st). OLD MOOR AREA: A Little Stint (5th-9th) was the first for two years, Little Egrets built up to a new record of 37 roosting (9th). A Wood Sandpiper showed (11th & 16th-17th), with 13 Curlew Sandpipers (19th) and a Spotted Redshank (20th-24th). Two Cetti’s Warblers were present (14th) with a Black-necked Grebe on the Mere (24th) and a Grey Plover (31st). Marsh Harriers were present all month with a maximum of two (24th). Ospreys were seen over Bolton Ings (6th) and one on the 16th. OTHER SITES: An adult and a juvenile Caspian Gull were at Ingbirchworth (1st) and were seen on and off all month. Marsh Harriers were at Adwick Washland (5th & 10th) and at Edderthorpe Flash (9th & 21st, with two, 19th). Waders at Edderthorpe included Little Stint (17th), three Turnstones (18th) and Knot (21st), with four Curlew Sandpipers at Adwick (19th). A maximum of four Garganey were also at Edderthorpe (16th) with a Red Kite over Cudworth and Adwick (23rd). Ospreys were over Harden (21st), Broomhead Reservoir (24th), Ewden Cabin (29th & 30th) and Denaby Ings (31st). An Osprey was at Hadfield Moors (9th-23rd). Hadfield Moors had up to seven Curlew Sandpipers (20th), four Wood Sandpipers (23rd) and four Little Stints (29th). Nigel Smith – nigelsmith994@gmail.com or 07846684912, twitter @Barnsleybsg
WEST YORKSHIRE
BRADFORD: There were three Common Scoters (7th), Black-tailed Godwit (17th), three Turnstones (19th), Ruff and two Little Ringed Plovers (20th), and two Whimbrels and Wigeon (28th), all at Oxenhope Reservoir. Two Common Scoters were at Silsden (12th). A Black-tailed Godwit (20th) and two Greenshanks (30th) were at John O’gaunts. Ospreys flew over Keighley Moor (26th) and Oxenhope (28th). Six Yellow-legged Gulls were at Oxenhope Reservoir, plus the occasional Med Gull. A Med Gull was at Redcar Tarn (27th). A Lesser Whitethroat was at Pennythorn Hill (10th). A Grasshopper Warbler was near Glovershaw (13th), with Wheatears, Redstarts and Whinchats there from mid-month. Chris King