NORTH EAST
Highlights
During the ‘lockdown’ period (23rd) an intriguing report of a vulture species (possibly a Griffon Vulture) came from Broomfleet, East Yorkshire. Much more certain was the Black-throated Thrush, which remained at Grimsby Institute, Lincolnshire.
LINCOLNSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: The Black-throated Thrush remained in Grimsby, with a Glaucous Gull there (22nd). Two Tundra Bean Geese (4th) and 97 Water Pipits (1st) were at Gibraltar Point. Also there was a Firecrest (17th), with others at Anderby Creek (19th) and Freiston Shore (12th). A Cattle Egret was at Short Ferry near Fiskerton (7th). Two Cranes were still at Sandtoft (19th). A Rough-legged Buzzard ranged between Deeping High Bank and Deeping St Nicholas (21st-23rd).
FRAMPTON MARSH: Highlights included three Hen Harriers, a Merlin, 30 Ruff, a Chiffchaff (3rd), two Spotted Redshanks (5th), 150 Avocets, a Water Pipit (14th), Mediterranean Gull (15th) and four Cetti’s Warblers.
GIBRALTAR POINT: Highlights included a Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, 18 Avocets, 36 Corn Buntings, a Barnacle Goose (4th), Mediterranean Gull (7th-17th), two Cetti’s Warblers, four Red Kites, a Jack Snipe (11th), Woodlarks (11th and 17th), a Bearded Tit (12th), Hooded Crow (16th), two Firecrests (17th), a Crossbill (17th), Great White Egret (19th) and Spotted Redshank (20th).
OTHER SITES: A Hooded Crow was at Anderby (2nd), with a Whimbrel there (10th). Cleethorpes CP held a Waxwing (5th-7th), with a Snow Bunting nearby (7th). A Great White Egret was at Fiskerton Fen. Four Water Pipits were at East Halton Skitter (8th-15th), with the first Wheatear there (15th) and a Black Redstart (16th). Another Black Redstart was at Sutton-on-Sea (25th). The first Sand Martin was at Deeping Lakes (12th). A presumed Siberian Chiffchaff was at Wolla Bank (13th). Four Black-necked Grebe were at Toft Newton Reservoir. Josh Hedley
NORTHUMBERLAND
BERWICK: Cocklawburn had 560 Pink-footed Geese at (4th), 46 Linnets (13th) and a Ring Ouzel (23rd). Sixty-two Common Scoters were off Saltpan Rocks (4th). Ring-necked Parakeets were seen at Ord Country Park (5th) and Castle Hills Wood (26th). There were 88 Whooper Swans at Loanend, Horncliffe (8th). A Red Kite was at Chain Bridge, Horncliffe (18th). Ord Manor had 56 Fieldfares (22nd) and 80 Chaffinches (29th). Malcolm Hutcheson, Berwick Wildlife Group
EAST YORKSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A White-tailed Eagle flew over Melbourne (26th). The Green-winged Teal remained at North Cave Wetlands, with another at Bubwith Ings (16th).
FLAMBOROUGH: There was a Richard’s Pipit (from 3rd), two Cranes (11th), a Cetti’s Warbler (20th-22nd), Mediterranean Gull (25th), three Firecrests (26th), a Long-eared Owl (27th), Great White Egret (30th) and 20 Snow Buntings.
HORNSEA MERE: There were two Little Egrets and a Mediterranean Gull (6th), two Red-crested Pochards (7th) and a Goshawk (20th). The Smew and two Long-tailed Ducks remained.
SPURN: A good northerly passage of Pink-footed Geese peaked at 2,605 (3rd). The 800 dark-bellied Brent Geese on the Humber were joined by several pale-bellied birds and two Black Brants. The Whooper Swans at Easington Straight peaked at 19 and were then joined by a Bewick’s Swan (from 21st). The two Scaup remained at Beacon Ponds where a Hen Harrier continued to visit. First dates for migrants included Wheatear (14th), Ring Ouzel (17th), Swallow (25th), Little Ringed Plover and Sand Martin (26th) and Garganey (27th). There was also a decent southerly passage of Chaffinches (17th). Grounded migrants included four Back Redstarts and three Firecrests.
OTHER SITES: North Cave Wetlands had a Tundra Bean Goose, two Mediterranean Gulls and 11 Little Egrets. The Firecrest was still at Holmpton, where four Shore Larks were found. Withernsea had two Firecrests (8th) and a
Snow Bunting 2nd). Eighteen Waxwings were in Hessle (8th), with others over Swinefleet (14th) and Stone Creek (21st). A Glaucous Gull flew over Foston-on-the-Wolds (25th). Spoonbills were over Hessle and at Blacktoft Sands (31st).
WEST YORKSHIRE
BRADFORD: A large passage of Whooper Swans included 32 at Knotford Nook (1st), 20 at Ogden (2nd), 31 at Keighley Reservoir (6th), 12 over Oakworth and 40 at Norwood Edge (14th), 60 at Shipley (20th) and 92 over St Ives (22nd). Pink-footed Geese included 200 over Apperley Bridge (4th) and 40 over Guiseley (14th). The Caspian Gull and Iceland Gull remained at Redcar Tarn.
There were 160 Oystercatchers at Thruscross, a Black-tailed Godwit at Silsden (11th), Yellow-legged Gull at Cullingworth (14th), Willow Tit at Ben Rhydding (15th) and seven Ring Ouzels at Fly Flatts from mid-month. First dates were a Chiffchaff at Esholt (6th), four Wheatears at Fly Flatts (17th), a Swallow at Hazelwood (24th) and seven Sand Martins at Bolton Bridge (26th).
LOWER AIRE VALLEY: Parties of Whooper Swans moved through on seven days, totalling over 230 birds, maximum 68 (21st). The first Black-necked Grebe appeared (12th). Black-tailed Godwits peaked at 20 (13th). A Knot
was present (9th and 13th-19th). There were two Grey Plovers (9th). An early (or wintering) Common Sandpiper was at Woodlesford (6th). Avocets returned (11th).
A Spoonbill dropped in (15th). An Iceland Gull was seen intermittently (2nd-22nd), with a Mediterranean Gull (from 17th). Five Waxwings were at the Visitor Centre (16th). A Rock Pipit was near Bowers Lake (5th) with a Scandinavianrace bird in the same area (6th-7th). The Willow Tit survey results were disappointing, with only about half the number of birds found as last year. Chris King (Bradford OG) and Paul Morris