NORTH EAST
Highlights In association with
A ‘probable’ Brünnich’s
Guillemot was on the sea at Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Following a now familiar pattern, it was Northumberland’s turn to have an adult Red-breasted Goose, with one with Barnacle Geese at Budle Bay.
LINCOLNSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: The Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Frampton Marsh, as did the Glossy Ibis at Deeping Lakes. A Green-winged Teal was at Saltfleet (1st-4th), before relocating to Frampton Marsh (from 10th). Another was at Deeping High Bank (24th-25th).
A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Ruckland (3rd). Three Shore Larks were at Gibraltar Point (to 10th), with another at Alkborough Flats (28th). A Ring-necked Duck was at Messingham Sand Quarry (18th-26th). FRAMPTON MARSH: There were two Scaup (5th-11th), three Short-eared Owls (11th),
NORTH LANCASHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: The Ring-necked Duck at Leighton Moss and Glossy Ibis at Middleton remained. A Long-tailed Duck frequented Aldcliffe Wildfowlers’ Pools (from 23rd). A Green-winged Teal was at the Eric Morecambe Pool (12th).
HEYSHAM BIRD OBSERVATORY: Pale-bellied Brent Geese peaked at just 37. A flock of 14 Canada Geese was unexpected (28th). One Shag remained, with the other leaving (25th). There were Red-throated Divers (11th and 25th), a Kittiwake (5th), five Rock Pipit territories, a few migrant Skylarks (24th) and a Waxwing (3rd). LEIGHTON MOSS: Seven Bitterns were booming. There were four Great White Egrets. Avocets arrived (from 13th). A Waxwing was seen (11th). LUNE ESTUARY: Jeremy Lane had a Russian Whitefront (to 11th) and four Cattle Egrets. Seven Bewick’s Swans were in the Thurnham area. The Conder area had a Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Avocets from mid-month and 4,000 Black-tailed Godwits near the end of the month. A Common Sandpiper was by the Lune railway bridge. Two Russian Whitefronts were on Colloway (5th).
A Yellow-legged Gull was on Pilling Marsh (4th). A Chiffchaff and two Green Sandpiper were in the Stodday area. Two Waxwings were at Glasson (18th). A Brambling was at a Fairfield feeder (14th). A Hen Harrier toured the Lune Estuary (15th). OTHER SITES: Up to four Waxwings were at Lancaster (Forton) M6 services (3rd-10th). A Little Gull was seen on both sides of the M6 just east of Lancaster (22nd-23rd). A Mediterranean Gull flew over
Pine Lake (6th). Pete Marsh
one or two Hen Harriers (13th and 18th), and six Spotted Redshanks (17th). GIBRALTAR POINT: There was a Smew, Black-throated Diver (1st), Red Kites (1st and 19th), four Woodcocks (1st), three Long-tailed Ducks (2nd), 25 Snow Buntings (7th), five Waxwings (2nd), a Hen Harrier (2nd-16th), six Bewick’s Swans (3rd), a Raven (6th), Bearded Tit (6th), three Great White Egrets (10th), three Water Pipits (10th), a Caspian Gull (12th), Bittern (17th), Woodlark (22nd), Little Gull (22nd), two Short-eared Owls (24th) and an early Sandwich Tern (26th).
OTHER SITES: Hen Harriers were at Marston (1st) and Trent Port. A Velvet Scoter was at Cradge Bank (1st-8th), with two at Anderby Creek (20th). Two White-fronted Geese were at East Halton (2nd). Three Smew were at Langtoft (4th). Another remained at Whisby Quarry. A Caspian Gull was at Cress Marsh (5th). Waxwings were at Scunthorpe and Barton-upon-Humber. A Mealy Redpoll was at Doddington (14th-15th).
Fourteen Bewick’s Swans were at Cowbit (17th). A Purple Sandpiper was at Mablethorpe (26th). Six Lapland Buntings and 25 Twite were at Tetney Marsh (27th). Josh Hedley
NORTHUMBERLAND
HIGHLIGHTS: Queen Elizabeth II CP had a Smew (1st-19th) and Red-throated Diver (1st-17th). An American Wigeon was at Grindon Lough (29th). East Chevington had a Smew (4th-5th) and Red-necked Grebe (5th). Up to three Smew and two Russian White-fronted Geese were at Maiden’s Hall Lake (7th-19th). Smew were also at Derwent Reservoir (2nd) and Widdrington Moor Lake (13th).
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea had two Shore Larks and up to 40 Twite (2nd-28th), two Short-eared Owls (21st), a Long-tailed Duck (22nd) and Snow Bunting (23rd). A Red-breasted Goose remained with Barnacle
Geese at Budle Bay (2nd-15th). Greenwinged Teal were at Howdon Wetland (8th-9th) and Caistron (11th). A Black-bellied Dipper was at Cramlington (11th-19th).
EAST YORKSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: The Black-throated Thrush remained at Tophill Low. An American Wigeon was at Bubwith Ings from mid-month.
FLAMBOROUGH: There were two Shore Larks and 68 Snow Buntings (3rd), two Velvet Scoters (13th), a Cetti’s Warbler (25th), Great Northern Diver (27th) and Water Pipit (from 15th).
HORNSEA MERE: There was a Mediterranean Gull (10th). The Smew and Long-tailed Duck remained at the site.
SPURN AREA: Bird of the month was a Pallid Harrier which made several visits (from 11th). The herd of 30 Whooper Swans remained on Easington Straight, including the two mostly black-billed birds. Long Bank held a Black Brant and seven pale-bellied Brents (4th), 1,100 dark-bellied Brent Geese, two Great White Egrets, 530 Black-tailed Godwits, a Spotted Redshank and the wintering Whimbrel.
Around 50 Shovelers were at Kilnsea Wetlands where a Scaup arrived (6th).
Seawatching produced a Great Northern Diver and Velvet Scoter. The wintering Firecrest remained in Easington. There were a couple of Waxwings and three Snow Buntings present.
OTHER SITES: Ten Waxwings were in Bridlington and four in Hull (10th). Grimston had six Shore Larks and 18 Snow Buntings (7th), and an Iceland Gull (from 5th). A Smew remained at Southfield Reservoir, as did the Great Northern Diver at Welton Water and Caspian Gull in Hull. Tophill Low had a Garganey (12th). North Cave Wetlands had a Black-throated Diver (1st), Mediterranean Gull (17th), three Great White Egrets (18th) and two Cranes (20th). A Mediterranean Gull was at Bempton Cliffs (17th). Ian Marshall (01482 627 446) and John Hewitt (07952 293 060)
WEST YORKSHIRE
BRADFORD: Ogden Reservoir had a Gadwall (2th) and Shoveler (6th). A Little Egret was at Bingley Bog (6th). The long-staying Pintail remained at Redcar Tarn (to 9th). A very early Ring Ouzel was at Denton Moor (14th). A Marsh Harrier flew over Queensbury (22nd). A Red Kite was over Lister Park (23rd). Three Ringed Plovers passed through at Warley Moor (23rd). Pinkfeet flew over Bingley (16th), with 200 over Warley Moor (23rd) and three skeins totalling 200 birds over Queensbury/Ogden (25th). Good wader counts included 200 Curlews at Ben Rhydding (2nd) and 95 Oystercatchers at Bolton Bridge (25th). Barn Owl sightings are increasing in the area, with birds seen regularly at Ogden, Oakworth and Denholme Gate. Chris King (Bradford OG)