NORTH EAST
Highlights
It is always a sensational moment when a Black-browed Albatross turns up. And this year’s visitor to Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire (almost certainly the returning adult from previous years) proved one of the most obliging ever of its kind, enjoying lengthy rests and roosts on the cliffs and giving amazing fly-pasts for the openmouthed crowds!
LINCOLNSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: Lincolnshire’s first Baillon’s Crake was at Alkborough Flats (5th-7th). A Caspian Tern was at Barton-upon-Humber (19th), with presumably the same bird at Baston Pits (20th-21st). Another (identified by leg-rings) was at Barton-upon-Humber (25th-29th).
FRAMPTON MARSH: Highlights included two Little Gulls (5th), a Black-necked Grebe (2nd), two Short-eared Owls (5th), a Little Stint (8th), Osprey (11th), Spotted Redshank (14th-17th), White-tailed Eagle (16th), Ruddy Shelduck (from 26th), 11 Spoonbills (26th-27th) and a Turtle Dove (29th).
GIBRALTAR POINT: Highlights included six Little Gulls (1st), a Bee-eater (2nd), Marsh Warbler (2nd), Firecrest (2nd), Rose-coloured Starling (3rd-4th), Great White Egrets (8th & 29th), a Short-eared Owl (8th & 14th), Turtle Dove (11th), 12 Spoonbills (11th), a Garganey (15th), Grasshopper Warbler (23rd) and Cetti’s Warbler (23rd).
OTHER SITES: Rose-coloured Starlings were at Holbeach (1st), Huttoft Marsh (3rd) and Long Sutton (23rd). A Honey Buzzard flew over Skegness (6th). Two Bee-eaters were in Lincoln (8th), with two at Tetney Lock (27th). A Glossy Ibis was at Alkborough Flats (13th). It, or another, was at Branston Island (19th-28th), with two Cranes there (19th-28th). A Marsh Warbler was at Theddlethorpe (17th).
A Red-footed Falcon flew past Huttoft Car Terrace (23rd). A Little Tern was at Donington on Bain (2nd). A White-fronted Goose was at Deeping Lakes (29th). Quails were at Scopwick, Swanpool, Donington on Bain, Withcall, Sturton by Stow, Grantham and Tetney Lock. A Serin was in a North Hykeham garden (27th). Josh Hedley
NORTHUMBERLAND
HIGHLIGHTS: A Great Reed Warbler sang at East Chevington NWT (4th-18th), and a Pacific Swift was there (12th). It or another Pacific Swift was at High Hauxley (12th). An adult Red-necked Stint was at Blyth (5th-8th).
BERWICK: Cocklawburn had a Stonechat and three pairs of Sedge Warblers (1st), 76 Eiders, two Ringed Plovers and two Oystercatchers (15th), and a Cuckoo (28th). The Saltpan Rocks there had six Arctic Terns and four Shags (1st), and a Manx Shearwater, Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, 90 Kittiwakes and 40 Guillemots past in an hour (23rd). Union Bridge, Berwick, had 18 pairs of Herring Gulls and two pairs of Fulmars nesting (15th).
Yarrow Slake had 310 Canada Geese and 72
Mute Swans (17th), and two Little Egrets, nine Herons, 17 Curlews and 14 Lapwings (18th). Sixteen Swifts were at Billylaw, Ord Moor (20th). There were 42 Goosanders at Calot Shad (21st), with 264 Kittiwakes in the roost and the first eight returning Oystercatchers (27th). A Rose-coloured Starling was in a Tweedmouth garden (19th). Malcolm Hutcheson, Berwick Wildlife Group
EAST YORKSHIRE
SPURN: A Purple Heron toured the area (6th). Two Montagu’s Harriers, three Hobbies and five Bee-eaters were seen early in the month. A Red-footed Falcon was at Easington (5th). A Long-tailed Skua flew over (2nd) when an Icterine Warbler was at The Point. Around ten Rose-coloured Starlings were logged. A Red-backed Shrike was along the Canal (15th).
A Golden Oriole was seen (6th-7th), when there were also two Marsh Warblers and two Common Rosefinches. Grey-headed Wagtails were seen (2nd and 22nd). A Nightjar flew around Church Field (28th). An Icterine Warbler was at Chapel Cottage (29th). John Hewitt (07952 293 060)
WEST YORKSHIRE
BRADFORD: A Little Ringed Plover was at Embsay (11th). Two Common Scoters were at Fly Flatts (14th), with a Marsh Harrier there (26th). A Yellow-legged Gull was at Redcar Tarn (27th). A Lesser Whitethroat was at Low Moor (28th). Merlins were at Glovershaw (1st) and Fly Flatts (4th). Short-eared Owls were at Whetstone Gate (5th) and Fly Flatts (19th). Nightjars were at three locations. Two Pied Flycatchers were at Gill Beck (4th). Cuckoos were at Glovershaw (1st), Haworth (6th), Bailden (8th) and Leeshaw (three on 10th). Three Tree Pipits and six Crossbills were at Timble Ings (16th).
LOWER AIRE VALLEY: A Honey Buzzard over the Rabbit Warren (3rd), was the first since 2004 and just the fifth record. A Red-breasted Merganser on the Balance Reservoir (27th) was the first for five years. The two Egyptian Geese remained at Astley Lake. There were 350 Gadwall (25th). Spoonbills were seen on just three days. There were two Little Egrets, an Avocet (4th), Sanderling (4th) and Black-tailed Godwit (4th-15th). A Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover were at Skelton Lake.
There was a Marsh Harrier (30th), with Hobbies and Peregrines on just a couple of days. A Short-eared Owl (1st-2nd) was unseasonal. A Nuthatch in the Oil Depot compound was unusual (7th). An early Siskin flew over (26th). Chris King (Bradford OG) and Paul Morris