Bird Watching (UK)

NORTH EAST

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LINCOLNSHI­RE

HIGHLIGHTS: The White-tailed Lapwing remained at East Halton. A Red- breasted Goose at Frampton Marsh (2nd) relocated to Gibraltar Point (10th-19th) and RAF Wainfleet (21st). The Ring- necked Duck remained at Langtoft. Cranes flew over Riseholme (10th) and Castle Bytham (28th). A Glossy Ibis flew over Anderby Marsh and Gibraltar Point (19th), with probably the same bird at Chapel Six Marshes (21st-23rd). An American Wigeon was at Frampton Marsh (from 26th). A Rough- legged Buzzard was at Fulletby (28th).

FRAMPTON MARSH: Highlights included two Little Stints, two Hen Harriers (3rd), three Spotted Redshanks, a Short- eared Owl (8th), Bittern (17th), Long-tailed Duck (27th) and Spoonbill (28th).

GIBRALTAR POINT: Highlights included 35 Snow Buntings (19th), two Merlins (8th), two Velvet Scoters (1st), two Lapland Buntings (1st), a Great Northern Diver (3rd), Short- eared Owl (3rd), two Hen Harriers (10th), Puffins (6th and 22nd), six Bearded Tits (11th), a Red- necked Grebe (13th and 19th), Black-throated Divers (14th and 20th), 28 Little Gulls (17th), a Slavonian Grebe (17th and 19th), Woodlark (25th) and ten Water Pipits (28th).

OTHER SITES: Cattle Egrets were at Tongue End (2nd-19th), Baston Fen (2nd-19th), Messingham (4th-26th), and East Halton (to 16th). Baston Pits had a Kittiwake (24th). Mablethorp­e had a Caspian Gull (2nd) and Purple Sandpiper (to 23rd). Two Bewick’s Swans were at Deeping High Bank (8th-19th), with four at Nocton Fen (8th). A Black Redstart was at RAF Digby (11th). Three Water Pipits were at Saltfleetb­y (28th). Josh Hedley

NORTHUMBER­LAND

HIGHLIGHTS: There were four Taiga Bean Geese at Druridge Bay CP (1st). Up to three Shore Larks were on Holy Island (4th-27th), with a Lapland Bunting there (27th). Stag Rocks, Bamburgh had a White- billed Diver (9th and 11th-28th), four Long-tailed Ducks, and a Little Gull (27th). A White- billed Diver was at Cocklawbur­n Beach (25th). Colt Crag Reservoir had a Green-winged

Teal (10th-11th). A Black Scoter was at Berwick- upon-Tweed (11th-27th). Big Waters had an American Wigeon (21st-28th) and Iceland Gull. A Grey Phalarope was at Dunstanbur­gh Castle (25th-28th).

EAST YORKSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: The Baikal Teal was seen intermitte­ntly at Beverley Swinemoor.

FLAMBOROUG­H: There was a Glaucous Gull (2nd), Velvet Scoter (3rd), Mediterran­ean Gull (13th) and Great Northern Diver (15th). A Siberian Chiffchaff was wintering.

HORNSEA MERE: There were two Little Egrets, a Black- necked Grebe and Long-tailed Duck throughout, with a Mediterran­ean Gull (12th).

SPURN: The 600 dark- bellied Brent Geese were accompanie­d by six pale- bellied birds and a Black Brant, though the Brant spent most of its time at Skeffling. There were ten Barnacle Geese (24th). The northerly movement of Pinkfeet gathered pace late in the month, with over 3,000 some days. A White-fronted Goose was on Easington Straight (10th). The first Gadwall returned to Kilnsea Wetlands (4th). There were 266 Pintails on the Humber.

Two Red Kites passed through. A Hen Harrier was seen (10th). Strong winds produced 628 Red-throated Divers, several Great Northern Divers, 415 Razorbills, a Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, and Iceland Gull (14th). A Lapland Bunting flew over (8th). The 40 Snow Buntings remained. There were three Siberian Chiffchaff­s and a Black Redstart at Easington.

OTHER SITES: A Spoonbill was at Blacktoft Sands (19th). Five Little Egrets were near Withernwic­k (23rd). North Cave Wetlands had a Great White Egret (28th) and six Little Egrets. Three Shore Larks and 40 Lapland Buntings were at Buckton. Six Twite were near Broomfleet mid- month. Ian Marshall (01482 627 446) and John Hewitt (07952 293 060)

WEST YORKSHIRE

BRADFORD: A Cetti’s Warbler was at Keighley (4th). A Yellow- legged Gull was at Redcar Tarn (6th). Little Egrets were at Riddlesden (20th) and Keighley (24th). Pinkfeet included 100 over Bingley (7th), 60 at Hazelwood (14th), 56 over Fly Flatts Reservoir (15th) and another 80 over Bingley (26th). One was with Greylags at Leeshaw (16th). Seventy Oystercatc­hers were at Bolton Abbey (23rd), with three Ringed Plovers at Fly Flatts Reservoir late in the month. The Water Rail remained at the Keighley Reserve.

LOWER AIRE VALLEY: About 600 Pinkfeet moved through on seven days. The Black- necked Grebe remained on the Western reedbed, before moving onto the Main Lake. The Great White Egret remained to mid- month. A Spoonbill dropped in (11th). The two Ruff were regular. There were 46 Snipe at Skelton Lake. Kittiwakes were at Astley Lake (3rd) and on the Main Lake (22nd).

A Merlin flew over (1st), as did a Hen Harrier at Lemonroyd (9th). A Water Pipit was at Lemonroyd and two flew over The Crossroads. Five Bramblings were off Astley Lane (to 9th), with one in Methley Copse (19th). Two Twite were on the Lagoon Islands (19th). Chris King (Bradford OG) and Paul Morris

 ?? ?? ‘Leucistic’ Brent Goose, Kilnsea Wetlands, East Yorkshire, February
‘Leucistic’ Brent Goose, Kilnsea Wetlands, East Yorkshire, February
 ?? ?? Mediterran­ean Gulls, Scarboroug­h, North Yorkshire, February
Mediterran­ean Gulls, Scarboroug­h, North Yorkshire, February
 ?? ?? Cattle Egret, Barton on Humber, Lincolnshi­re, 1 March
Cattle Egret, Barton on Humber, Lincolnshi­re, 1 March
 ?? ?? Spoonbill, Alkborough, Lincolnshi­re, February
Spoonbill, Alkborough, Lincolnshi­re, February

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