CHEERS THEN BEERS!

What was presumably the Finningley Black-winged Pratincole (last seen in evening of 17th) was relocated at Kilnsea Wetlands next afternoon (18th) and then toured between Kilnsea and Easington becoming a surprise addition to almost every local birders garden list!

Below, Black-winged Pratincole, Kilnsea Wetlands, July 2024 - John Hewitt

 

STILL PRATTING ABOUT?

The Black-winged Pratincole is now finding its way on to many a Yorkshire list since it has become reliable to see in Yorkshire in its new chosen spot at Finningley. You may still have to wait though! Congratulations to Paul Morris who joined the Yorkshire 400 club by adding this bird. Meanwhile, there was more excitement over at Kilnsea Wetlands when a Gull-billed Tern paid a flying visit (less than an hour) on Sunday

Gull-billed Tern, Kilnsea Wetland, July 2024 - John Hewitt

REMEMBER TO UPDATE YOUR LIST

Added the Misson Black-winged Pratincole to your Yorkshire list or maybe need to let us know you saw last years lingering Black Kite which has now been formally accepted. Bring your list up to date now by letting us know. Or, if you require an electronic copy of the recently updated master list please email a request to yorkshirebirding1@gmail.com  and don’t forget to let us know whenever you add a species. Full details can be found by clicking the League Table option.   

Do you have photos of any scarce or rare birds taken in Yorkshire that might be suitable to post on this site? If so they would be very much appreciated. Please submit to  the email address above

 MISSON ACOMPLISHED FOR A FORTUNATE FEW!

June finished with a real blocker for a fortunate few when a Black-winged Pratincole (first seen at Lound, Nottinghamshire on 19^th) was relocated at Misson on 29^th very close to the Notts / Yorkshire border. County border birding is fraught with difficulties, but in short both the bird and the observer must be in Yorkshire before being countable in the Yorkshire Listers League and on the 29^th they weren’t, however, first thing next day those who had rolled the dice were rewarded when both conditions were met. This must have been especially satisfying for local, David Hursthouse who had relocated the bird at Misson the previous day (after what was surely the same bird had been seen brief at Potteric Carr) as it took him firmly back to the top of the Yorkshire Listers League. A few lucky listers (including a car load from Spurn) managed to scramble through in time to see the bird in Yorkshire before it flew back into Notts frustrating those who arrived after, as it remained there all day.

All photos, Alan Clewes

STOP PRESS: This bird has just been relocated at Misson though currently in Notts, we wait with bated breath!

 

Wader buffs didn’t have long to for more excitement when an interesting peep first seen and heard over Kilnsea Wetlands was eventually tracked down, proving to be the Counties fourth ever Least Sandpiper. It hung around for a few hours before flying off south with a Dunlin and hasn’t been seen since.

Least Sandpier, Kilnsea Wetlands, July 24 - John Hewitt

BLACK KITE DELIGHT

The great news for most Yorkshire listers is that last spring’s lingering Black Kite first seen in the Helmsey area on 17^th April has now been officially accepted by YNURC and thus is now deemed countable for the purpose of the Yorkshire Listers League. IF YOU SAW THIS BIRD AND IT NEEDS ADDING TO YOUR TALLY PLEASE LET US KNOW EVEN IF YOU HAVE DONE SO PREVIOUSLY SO WE CAN CHECK IT HAS BEEN ADDED FOR YOU.

 

Black Kite, North Yorkshire, April 23 - Rich Willison

Meanwhile good news looks to be imminent for those who caught up with last autumns Red-headed Bunting at Flamborough. The species has now been accepted onto category A of the British list following the sighting of a first-winter bird on Out Skerries, Shetland from 2^nd – 8^th October 2010. Previously, records in the UK were frequent and generally assumed escapees but since the cessation of legal importation of this species at the turn of the century there have been just three other UK sightings and presumably the location, date and age of the Shetland bird were the key factors in finally taking it onto Category A of the official British list. We will of course still have to wait for official acceptance of the Flamborough bird but as the record pretty much mirrors the Skerries bird we are certainly expecting acceptance as a wild bird soon. Watch this space!

 Red-headed Bunting, Flamborough, Oct 23 - Paul Coombes

Early May and finally an arrival of rare and scarce birds on the East Coast including a presumed Siberian Stonechat (singing male) and this unquestionable male Collared Flycatcher trapped in Kilnsea and remaining for two days.

Collared Flycatcher, Kilnsea, May 24 - John Hewitt

 

Spotted Flycatcher, Kilnsea, 15th November 23, a very late bird! - John Hewitt

Arctic Redpoll, Kilnsea, October 23 - Ian Smith

Hen Harrier, Kilnsea, November 23, - John Hewitt A good autumn for this species along the Humber

Red-flanked Bluetail, Kilnsea, October 23 - Ian Smith

Caspian Stonechat, Hunley Hall, Brotton, October 23 - Ian Smith