Birds, birds, birds................

Another lively day for the County, with two quality new birds being found; a male Citrine Wagtail seen briefly by the Warren at Spurn before flying off (also shed-loads of Blue-headed Wags' there too) and a first-summer drake Lesser Scaup identified at Pugneys CP this evening and still late evening on the fishing lake. Meanwhile, the apparent Iberian Chiff' is still at Flamborough.

A cold day with northerly winds. A Red-rumped Swallow flew south at Spurn this afternoon where the 'Black Brant' was again seen early morning. The Iberian Chiffchaff remains at Flamborough Head.

The Rock Thrush at Kilnsea today - Justin Carr

The Rock Thrush remained in Kilnsea this afternoon visiting Sandy Beaches as well as feeding around Borrow Pits. Many lucky observers enjoyed the added bonus of a Caspian Tern which flew northwest over the Humber at about 5.30pm. Meanwhile, at Flamborough an Iberian Chiffchaff was identified, and was still along the road towards Old Fall steps this evening.

HOT NEWS

Rock Thrush flew north at Spurn late morning (Adam Hutt).

White Wagtail at Orgreave today - Ron Marshall

The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Tophill Low today and the Black Brant was again at Kilnsea Wetlands.For the second day running a 2nd year Iceland Gull was at Potteric Carr. A/the Alpine Swift was at Flamborough this morning. Good numbers of Arctic Tern were seen throughout the county today and gatherings of wagtails around the waters included good counts of White and a number of Blue-headed.

Blue-headed Wagtail at Orgreave today - Ron Marshall

The Baikal Teal did a bunk Monday night adding strength to its credentials of being  'the real deal'.

Chris Harris

Chris Harris

There was also this pretty Firecrest at North Landing, one of a good few in the County currently.

Rich Willison

The last few days have seen sightings of Alpine Swift around Bridlington, Flamborough, Filey and Scarborough. Just how many birds are involved is not clear. Maybe the guys at Spurn will count them when they start moving on? This interesting 'Channel type Wagtail' has been at North Cave recently.

Mike Ashforth

Drake Baikal Teal, Northcliff Marsh, Flamborough - Justin Carr. Present until dusk today (Monday 15th April).

BAIKAL TEAL

A drake Baikal Teal is at Flamborough this morning, currently (12.20) on North Marsh.

Wot no spring?

Its been a quiet start to 2013 for the Yorkshire lister with very little quality birds turning up. And of the few things that did arrive, many of them courted controversy, their identification being in hot debate.

The 'Kumlien's' type Gull at Barmston - Justin Carr. Fighting nearly broke out during heated debate of the identification of this bird.

There were a few sub-rarities around to give a bit of incentive to go out such as this Great Grey Shrike:

Great Grey Shrike at Market Weighton in January - Mike Ashforth

And Anglers CP. continued in a rich vein of form:

This Great Northern Diver visited Wintersett, Anglers CP during February - Ron Marshall.  

And of course the Med' Gulls were always available at Holbeck:

One of at least eight Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck - Mike Ashforth.

Moving into March, a Black Brant obliged at Kilnsea:

'Black Brant' (centre) at Kilnsea - Rich Willison

And you could tie it in with the lemmings of Withernsea - is it really that bad?

Snow Buntings or Lemmings? - Rich Willison

Spring was pretty much on hold with the biting cold weather but the first Little Ringed Plovers are beginning to filter in:

LRP displaying at North Cave Wetlands - Rich Willison

A few eyebrows were raised with the announcement of a possible 'African Chaffinch' at Hatfield Moors. The real deal? Blue flanks apparently suggests not.

The mooted possible 'African Chaffinch' at Hatfield - Justin Carr

This thought 'Continental Stonechat' at Barmston looked a better bet:

'Continental Stonechat' at Barmston at Easter - Justin Carr