Hot on the heels of the Iberian Chifchaff at Potteric has come a Savi's Warbler at Old Moor a tick for many recent county listers. Perhaps the most surprising is that Garry Taylor still needed it, the only one of the 'top tenners'. Outside the top ten it been widely received by many and the totals have been updated for those who have let us know they saw it.

A few more people have sent in updates and we have two new additions to the league, both with repectable totals, Mark Reeder, and Mark Spedding, apologies to Mark Spedding we've had his list a while and forgot to include his total, sorry Mark! These new additions take us to the brink of our half century of participants.

Iberian Chiffchaff, Potteric Carr. Mark Reeder

Yorkshires second Iberian Chiffchaff has been proving popular, although it wasn't the tonic that second placed man Dave Hursthouse hoped for as he soon discovered Andy Gibson missed the first one at Spurn in 2004 meaning they both move on one. Most of the other top boys have connected but many of the next rank have yet to tell us if they've been successful.

The Black winged stilt in North Yorks also found it's way onto a few lists including one of the top 5! whilst the Purple Heron at Welwick has been wapped off by a few of the newcomers.

Ian Smith has long been a visitor form Notts but must be a gambling man, he's put his shirt on living in Kilnsea getting him a big list, he joins the league in 26th place

The Hooded Merganser in Teeside has disgraced itself by becoming a drake! As the Fife bird was a female it now seems unlikely it was one and the same, unless it has undergone extensive gender realignment surgery! Andy Gibson will now be able to breathe a sigh of relief after spending all winter trying to discredit the record on various forums and badgering the blogmaster to remove it from here. We can't help thinking it would have be easier to just go see the bird in the first place Andy

The Listers league has been updated for all those listers who have let us know their details, mainly this involves the Black throated Thrush at Newholm nr Whitby which has been entertaining crowds since the start of the new year. Other additions for people came in the form of the Ferruginous Duck at Pugneys and an unseasonal Corncrake for Mick Turton, or was it just reported to us belatedly?

Perhaps the biggest news though is the discovery of only the county's, second twitchable Ring billed Gull at Mirfield which has allowed Andy Gibson to pull clear of long time No1 'BIG' Dave Hursthouse.

Several other highly placed listers have scored with this much sought after bird including Tim Isherwood, although Steve Exley needn't have bothered making the trip as it's already on his list!!!

Two new additions have been sent in with Chris Johnson and James Spencer joining in the fun which may have briefly given 'low listing no hoper' Keith Dickinson cause for optimism but alas he's still bringing up the rear, must try harder Keith!

Ring billed Gull. Dave Pennington

It's been a busy few weeks for Yorkshire listing with Andy Gibson benefiting most adding both Fea's Petrel and Baillon's Crake at Spurn to his tally taking him to joint first place with longtime number one Dave Hursthouse. It didn't take long for Dave to strike back though as he quickly ‘insurance ticked’ the Hooded Merganser at Hemlington. However, other County listers have been less fortunate, although Steve Exley has moved up one place in the top ten having added two species at Spurn (Great Shearwater and the Baillon’s Crake). This brings him level with John Hewitt in equal sixth. The standings have been updated accordingly, please remember to send additions to your list in promptly to help keep things up to date.

With the recently published BBRC report containing an accepted Hooded Merganser from Fife last year interest grew in the bird touring Teeside. Like the Fife bird it seems to have a ‘dodgy leg’ suggesting it is the same individual and thus as it has been accepted previously it could potentially go through as a returning bird. The BBRC report comments for this species almost seem to suggest that unless a bird is an obvious escape then one should make up their own mind. At the moment we have decided to keep this species in italics but expect it to be upgraded if BBRC once more give it the nod. Although it is spending most of it's time north of the Tees it has now been inside the Yorkshire boundary on a couple of occasions and a small number of Yorkshire listers have already made the pilgrimage. No doubt it will prove increasingly popular if it returns.

Hooded Merganser. Hemlington, Garry Taylor