June 2014 Bird Sightings Round-up

Wed 2nd Jul, 2014

It may have been a quiet month overall, but June still threw two national rarities into the mix. A Blyth's Reed Warbler trapped and ringed at Spurn on 6th – the observatory's fifth ever (and third in spring) – continued a remarkable seasonal influx of the species across the UK, but went to ground upon release and managed to avoid relocation. At the other end of the coast, a Black Stork was reported flying south over Newby (Scarborough) on 10th – but, to the frustration of a long line of coastal birders, not until much too late.

The beginning of the month provided a welcome hangover of lingering scarcities, with a Golden Oriole and a Red-breasted Flycatcher remaining at Sammy's Point and an Icterine Warbler at Spurn, while a red male Common Rosefinch tantalised at North Landing, Flamborough, all on the first day of the month.

More spring latecomers included a Red-backed Shrike at Spurn on 9th and a Rosefinch there the following day, a new Golden Oriole at Sammy's Point on 8th, and a Hoopoe at a private site in Hull on 18th. One of the more surprising flashes of seasonal exotica came in the form of two summer-plumage and understandably popular male Long-tailed Ducks, which spent the best part of a week in Filey Bay from 10th. 

Ospreys went through Filey, Spurn and Wykeham, the latter site sensationally hosting a repeat performance from the White-tailed Eagle seen earlier in the year – surely at large in the forests and perhaps due for another cameo sometime soon? Away from the forests, Honey-buzzards graced Flamborough and a coastal location to the north, while a Black Kite sneaked through the former location on 22nd. 

Scarce waders were hard to come by, although a fly-by Stone-curlew at Flamborough on 10th must have been a pleasant surprise; a little more expected was the Little Stint at Spurn on 5th. Crossbills moved through Filey, Spurn and Sammy's Point, while a Great White Egret played hard to get at Spurn on 20th. A small scattering of Quail kept ears pricked, although not to quite the extent of the Corncrake calling from a grass field on Flamborough Headland on 29th and 30th, ending the month on a welcome high.

Mark James Pearson