Sunday 5th May

Today's big excitement was a Woodchat Shrike, found late in the afternoon in a hedge near Long Nab. Other highlights from Long Nab in the morning included 23 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Eiders, a Great Skua, 46 Whimbrel, 48 Knot, 3 Dunlin, a Golden Plover and 10 Turnstones, all heading north. An Arctic Tern and a second Great Skua were also seen passing by northwards later in the day. Both a Great Egret and a Little Egret were spotted together at Seamer Mead, plus at least 10 Whimbrel and a male Yellow Wagtail. 4 Whimbrel were also seen at Star Carr, and a Marsh Harrier flew north west over Seamer Tip Pool. Large numbers of Sand Martins were feeding over Wykeham South Lake, along with 2 Swifts, 6 House Martins and an Arctic Tern. Also seen at the lake were 6 Yellow Wagtails, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Egyptian Geese, 610 Herring Gulls, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Harwood Dale Lake had a drake Goosander and 2 Mandarins. At New May Beck, at the south end of Sneaton Low Moor, there was a Cuckoo and a displaying Curlew, and 2 Redstarts were singing in Helwath Wood.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190505

Woodchat Shrike - Nick Addey

Swallow - Mark Hepples