Long-toed Stint at RSPB St. Aidan's - the standout rare bird of the moment

The autumn bird migration scene is well and truly underway (has been since August to be fair!), and both familiar and more unusual feathered migrants have been keeping birdwatchers busy across Yorkshire. 

Yesterday (13/10/21) there was a significant arrival of Redwings with many 1,000's recorded coming in off the sea at Flamborough and Spurn. Most flew straight over in the fine weather providing many high counts inland too - even I had appx. 400 in 2hrs over Fangfoss in E.Yorks. 

Pink Footed Geese have been arriving in their 1,000's too with many skeins passing overhead, nothing much stops them on their southward journeys, and there's been a marked increase in Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinch and other finches in the hedgerows around my way along with the odd Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

  

  

As far as Yorkshire rarities are concerned, the stand out bird over the last week or so has to be the Long-Toed Stint that turned up at RSPB St Aidan's on the 8/10/21 - only the 5th ever record in the UK. Not the most striking of birds maybe but that didn't stop an estimated 2,000 twitchers from all over the country descending upon the nature park on day one! This tiny wading bird breeds in Northern Russia and normally winters in S.E. Asia & Australia, so well off course. 

Other noteworthy scarce birds over the last week or so include a Red Flanked Bluetail at Flamborough, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Spurn and a Baird's Sandpiper at Austerfield, S. Yorks. As always check out the news from our Yorkshire bird observatories for daily sightings.

 

Acknowledgement - Tony Dixon for the Long-toed Stint pic.

Links

Spurn Bird observatory

Flamborough Bird Observatory

Filey Bird Observatory

Rare Bird Alert

 

 

 

 

 

 

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