Arrivals on the north wind

Sun 20th May, 2012

East Yorkshire has had scarce and rare migrant birds coming in thick and fast in the last few days. Pallid Harrier and Bee-eaters were at Patrington Haven. Kilnsea and Spurn have seen Golden Oriole and Red-backed Shrike. A Scaup turned up at Tophill Low and an Icterine Warbler was found today at Flamborough Head.

Also at Flamborough was a male Citrine Wagtail, a species not recorded there since the mid-1990s. The bird has been aged as a first-summer male due to browner remiges and primary coverts than would be found in an adult bird, less black on the nape and dark marks extending from the nape to the crown (adults show a wholly yellow head). The bird is of the nominate race citreola which breeds no closer to Britain than Poland.

YCN photographer Steve Race took these images of the wagtail at Thornwick on Saturday. The nature reserve at Thornwick and Sea Farm Holiday Centre was specially created to attract migrant birds, a fantastic partnership between the Holiday Centre, Flamborough Bird Observatory and Wold Ecology Ltd.