December Sightings Blog

Despite the cold and often dreary weather, it’s been an excellent couple of weeks in the Aire Valley for special sightings. Firstly, the Arctic skua at St Aidan’s has been getting lots of attention, and fieldfares and redwings have been giving amazing views at Fairburn Ings as they have been feasting on the berries.

The top ten sightings at Fairburn Ings recently have been:

1. Stonechat
2. Gooseander
3. Black necked grebe
4. Water rail
5. Goldcrest
6. Grey wagtail
7. Curlew
8. Sparrowhawk
9. Greenfinch
10. Bullfinch

Our star species this week is the bullfinch. Bullfinches are sexually dimorphic, which means that the females are different in appearance to the males. In the case of the bullfinch, the male’s breast is a bright coral-pink colour, and the female’s is a dull pink-brown.

Here is a more extensive list of the sightings:

• Long-tailed tit, great spotted woodpecker, bullfinch, robin, blackbird, green woodpecker, blue tit, redwing, fieldfare, chaffinch, wren, reed bunting, goldcrest, grey wagtail, goldfinch, greenfinch, dunnock, song thrush, coal tit and stonechat
• Grey heron, water rail, little egret, curlew, mute swan, gooseander, black necked grebe, lapwing, white fronted goose and kingfisher
• Marsh harrier, red kite, kestrel and sparrowhawk
• Roe deer

The top ten sightings recently at St Aidan’s have been:

1. Arctic skua
2. Little owl
3. Water pipit
4. Merlin
5. Black necked grebe
6. Common snipe
7. Yellowhammer
8. Siskin
9. Bearded tit
10. Shelduck

Our star species this week is the Arctic skua! This species is usually found on the coast, but it’s likely that this individual was on its way to the coast and stopped off for a rest at St Aidan’s.

Here is a more extensive list of the sightings:

• Fieldfare, redwing, reed bunting, yellow hammer, linnet, goldfinch, skylark, lesser redpoll, meadow pipit, stonechat, siskin, water pipit, house sparrow, blackbird and bearded tit
• Bittern, Arctic skua, lapwing, curlew, common snipe, shelduck, great white egret, moorhen, common sandpiper, pintail, pink footed goose, barnacle goose, golden plover, dunlin and black necked grebe
• Little owl, marsh harrier, red kite and merlin

When you’re out and about at Fairburn Ings and St Aidan’s, do let us know what you spot. You can do this by writing in the sightings book in the visitor centres, or by letting us know on social media! Happy spotting!

To keep in touch, follow us on social media here:

Twitter

Facebook

#RSPBFairburnIngs

#RSPBStAidans