Rare Birds in East Riding of Yorkshire

93 species matching this filter.

All birds in East Riding of Yorkshire

The East Riding of Yorkshire hosts an impressive array of rare bird species, with 90 uncommon visitors and residents recorded across its diverse landscapes. From the dramatic chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head to the expansive wetlands of the Humber Estuary, the region attracts scarce species such as Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, and Common Crane. Coastal headlands, mudflats, and sheltered estuarine habitats make this county a magnet for vagrant and passage birds that delight dedicated birdwatchers.

Firecrest
FirecrestSmallest · 9cm
to
Tundra Swan
Tundra SwanLargest · 150cm
Ranges from the Firecrest (9cm) to the Tundra Swan (150cm)41 families represented25 year-round residents

Showing 47–69 of 93 species

Little Auk

Little Auk

Alle alleLC

A rare late-autumn and winter visitor, sometimes driven close inshore or even inland by North Sea gales. Most records from October to December.

Oct–Dec

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Owl

Little Owl

Athene noctuaLC

A rare but resident owl of farmland and parkland, sometimes seen perched on posts during daylight hours.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Stint

Little Stint

Calidris minutaLC

A rare visitor from May to October, most often seen in autumn at coastal scrapes and freshwater pools alongside other small waders.

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Asio otusLC

A rare passage visitor in spring and autumn, sometimes found roosting in coastal scrub at migration hotspots like Spurn.

Oct–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalisVU

A rare winter visitor to coastal waters, arriving from October. Occasionally seen from headlands or in sheltered bays along the Holderness coast.

Oct–Jan

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-tailed Jaeger

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudusLC

A rare offshore passage migrant in late summer, occasionally seen from Flamborough Head and Spurn during strong onshore winds.

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Poecile palustrisLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to the East Riding, occasionally seen in woodland edges and hedgerows during autumn and winter months.

Nov–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Montagu's Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargusLC

A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally noted over farmland and marshes in May before continuing northward.

May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Osprey

Osprey

Pandion haliaetusLC

A rare but regular passage migrant in spring and autumn, occasionally spotted fishing at reservoirs and along the Humber.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotosLC

A rare autumn passage vagrant from August to October, occasionally turning up at freshwater marshes and flooded fields.

Aug–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pomarine Jaeger

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinusLC

A rare autumn passage migrant seen offshore from August to November, most reliably spotted during seawatches at Flamborough Head.

Aug–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritimaLC

A rare winter visitor to rocky outcrops at Flamborough Head and Bridlington harbour, absent during midsummer months.

Sep–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red Crossbill

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostraLC

A rare and irruptive resident, appearing in conifer plantations mainly from summer into autumn. Numbers vary greatly between years.

Jun–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red Kite

Red Kite

Milvus milvusLC

A rare but increasing resident, now seen year-round soaring over farmland and the Yorkshire Wolds.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurioLC

A rare visitor, mainly seen at coastal migration points in spring and autumn. Once bred in Britain but now chiefly a scarce passage bird.

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serratorLC

A rare passage visitor from autumn into winter, seen along the coast and occasionally on the Humber. Most records fall between September and December.

Sep–Dec

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-crested Pochard

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufinaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor in winter months. Occasionally appears on larger lakes and reservoirs, with origins sometimes uncertain.

Nov–Feb

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-flanked Bluetail

Red-flanked Bluetail

Tarsiger cyanurusLC

A rare autumn vagrant from Asia, occasionally found in coastal scrub and gardens from September to November at East Riding headlands.

Sep–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegenaLC

A rare late-autumn and winter visitor, occasionally recorded offshore or in sheltered bays along the coast in November and December.

Nov–Dec

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatusLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally seen on coastal pools and flooded fields in August and September, often spinning on the water to feed.

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatusLC

A rare passage visitor in spring and autumn, typically seen on coastal headlands and moorland edges during migration periods.

Apr–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Roseate Tern

Roseate Tern

Sterna dougalliiLC

A rare passage visitor in July and August, occasionally seen among other tern flocks at Spurn Point and along the Holderness coast.

Jul–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopusLC

A rare autumn visitor from Scandinavia, occasionally appearing over coastal farmland and marshes in October and November.

Oct–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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