LOOKING back over the last year, it probably wouldn't be regarded as a classic for local birdwatchers, but nonetheless there were some interesting moments.

The first winter period recorded good numbers of wildfowl and, among the common species, white-fronted and bean goose, red-breasted merganser and a superb drake smew were all seen. Small parties of whooper swans were seen at Nosterfield and Bolton on Swale, but local wintering flocks of wild swans, such as those that used to gather in the Great Langton area, seem to be a thing of the past.

Gulls also provided much of interest with sightings of glaucous, Iceland, Mediterranean and Caspian gulls all being made in the roosts at Nosterfield and Bolton on Swale. As we moved into March, the first summer migrants continued the recent pattern of earlier arrival with sightings of little ringed plover and sand martin by mid-month. Wheatears, ring ouzel and chiffchaff were all present by the month end. The first swallow was seen on April 2, and one of the earliest house martins ever recorded in the area was seen only three days later.

An excellent wader passage through April and May saw a wide range of species recorded at local waters including a flock of sanderling at Nosterfield, Temminck's stint at this site and two wood sandpipers at Pepper Arden.

A large movement of black-tailed godwits through the area in April involved some 150 birds including a single flock of 81 birds at Scorton. Scarcer spring migrants included an unprecedented six rock pipits at Nosterfield, two red-breasted mergansers, red-crested pochard, at least three ospreys, a record number of hobbies and two black-necked grebes.

The summer was something of a washout in every sense, but a very encouraging count of 72 black grouse in the upland areas west of Richmond was some compensation as was the confirmed breeding of hobby near Northallerton. There were also reports of brambling nesting in the Dales, an exceptionally rare occurrence.

Moving into the early autumn period, there was again a light but interesting wader passage which brought a number of sightings of little stint, wood sandpiper, knot, grey plover and reasonable numbers of curlew sandpipers, but the highlight was a red-necked phalarope at Nosterfield, only the third local sighting.

Almost as rare was a young gannet seen in flight over this site. Other autumn sightings of note included marsh harrier and two long-staying short-eared owls in the Nosterfield area and Slavonian grebe at Pepper Arden.

The second winter period started with an arrival of waxwings with sightings in Thirsk, Thornton le Street, Nosterfield, Hunton, Reeth and Darlington.

A roost of long-eared owls in the willows at Nosterfield attracted up to four birds, and there were sightings of smew and black-necked grebe at Bolton on Swale.

The year ended with a small flock of whooper swans at Scorton and a Brent goose among the greylags at Bolton on Swale.