WHEN I temporarily halted this column because of foot-and-mouth, I must admit I didn't expect to be away quite this long!

Birdwatching, like many outdoor activities, was severely affected by the restrictions on access and I have received far fewer bird records than in previous years. More importantly it meant a number of important long-term studies and special surveys of our breeding birds were not able to be carried out. However, with the likely eradication of the disease let's hope for a rapid return to normality.

There were still some sites where birding was possible and I will start with a brief run through of the local highlights of the last few months.

Undoubtedly the major find of the spring was a pallid swift at Nosterfield on May 28. This exceptionally rare Mediterranean species was watched hawking over the reserve for ten minutes before moving off down the Ure with a large flock of common swifts. If accepted, this will be the first local record and one of only a handful in Yorkshire.

Late May proved to be something of a purple patch for Nosterfield for as well as the swift there were up to three Temminck's stints, sanderling, two grey plovers, wood sandpiper, a drake garganey and four black terns. Up to four black-necked grebes were also seen at the reserve and two birds were seen displaying and nest building but breeding was unsuccessful.

Other spring highlights included two black terns and up to 17 white wagtails in the Bolton-on-Swale area, ospreys at Richmond, Ainderby Steeple and Great Langton, and a red kite over Richmond.

After a typically quiet June and July, the first real signs of return migration were noted in August as waders passed through the local sites. The highlight was an American golden plover which was heard and seen in flight over Nosterfield on the 19th; unfortunately, the bird was not re-located. On the same day there was a local record count of ten grey plovers at the reserve.

Nosterfield maintained its reputation as the premier local birding site with a long-staying little egret and three different marsh harriers and in September the reserve added yet another first for the area with a drake American widgeon