THE most outstanding sighting in February, although outside my normal reporting area, was a Pacific Diver at Farnham gravel pits, near Knaresborough. This was the first time this species has been seen anywhere in Europe, perhaps not surprising considering its normal winter range is in the seas off Japan and the west coast of America. However small numbers are occasionally seen on the Atlantic seaboard of the United States and this presumably was the source of this bird although why it should end up on a lake near Knaresborough must remain a mystery.

Not surprisingly it attracted large numbers of birders and generally performed excellently for its many admirers. The bird had been present for two weeks but had been assumed to be the rather commoner Black-throated Diver. All credit must go to the local birdwatchers who spotted they had something different on their hands and brave enough to put the news out. At the time of writing the bird was still present and it is well worth the trip to see this impressive species.

Talking of birds in unusual places Northallerton also hosted an interesting visitor. This was a fine adult Night Heron which took up residence in the unlikely setting of the Applegarth car-park! The bird (pictured above by R Sanderson) could regularly be seen standing on the edge of the Sun Beck and even on occasions perching on the rubbish bins. Unfortunately close views showed the bird was carrying a red ring on its left leg so was presumably an escape from captivity rather than a genuine wild bird. Nevertheless it certainly brightened up the weekly shopping trip!

I received a number of calls during January about Blackcaps coming to feed in readers' gardens. The Blackcap of course is mainly a summer migrant but there has been an increasing trend over recent years of birds wintering in the UK. Interestingly, ringing recoveries have shown that these birds are usually from Germany and eastern Europe rather than 'our' birds staying on through the winter so it does seem to be a genuine new pattern of migration.

This far north males birds tend to predominate but the brown-headed females are also seen.

At the end of the month there was a significant movement of Pinkfooted Geese through Yorkshire with very large flocks recorded in South and East Yorkshire. I was lucky enough to spot one impressive skein of 350 birds and 40 birds were seen over Nosterfield but I suspect many more must have passed over unseen.

Other sightings of note during January included three Peregrines and a Whitefronted Goose at Nosterfield where the gull roost attracted both Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gulls. At Bolton-on-Swale there was an excellent count of 786 Curlews and other wader numbers were also unseasonably high with up to 30 Oystercatchers, nine Ringed Plovers and five Ruff.