AS MIGHT be expected, the glorious summer weather of July was not conducive to the appearance of rare birds in the area.

However, those birdwatchers who could tear themselves away from their deckchairs did manage to find one or two sightings of note.

Pick of the bunch was probably the avocet at Nosterfield. Well-known as the symbol of the RSPB, the avocet has only been seen locally on a couple of previous occasions and so was a welcome find particularly as it stayed around for three days.

The avocet has significantly expanded its range over recent years, and now breeds at Blacktoft Sands on the Humber. With the first record of nesting in the North-East also recorded this year, at Washington Wildfowl Trust Centre, it may well be that they will become regular visitors to this area.

Other wader records included wood sandpipers at Nosterfield and Pepper Arden, greenshank and black-tailed godwits at Newsham, Nosterfield and Scorton and Whimbrel at the latter two sites.

Some birds of prey were also on the move including marsh harrier over Nosterfield, ospreys at Morton on Swale and Nosterfield, hobbies at Ainderby Steeple and again at Nosterfield, and a hen harrier near Over Silton.

Other records of note included common tern and reed warbler at Nosterfield and the intriguing report of a raven at Bolton on Swale. There was also one significant breeding record with a pair of garganey successfully nesting on one local nature reserve. This is the first local record of breeding by this attractive "summer duck".

August has been productive for birds of prey in recent years. Marsh harrier and hobby, both once very rare visitors to this area, are now regularly seen on passage and are worth keeping an eye out for, and osprey and red kite are other possibilities.

This is also one of the main months for the migration of waders which have bred in the far North. Nosterfield is the premier site, but any of the local waters are worth checking. Virtually anything can turn up, but keep a particular look out for scarcer species such as wood sandpiper, little stint and curlew sandpiper.