OCTOBER'S most interesting sighting was a young gannet that dropped in at Nosterfield midmonth.

Although they breed in good numbers on the Yorkshire coast, they are rarely seen inland and this was one of only a handful of local records. The bird was present for three days allowing good numbers of birders to add this species to their local lists. Nosterfield also attracted one, or possibly two, pectoral sandpipers, continuing a remarkable run of records of this American wader at the reserve.

Other wading birds were not particularly notable, although both little stint and curlew sandpiper were recorded at Nosterfield, along with a long-staying grey plover. A spotted redshank was seen over Ainderby Steeple and a bar-tailed godwit and up to a dozen ruff were at Bolton on Swale.

Mention should also be made of an excellent flock of golden plover at Nosterfield, which peaked at almost 3,000 birds.

Last winter was particularly disappointing for thrush numbers, with Waxwing: happy shoppers?

the mild conditions and high food stocks in Scandinavia meaning many birds did not need to make the risky crossing of the North Sea. Things seem very different this year with reports of both redwing and fieldfare passing through the area in high numbers.

In my own village, I have seen larger flocks of fieldfare than in any previous year, but all have moved through quickly. At one point, I was watching a group of 500 thrushes in Ainderby Steeple when they suddenly whirled up with a cacophony of alarm calls.

The cause? A superb peregrine falcon which flashed across the fields, scattering birds left, right and centre.

Other peregrines were also seen at Nosterfield, Thrintoft and over County Hall, Northallerton.

Other records of note during October included a bittern, which was seen in the reedbeds at Bellflask.

This was the first local record for a number of years of this scarce heron.

The Nosterfield area attracted up to three whooper swans, a scaup, hen harrier and a yellow-legged gull as well as the two long-staying black-necked grebes, which remained at the reserve for much of the month.

An even rarer slavonian grebe was seen on the gravel pits near Cleasby.

This month, the bird to watch out for is the waxwing. This charismatic species has been very scarce in recent winters but with a handful of reports already received, and indications that the Scandinavian berry crop is quite poor, then this might be a good waxwing year.

The species derives its name from the "sealing-wax" red tips to some of its wing feathers but this feature is actually quite hard to see in the field.

Instead, look for a buff-pink "starling"

with a bandit mask and crest and flashes of yellow in the plumage. They can be looked for wherever there is a concentration of berries and, from personal experience, supermarket car parks seem to hold a particular fascination.

Just the thing to brighten up that Friday shopping trip