TWO significant rarities were the highlights of an excellent May for local birdwatchers.

The first was Lesser Scaup which was seen on the gravel pits at Cleasby.

I also received a belated report of what must have been the same bird on Newsham ponds (just off the A66) in mid-April.

This American duck was only seen for the first time in Britain (and Europe) as recently as 1987 but has been a rare but annual visitor since with around 100 records including one previous local sighting at Cleasby. The rise in records is, in part, a result of the greater identification skills of modern birdwatchers but must also represent a genuine increase in numbers.

Vagrant birds such as this one often return to regular sites so there is a reasonable chance the bird will re-appear at Cleasby at some future date.

The other significant rarity was a striking adult Night Heron that was seen around the Jerry Green dog sanctuary near Catton, Thirsk. The bird was usually seen perched on the roof of the kennels or roosting in the willows along the Swale near the village. Despite regular sightings the bird could be elusive (as I found to my cost on both my attempts to find it) but became confident enough to allow the centre manager to feed it with tinned pilchards! The bird was unringed, so was not a proven escape from captivity, but its behaviour didn't particularly strengthen its credentials as a wild bird. Nevertheless this handsome bird is well worth seeing and was still present at the time of writing. Interestingly birders looking for the heron also turned up Hobby at this site.

Waders were also on the move with a good passage through the local sites. Highlights included, at Nosterfield, no less than four Temminck's Stints, two Avocet, Spotted Redshank, Turnstone and Wood Sandpiper. Wood Sandpiper was also seen at Newsham ponds along with five Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit.

Other records of note during May included Common Terns at Nosterfield, Scorton and Newsham ponds, Black Terns at Bolton-on-Swale, Nosterfield and Newsham and two Little Gulls at the latter site. A pair of Black-necked Grebes dropped in briefly at Nosterfield and their even rarer cousin, Slavonian Grebe, was seen at Newsham.

Looking ahead to June this tends to be one of the quieter months for birdwatchers although it can be a good time to look for Hobby.

These magnificent falcons are outstanding fliers and can resemble giant swifts when seen from a distance. They are more than agile enough to catch species like Swallows and Sand Martins and can also hunt dragonflies on the wing.

There have been widespread single sightings but the local wetland sites are the best bet to catch up with this fine raptor.

June is also one of the best months for Quail. This tiny game bird is far more often heard than seen with its distinctive whiplike wet-my-lips' call emanating from standing crops. A couple of days ago I heard Quail calling whilst looking for a rare bird at Spurn Point. They are notoriously shy so I spent considerable time trying to get close enough to see this elusive little partridge.

After 20 minutes of creeping through nettles, thistles and wet foliage I raised my binoculars only to find ... it was a new ring tone on my friend's mobile phone.