MAY proved an excellent month for local birdwatchers. Undoubtedly the most exciting find, which I mentioned briefly in last month's column, was a long-billed dowitcher at Lingham Lake, Nosterfield.

This rare American wader has been recorded only once before in the local area, a bird at Bolton on Swale in 1973, so not surprisingly attracted a good bank holiday crowd. The bird, which resembles a larger, plainer snipe, showed well and gave most visitors satisfying views.

Other waders were also on the move in May. These included two flocks of sanderling, totalling 13 birds at Nosterfield, along with six turnstone. Four bar-tailed godwits were seen at Lingham Lake, with other birds seen at Neasham ponds and at Scorton.

Grey plovers were noted at Bolton on Swale and Neasham, and one which was seen in flight over Ainderby Steeple on the 1st was almost certainly the bird seen an hour later at Nosterfield. Fifteen whimbrel were at Nosterfield, with others at Ainderby Steeple, Masham and Bolton on Swale.

Astonishingly, the dowitcher was not the rarest bird seen in May, at least in local terms this honour fell to the roseate terns which were also seen at Nosterfield. Three birds were seen on the reserve on the 7th with another at Lingham Lake on the same date; these represented the first local records of this handsome sea-bird.

These birds were associated with a strong movement of terns through the country which brought roseates to a number of inland sites and also no fewer than 29 common and 30 Arctic terns to Nosterfield and seven Arctics to Neasham. A smaller movement of black terns on the 4th saw five at Nosterfield, four at Neasham, three at Cleasby and six at Bolton on Swale. An interesting series of red kite records on May 1 included a bird at Nosterfield, one in Colsterdale, two sightings at Bolton on Swale and a bird over Danby Wiske. Was this a single wandering individual or a small influx of this reintroduced species?

With regard to breeding birds, it is very much a mixed message with the development of sites such as Nosterfield leading to excellent numbers of breeding wetland birds, but it is a much bleaker situation with regard to summer migrants. Wood warblers seem to have virtually disappeared from many former strongholds, a grasshopper warbler "reeling" away at Whitwell was the only recent report I have had of this once regular breeding species, and almost unbelievably, I have only received two records of cuckoo so far this spring.

Other records of note during May included a superb spoonbill, two black-necked grebes and three little gulls in the Nosterfield area. Five little gulls were also seen at Neasham ponds. Up to three blue-headed wagtails were seen in a yellow wagtail flock at Pallet Hill, Catterick, along with a strange, pearly grey-headed bird.

At least five osprey sightings were reported, and two hobbies were seen at Nosterfield. Two scaup and a white-fronted goose were at Scorton. Finally a rose-ringed (or ring-necked) parakeet was seen in gardens at East Witton. Small numbers of this Asian species escaped from aviaries in the late 1960s and quickly established a viable breeding population in the south-east of England.

This unlikely colonist is now well-established; indeed winter roosts of well over 1,000 birds have been recorded in Surrey, but northern records have still been assumed to be individual escapes from captivity. However, there have been a series of records in West Yorkshire this winter which might just point to the establishment of a small Yorkshire breeding population.

It is unmistakable, being a little under 18in long, of which more than half is tail. The plumage is pale green, apart from a red bill and a narrow orange-pink neck-ring. I would be interested to receive any records from readers.