THIS is another chance to look back on what has been a really interesting 12 months for local birdwatchers. The year kicked off as it ended with heavy snowfall and very low temperatures.

Among the effects of the cold snap were large numbers of fieldfares and bullfinches moving into gardens, as well as the arrival of exceptional numbers of woodcock.

The first summer migrant, a sand martin, was at Nosterfield on March 18.

March also turned up only the second local record of Cetti’s warbler and a few of us were hoping it might mark a breeding attempt, but to no avail.

Moving on to April, the pace picked up with the first local sighting of black-winged stilt, a young bird at Nosterfield. It returned after spending time in the York area and many birders travelled to see this spectacular individual.

Around the same time, a stunning young white-tailed eagle was seen at Ainderby Steeple.

This bird had been part of the reintroduction scheme in Scotland and, after Ainderby, went on a grand tour of the north, last seen being harried by the Lake District’s sole remaining golden eagle.

May was book-ended by two outstanding rarities, a bluewinged teal from North America at Pepper Arden and, at the end of the month, the area’s first black stork over Hackforth.

The most intriguing summer record was a report of 19 fieldfares north of Richmond.

Summer also saw the publication by the local RSPB members’ group of Top Birdwatching Sites in Richmondshire and Hambleton. Sales have gone well.

A superb October brought a number of top-class rarities, including great white egret at Belflask, red-breasted flycatcher in Northallerton and the area’s second yellow-browed warbler at Nosterfield.

The year finished with one of the year’s most intriguing birds, a lesser whitethroat, that visited a bird table in Croft on Tees.

From its plumage and call, it is thought this bird probably originated from Central Asia and should now be wintering in Pakistan or Iran, so it’s even more amazing to find it on a snow-covered bird table in North Yorkshire.

Here’s to an equally fascinating 2011.