16th May

A Golden Oriole that lingered at the Bill for most of the day was a welcome addition to the year tally - particularly since this usually annual scarcity was missing from the 2016 list. Migrant interest was otherwise very limited, a situation hardly helped by the complete lack of coverage of anywhere except the Bill and Ferrybridge. The paltry selection at the Bill totalled just 2 each of Chiffchaff and Spotted Flycatcher, and singles of Little Egret, Hobby, Kestrel (a migrant arriving in off the sea), Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Reed Warbler and Willow Warbler; Ferrybridge chipped in with 7 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin and a Grey Plover. The sea looked to be pretty quiet but 2 each of Great Northern Diver and Great Skua, and a single Pomarine Skua - together with what would be a very exceptional 2 Sooty Shearwaters - were eventually logged at the Bill.

The Golden Oriole eventually settled quite well, albeit at long range, and gave plenty of closer flight views © Joe Stockwell: