Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros – York Ornithological Club

Local status: Scarce passage migrant and very rare breeding species.

An early spring and late autumn passage migrant, this handsome species can turn up just about anywhere, including in the middle of York! Singing males have held territory in the vicinity of the railway station and carriage works in York and were thought to have possibly bred 1988 to 1990. Singing males have been seen in this area in 2005 and 2015, and birders are advised to keep an eye and ear out for this secretive species during spring and summer. Some of these records have not been published by the YNU, but this is likely due to them not being submitted rather than them being invalid.

Records:
2023: York, Blossom Street, 24th October. female type

Black Redstart Blossom Street 24 October 2023 © Jono Leadley

2023: Garbutt Way, Bishopthorpe, 20th March. adult male

Black Redstart Bishopthorpe 20 March 2023 © Jono Leadley

2021: Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, 12th April. female

Black Redstart at Sand Hutton Labs on 12th April 2021 © George Watola

2021: Naburn, 22nd March. one
2020: North Duffield Carrs, 6th September. a female/immature
2018: Fangfoss, 14th April. female

Black Redstart Fangfoss 14 April 2018 © Tim Ward

2017: Heslington West, 14th April. male
2015: Clifton, York, 11th April. Female.
2013: Blossom Street, York, early June until early July, presumably the same seen in Skeldergate, York on 1st August.
2012: Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, 28th March.
2008: Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, 10th November.
2008: Fulford Golf Course, 10th June.
2008: Askham Grange, 20th April.
2006: Terrington, 24th July. Female.
2005: York, 5th August, 25th to 26th August, 21st September. Presumably one individual.
2005: Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, 22th February to 1st March.
2003: Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, 12th February.
2000: New Earswick, 30th March. Female.
1998: York, 4th and 5th June. First-summer male.
1997: Malton railway station, 2nd January.
1996: Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, 20th to 22nd November.
1996: North Duffield Carrs, 26th May.
1993: Bank Island, 25th April.
1990: York, 10th to 11th May. One, with two on 20th May, and a single on 2nd July.
1989: York, 12th May to 26th June. Two males and one female.
1988: York, 28th May. Male.
1987: Huntington, 30th October. Male.
1985: Stamford Bridge, 14th to 15th April. Male.
1985: Bolton Percy, 28th March.
1983: Stamford Bridge, 8th April. Female.
1982: Cawood, 4th September. Female.
1982: University of York, Heslington, 10th November.
1978: Skipwith Common, 10th April. Female.
1977: Grange Lane, Acomb, 9th October. Male.

Unsubstantiated records:
2005: York, 19th March. Reported as ‘possible’.