Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius

Local status: Very rare vagrant

The majority of the records of this species have occurred in mid to late autumn as would be expected. Prolonged periods of strong westerly winds during the autumn often result in records of this species along the west coast and inland in the UK and water bodies should be checked carefully for this tiny bird during such conditions.
The 2007 bird was photographed from a boat on the River Derwent! A March record is not unknown in Yorkshire, but certainly a much rarer occurrence than the autumn birds. A record lacking in precise location and date from 1974 is not listed by YNU.

Records:
2023: Hemingbrough BP, 1st & 5th October. one 1st-winter

2017: Malton, 30th November. one picked up having hit wires and later died.
2007: Aughton and Ellerton, 11th November. Juvenile.
2001: North Duffield Carrs, 20th November.
1981: Wheldrake Ings, 15th March.
1978: Wheldrake Ings, 5th October.


Unsubstantiated records:
1974: York. No further details