Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos

Local status: Rare summer migrant. Has bred

Virtually all records refer to singing males which advertise their presence with their celebrated song. Males have occasionally attracted females and have nested on at least two occasions. The British population has declined in recent years which perhaps explains the reduction in records since the turn of the millennium

Records:
2006: Bishop Wood, Selby, from 4th May. Pair bred.
1998: Kirkby Wharfe, 4th July. Trapped and ringed.
1995: Wheldrake Ings, 20th to 21st May. Singing male.
1994: Brayton Barff, 30th April to 9th May. Singing male.
1992: Yearsley Common, 21st June.
1992: Pond Head, 23rd June. Pair bred and young fledged.
1990: Hollicarrs, 18th June.
1990: East Cottingwith Ings, 14th June.
1987: The Mount School, York. 7th May.
1984: Naburn Sewage Works, 30th June.
1982: Elvington, 14th July.
1981: Naburn Sewage Works, 18th June.
1981: Bishop Wood, Selby, 4th June.
1980: Bishop Wood, Selby, 8th May until end of June. Singing male.
1979: Bishop Wood, Selby, May. Singing male.
1979: Rufforth, 14th to 21st May. Singing male.
1976: Acaster Malbis, May. Singing male.
1975: East of York, May. Singing male.

Unsubstantiated records:
2010: Bank Island, Wheldrake Ings, 29th May. Heard only. Not published by YNU.
1999: Between Elvington and Wheldrake, 23rd May. Singing male. Not published by YNU.