Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
Local status: Very rare spring and summer migrant
Given the large areas of wetland along the Lower Derwent Valley it is perhaps surprising how rare Spoonbills are in the York area. This may be due to the scarcity of water in the valley in late spring and during the summer months when Spoonbills are more likely to arrive. It would seem likely that as the UK population increases & with a breeding colony at Fairburn Ings, more birds will be recorded in the York area.
Records:
2023: North Duffield Carrs & Wheldrake Ings, 25th March. one

2022: Wheldrake Ings, 10th June, two adults briefly left north

2021: Thornton Ellers, 21st June. colour-ringed adult flew off high ESE
2021: Heslington East, 28th May. six over
2021: Bank Island, 9th April. second-year bird flew towards Wheldrake Ings
2018: Skipwith Common, 19th June. two circled & drifted off towards the River Derwent, arriving later at North Duffield Carrs
2017: Wheldrake Ings, 8th July. one
2017: Wheldrake Ings, 1st May. One flew south
2011: Wheldrake Ings, 21st to 22nd May. Two.
2009: Wheldrake Ings, 24th June.
2000: Wheldrake Ings, 29th July and 4th August. Perhaps the same as 7th June.
2000: Wheldrake Ings, 7th June.
1997: Wheldrake Ings, 2nd May.
1996: Bank Island, 3rd August.
1996: Wheldrake Ings, 7th July. Five.
1993: Lower Derwent Valley, 2nd May.
1991: Lower Derwent Valley, 12th to 13th March.
1990: Lower Derwent Valley, 20th to 21st May.
Unsubstantiated records:
1997: Bank Island, 4th August and Wheldrake Ings, 4th September.