White Stork, Ciconia ciconia

Local status: Very rare vagrant

The status of this species in the York area has been confused by the repeated occurrence of free flying birds from the Harewood collection. These birds, recorded singly or occasionally as a pair, were seen in several years between 2001 and 2008, but their occurrence may well have masked the sighting of genuine vagrants during this period. All records are listed below, with records thought to relate to the Harewood birds in italics. The 2015 record was remarkable, arriving at the Flamingo Land zoo where it proceeded to build a nest. It sadly succumbed and was found dead in July.

Records:
2021: Allerthorpe Common, 30th March. one flew north & seen drifting southwest over Sand Hutton the next day, reappeared in a field near Sand Hutton Labs on 1st April.
2017: between Elvington and Wheldrake, 22nd May. One flew north
2015: Flamingo Land, Kirkby Misperton, 7th May to 19th July. One.
2010: York University, 22nd April. Three.
2008: York, 3rd April, with two on 11th May.
2007: York, 29th January, then scattered records throughout the year, with two at Norton Ings on 8th August.
2006: York, various locations, 28th April to 12th June.
2005: York, various locations, 5th to 7th October.
2005: Healaugh, 3rd April.
2001: Various locations, throughout the year. Two.
1998: Wheldrake Ings, 15th March.
1997: Wheldrake Ings, 2nd May.
1986: Harlthorpe – Foggathorpe, 11th June