Observers who have first-hand knowledge of rare breeding birds within the county are requested to submit their evidence to the appropriate Yorkshire Recorder or the Report Editor, to be forwarded to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel.

The numbers of breeding pairs recorded in Yorkshire from 2012 can be found here.

The RBBP was formed in 1972 by representatives of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the

British Trust for Ornithology, The Nature Conservancy Council and British Birds. The present Panel is made up of representatives of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, RSPB, BTO, and the Association of County Report Editors, together with two independent members and a Secretary.

The Panel’s prime function is to act as a secure depository of sensitive information on the breeding of rare birds in Britain. Information is required for most species on Schedule 1 of the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act and other rare species dealt with by the Panel, including all the scarcer non-native breeding species. Information is requested on breeding or potential breeding records in three categories: possible, probable, proved. Definitions of these categories are on the recording forms.

Species for which information is required that are known to have bred, attempted to breed or displayed in recent years in Yorkshire are listed below.

The system used by the Panel for indicating geographical locations in their report is done on a regional basis with Yorkshire being part of ‘England North’. In some instances, the county will be named but should the observer request the omission of ‘Yorkshire’, the Panel will respect this with only the region being named.

Mediteranean gull and Black-necked grebes at YWT North Cave Wetlands - Credit Mike Ashforth

Rare breeding birds in Yorkshire

Garganey

Shoveler

Wigeon

Pintail

Pochard

Quail

Black-necked Grebe

Spoonbill

Bittern

Little Egret

Honey-buzzard

Goshawk

Marsh Harrier

Hen Harrier

Montagu’s Harrier

Corn Crake

Spotted Crake

Common Crane

Avocet

Little Ringed Plover

Black-tailed Godwit

Ruff

Mediterranean Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Little Tern

Roseate Tern

Turtle Dove

Long-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Merlin

Hobby

Peregrine Falcon

Golden Oriole

Willow Tit

Bearded Tit

Woodlark

Marsh Warbler

Savi’s Warbler

Fieldfare

Black Redstart

White Wagtail

Hawfinch

Bluethroat

Common Rosefinch

Rare UK non-native breeding birds in Yorkshire

Bar-headed Goose

Snow Goose

Black Swan

Helmeted Guinea-fowl

Golden Pheasant

Eagle Owl