Bee Eater in North Yorkshire?

[GFM]

I was out and about this lunchtime and stopped to look over Little Ribston bridge to see if there were any fish in the stream. To my astonishment this multi coloured blackbird size bird shot up from the waterside making a shreiking sound as it went into high dense bushes. It was blue, yellow and reddish brown, similar colours to a Kingfisher but much bigger and more tropical and dazzling looking. My first instinct was to think of a Bee Eater, on looking at Gallery photos it does look like the specimin I saw. However I cannot imagine a Bee Eater in North Yorkshire, have there been any other sightings. I will probably visit the site again tomorrow in the hope that it is still around.

[Tringa]

I haven't heard of any in north Yorkshire, but a pair bred in a quarry a few miles south of Durham last year or the year before. Hope you spot it again.

They do seem to turn up almost anywhere -

http://www.thewesternisles.co.uk/birds/bee-eater.htm

Dave

[aeshna5]

Could it have been a Jay? They certainly make a shrieking sound + plumage is sort of reddish-brown + have bright blue wing flashes, though no yellow. White rump should be conspicuous if flying away from you.

[John B (NTS)]

I've watched my share of European Bee Eaters (though none in the UK so far) but have never heard one shriek. An escaped parrot/parakeet perhaps.....

[GFM]

No it wasnt a Jay, it was so vivid in colour the only other thought I have was that it could have been an escaped Parrot, however the Durham pair suggests it may have been a Bee eater, I will go and try and seek it out again today.

[solus]

Originally Posted by Tringa

...a pair bred in a quarry a few miles south of Durham last year or the year before.

Doesn't time fly when you're getting older? That was 2002!!!

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by John B (NTS)

I've watched my share of European Bee Eaters (though none in the UK so far) but have never heard one shriek. An escaped parrot/parakeet perhaps.....

This sounds like the most likely explanation to me. Bee-eaters just don't make any sounds that I would think likely to be described as a shriek - parakeets and lovebirds on the other hand are pretty much always shrieking!

[Tringa]

2002! I really have lost it, Solus

Think I should get me coat, if I could remember where I left it.

Dave

[shenk1]

ITS ON THE HANGER!!!!! says shenk shouting really loudly and sssllllooooowwwwwllllyyyyy just in case

[Dogghound]

We get them annually on the coast in small numbers (East Yorkshire), the odd bird in north yorkshire, although not a typical time of year to see one, usually earlier around June.