Terrible weather, foggy and wet
Highlights
Throxenby Mere - 1 Goosander
Harbour - 9 Turnstones, 1 Red Throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver
Holbeck - 2 Mediterranean Gulls
Seamer Road Mere - 6 Goosander
Wykeham Lakes / North Yorkshire Water Park - Sports Lake - 2 Egyptian Geese, 11 Coot
Wykeham Lakes / North Yorkshire Water Park - East Lake - 2 Pochard, 169 Teal, 44 Mallard
Poor Weather - Little News
Highlights
Burton Riggs - 5 Gadwall
Meads Lane, Crossgates - 2 Woodcock
Wykeham Lakes / North Yorkshire Water Park - East Lake - 4 Pochard, 4 Goldeneye, 242 Teal
Nuthatch, Dalby, David Hutchinson
Highlights
Long Nab - 4 (probable) Tundra Bean Geese flew south, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Common Snipe, 5 Lapwing, 12 Skylarks
Burton Riggs - 1 Gadwall, 10 Siskins
Wykeham - Long Causeway Road - 6 Tundra Bean Geese, 2 Greylag, 3 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 30 Redwing
Wykeham Raptor View Point - 1 Goshawk, 4 Common Buzzard
Troutsdale Lakes - Chapel - 2 Goshawk, 7 Common Buzzard, 1 Raven, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Mistle Thrush
Highlights
Ravenscar - 1 Raven
Marine Drive - 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk
Seamer Road Mere - 6 Gadwall, 5 Goosander, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Teal
Wykeham Lakes / North Yorkshire Water Park - Sports Lake - 1 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 12 Goldeneye
Wykeham Lakes / North Yorkshire Water Park - East Lake - 236 Teal, 3 Goldeneye
Highlights
Long Nab - 1 Jack Snipe, 6 Snipe (at the scrape), 5 Red-Throated Divers (at the sea), 1 Barn Owl
Cloughton / Salt Pans Road - 2 Greater White Fronted Geese, 64 Canada Geese
Harbour - Great Northern Diver
Marine Drive - Juvenile Peregrine, 8 Fulmar on the cliffs
Crossgates - Goshawk
Lebberston - Common Crane in flight towards Osgodby
Throxenby Mere - Car Park - Water Rail
Irton Moor - 2 Ravens
Ox Pasture Hall - Redwing
Wykeham - Long Causeway Road - 3 Tundra Bean Geese, 34 Pink-Footed Geese
Wykeham Forest - 2 Raven, 1 Willow it, 3 Marsh Tit, 3 Redwing
Highlights
Castle Headland / Marine Drive - 27 Fulmar, 2 Male Stonechat, Peregrine Falcon
Hatterboard Drive Garden - 20 Goldfinch, 4 Siskin
Wykeham, Long Causeway Road - 7 Whooper Swan, 3 Tundra Bean Geese
Wykeham Lakes - East Lake - Kingfisher, 90 Teal, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Goldeneye, Common Gull
Wykeham Lakes - Predator Lake - 2 Goldeneye
Wykeham Lakes - Sports Lake - 10 Wigeon, 5 Great Crested Grebe, Goldeneye
Potter Brompton Carr - Hay Bridge - 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great White Egret, 3 Shoveler, 39 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 3 Mute Swans, Pink-Footed Geese (unknown number as out of sight)
Highlights
Scalby Mills - 6 Ringed Plover, 36 Oystercatchers
Marine Drive - Peregrine Falcon
South Bay - Razorbill
Woodlands Ravine - Little Egret
Seamer Road - Common Crane in flight 1.33 pm (per Bird guides)
Seamer Road Mere - 6 Goosander, Kingfisher, Goldeneye
Oliver's Mount - Common Crane 14.14 pm (per Bird guides)
Garth End Road, Ayton - 5 Whooper Swans, 4 Mute Swans
Long Causeway Road, Wykeham - 3 Pink-Footed Goose, 4 Tundra Bean Geese, 2 Greater White Fronted Geese, 120 Greylag Geese, 40 Fieldfare, 1 Great White Egret
Wykeham Lakes - 54 Siskins, 8 Goldeneye, 3 Shelduck, 170 Teal, 100 Wigeon
Highlights
Wykeham Lake, North Yorkshire Water Park, East Lake - 1 Red-headed Goosander, 116 Teal, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Whooper and 4 Mute Swans visible at Garth End Road
Wykeham, Long Causeway - Great White Egret, 4 Tundra Bean Geese, 1 Greater White Fronted Goose
Harwood Dale Lake - 30 Wigeon, 30 Teal
Wrench Green, North Style - 1 Woodcock, 30 Siskin, 1 Teal, 2 Nuthatch
Troutsdale - 1 Dipper, 800 Wood Pigeon, 40 Blackbird, 13 Redwing, 2 Jay, 3 Mistle Thrush
Wyedale - 50 Fieldfare, 17 Goldfinch
Scalby Mills - 8 Ringed Plover
Peasholm - 1 Dipper, 1 Little Egret
Highlights
Harbour - Great Northern Diver
South Bay - 40 Pink Footed Geese South
Open Air Theatre - Water Rail
Peasholm Glen - Dipper
Seamer Road Mere - 6 Goosanders, Grey Heron, Treecreepers
Burton Riggs - Common Pochard
Garth End Road, Ayton - 5 Whooper Swans, 4 Mute Swans
Long Causeway, Wykeham - 40 Pink Footed Geese, 60 Greylag Geese, 1 Egyptian Goose, 8 Greater White Fronted Goose, 2 Tundra Bean Geese, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Ring Tailed Hen Harrier, 1 Woodcock, 21 Linnet, 3 Fieldfare (various number counted by different birders through the day - have used the most counted for each species)
Wykeham Lakes / North Yorkshire Water Park, East Lake - 248 Teal 1 Goldeneye, 69 Wigeon, 1 Goosander
Treecreeper, Seamer Road Mere, Doris Drainpipe
Highlights
North Yorkshire Water Park (Wykeham Lakes) - Sports Lake - 13 Little Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 17 Goldeneye, 15 Gadwall
North Yorkshire Water Park (Wykeham Lakes) - East Lake - 2 Cream Crowned Marsh Harriers, 121 Wigeon, 167 Teal, 1 Shelduck, 1 Shoveler, 1 Pintail (female), 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mistle Thrush
Wykeham Long Causeway -6 Tundra Bean Geese, 5 Greater White Fronted Geese, 40 Pink-Footed Geese, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, ( as per Facebook) 1 Egyptian Goose
Throxenby Mere - Siskins, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Heron, 1 Kestrel
Burton Riggs - 1 Common Pochard
Seamer Road Mere - Goosander (1 male 3 female), 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redpoll, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Gadwall, 5 Long Tailed Tits
Peasholm - Dipper
Harbour - 3 Turnstone
Scalby Mills - 172 Wigeon, 1 Immature Mute Swan
Troutsdale (Lakes to Chapel) - 2 Goshawks, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Raven, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Mistle Thrush, 8 Meadow Pipit, 15 Pied Wagtails
Harwood Dale Area / Forest - Jack Snipe and Crossbills
Potter Brompton - (as per ebird) 1 Green Sandpiper, 830 Teal, 1 Crossbill, 3 Brambling, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine Falcon.
Highlights
Seamer Road Mere - 1 Drake and 5 Female Goosander, 1 Sparrowhawk
Brompton Ponds - 10 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Coot, 1 Little Egret
Highlights;
Long Nab - 1 Crossbill (Hundale Plantation), 5 Woodcock, 1 Water Rail (Cliff Top House Ditches) 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Common Snipe (Scrape), 11 Red Throated Divers, 18 Curlew, 2 Turnstone
Harbour - 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Guillemot
Wykeham Lakes - East Lake - 24 Wigeon, 83 Teal, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Goosander, 50 Fieldfare
Wykeham Lakes - Sports Lake - 25 Pink-Footed Geese, 3 Common Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 4 Goldeneye
Ayton, Garth End Road, 7 Whooper Swan, 2 Mute Swan
Burton Riggs - 14 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 1 Marsh Tit
Seamer Road Mere, 2 Teal, 6 Goosander (1 Drake, 5 Females)
Cloughton Area / Pond / Saltpans Lane - 3 Buzzards, 6 Wigeon, 16 Greylag Geese, 70 Canada Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose, 1 Kestrel, 6 Redwing
Nuthatch, Staindale, Dalby, David Hutchinson
Heavy rain all day - Not a great deal of news
Highlights
Scalby Mills - Immature Mute Swan on the Sea
Newlands Garden - 2 Fieldfare
Cloughton Garden - 1 Fieldfare
Thornton Le Dale - Dipper
Highlights
Harbour - 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red Throated Diver, 11 Turnstone
Wykeham Lakes - East Lake - 1 Common Snipe, 1 Little Egret, 9 Gadwall, 56 Wigeon, 44 Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 24 Siskin, 1 Marsh Tit
Wykeham Lakes - Water Sports Lake - 1 Water Rail, 3 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 16 Goldeneye, 3 Wigeon, 15 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Crossbills, 1 Little Egret
Wykeham Long Causeway - 1 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 33 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 9 Yellowhammer, 17 Linnet, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Reed Bunting
Garth End Road / Ings Road - 7 Whooper Swan (possible 2 groups of 7 unsure - assume same swans)
Seamer Road Mere - 6 Little Grebe, 2 Water Rail, 124 Coot, 28 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall
Cayton Carrs - 2 Ravens - Flew towards Seamer Tip
Cloughton, Saltpans Road - 1 Barnacle Goose
Cloughton Gardens - Blackcap
Stepney Drive - 2 Tawny Owls Calling
Highlights
Brompton Ponds - 140 Pink Footed Geese flew high West, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe, 8 Gadwall, 6 Teal and a Coot
Cloughton Garden - 2 Male Blackcap
Cloughton - 40 Pink Footed Geese flew North
Cloughton Saltpans Road - 15 Lapwing
Scalby Mills Garden - Marsh Tit
Scalby Beck - Tawny Owl
Throxenby Mere - 1 Barn Owl
Harbour - Great Northern Diver
Harbour - (ebird) 1 Red Throated Diver, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Shags, 2 Great Northern Diver, 1 Guillemot
South Bay - Guillemot
North Bay - Mute Swan
Burton Riggs - 2 Mute Swans, 2 Drake Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe,
Wykeham - Long Causeway - 1 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 1 Woodcock
Little Grebe, Brompton Ponds, Chris Bell
The freeze continues
Highlights
Harbour - Great Northern Diver, Red Throated Diver, Kingfisher
Marine Drive - 8 Red Throated Divers at Sea
Seamer Road Mere - 1 Water Rail, 3 Little Grebe, 19 Gadwall, 30 Tufted Duck
Olivers Mount - Great Spotted Woodpecker
Crossgates - Merlin (south over at 12.55)
Cloughton - 2 Moorhens in Garden
Redwing, Peasholm Glen, Martin Moseley
The weather continues to be poor with snow, freezing temperatures, with frozen Meres
Highlights:
Harbour - 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red Throated Divers
Falcon Avenue, Crossgates - 2 Redpoll
Burton Riggs - 1 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 66 Gadwall, 1 Goldcrest, 10 Siskin, 1 Marsh Tit
Scalby Mills Road - 8 Tree Sparrow
Burniston Garden - 2 (probable) Northern Bullfinches
Peasholm Glen - 1 Redwing
Scalby Mills - 1 Little Grebe on the Sea
Jacksons Bay - 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew
Seamer Road Mere - Redpoll
Redpoll, Seamer Road Mere, Doris Drainpipe
Monday 5th January 2026
The weather continues to be wintery and cold with travel difficult
Highlights
Burniston Road Garden - 3 Redpoll
Scalby Road Garden - 11 Greenfinches
Throxenby Mere - 1 Goosander (briefly)
Peasholm Glen - Dipper
Scarborough Mere - 3 Little Grebe
Ox Pasture - 2 Black Redstarts
Allerston - 1 Little Egret (ebird)
Highlights:
Cayton Carrs: 7 Tundra Bean Geese with the Pink-footed Geese flock, plus an increase of Curlews there, a total of 110+.
Scalby Mills: Adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Ringed Plovers.
Jackson's Bay/Scalby Ness: 60 Oystercatchers, 51 Redshank, 3 Golden Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Ringed Plovers, Purple Sandpiper, 3 Rock Pipits, Kingfisher. Plus 35 Meadow Pipits in the fields.
Peasholm Park: A Barnacle Goose with the Canadas, 151 Mallard.
Low Marishes: c500 Pink-footed Geese, 11 Snipe, Little Egret.
Thornton le Dale: 2 Dippers, 2 Grey Wagtails.
Seamer Road Mere: 2 Goosanders.
Potter brompton Carr: 4 Whooper Swans, 2 Water Rails, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, 2 Willow Tits, Cetti's Warbler.
Overnight/morning snow gave a covering of 5+ inches, making for tricky driving!
Highlights:
Harbour: A Little Auk showed well in the harbour mouth. Red-throated Diver and Guillemot in the inner harbour.
South Bay: Great Northern Diver, Mediterranean Gull.
Cloughton: The Barnacle Goose was still with the feral geese at Town Farm Pond.
Peasholm Glen: Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails.
Long Nab: 3 Snipe, 29 Meadow Pipits, 11 Skylarks in the fields. 11 Kittiwakes flew north.
Seamer Tip Pools: 2 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, Pink-footed Goose.
Throxenby Mere: Kingfisher.
Highlights:
Jackson's Bay: 25 Redshank, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 30 Turnstone, 40 Oystercatchers.
Potter Brompton Carr: 180 Stock Doves, Water Rail, 1,100 Common Gulls, Little Egret, 7 Great White Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Willow Tits, Cetti's Warbler, Corn Bunting, 2 Crossbills.
Cayton Carrs: 6 Russian White-fronted Geese, 2 Tundra Bean Geese.
Woodlands Ravine: Crossbill.
Wykeham Lakes: 7 Whooper Swans, 43 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck, 24 Goldeneye, Goosander, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Great White Egrets.
Long Causeway Road: Willow Tit near Ings Farm.
Dalby Forest (Sand Dale / Ellerburn): Goshawk, 2 Willow Tits, 30 Siskins, 2 Jays.
Cloughton (Town Farm Pond / Salt Pans Road): 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Barnacle Goose, Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechats.
Harbour: Red-throated Diver, Guillemot.
Harwood Dale Forest: No sign of the shrike, Goshawk, 2 Crossbills.
Spiker's Hill: 45 Yellowhammers, 15 Skylarks.
Lots of year listers out in Scarborough today!
Highlights
Town Farm Pond, Cloughton: Tundra Bean Goose, Barnacle Goose, single Crossbill (left north).
Potter Brompton Carr: 3 Marsh Harriers, 3 Little Egrets, Water Rail, 96 Tree Sparrows (roost movement).
Harbour/South Bay: Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers.
Holbeck car park: 2 Mediterranean Gulls.
Wykeham Lakes: 7 Whooper Swans,
Hackness Lake: 5 Mandarins.
Cayton Carrs: 6 Tundra Bean geese, 7 Russian White-fronted Geese.
Harwood Dale Forest: Great Grey Shrike.
Ruston Carr: Great White Egret.
Cayton: Male Blackcap in a garden.
A Siberian Chiffchaff (third day), and 5 Common Chiffchaffs plus 2 Little Egrets, 200 Linnets at Seamer Water Treatment Plant. A Great White Egret by Ayton castle. 12 Grey Partridge Marishes Lane. At Cayton Carrs: 6 Tundra Bean Geese, 4 Russian White-fronted Geese. A Great White Egret near Ruston Carr bridge. Seven Whooper Swans in a field NW of Wykeham Lakes. The Red-necked Grebe was still at the Water Sports Lake, also 11 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Goldeneye, 2 Goosanders, Water Rail, 18 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpolls. Two Kingfishers Throxenby Mere.
A Purple Sandpiper and 17 Turnstones in Jackson's Bay. At Potter Brompton Carr: 7 Tundra Bean Geese (flew NE), 120 Teal, Shoveler, 17 Grey Partridge, 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, 30 Tree Sparrows. At Cayton Carrs: 7 Tundra Bean Geese, 12+ Russian White-fronted Geese, 430 Pink-footed Geese, The Red-necked Grebe was still on the Water Sports Lake, Wykeham Lakes. Also there were 4 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Little Grebes, 17 Goldeneye, and 5 Coot. Two Egyptian Geese at Low Marishes. The Great Northern Diver still in the harbour. The Barnacle Goose, and 3 Russian White-fronted Geese still in the Cloughton area. A single Goldeneye and Eider flew north at Long Nab.
At Seamer Road mere: 6 Goosanders, 59 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, Kingfisher. The Tundra Bean Goose, 3 Russian White-fronted, and one Barnacle Goose still in the Cloughton area. Three Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, 3 Razorbills in South Bay. Great Northern Diver again in the harbour. A Siberian Chiffchaff and 3 Common Chiffchaffs at Seamer Water Treatment.
A good selection of geese at Town Farm Pond, Cloughton: one Tundra Bean, 3 Russian White-fronted and a Barnacle Goose. The Great Grey Shrike was seen again in Harwood Dale Forest but remained elusive to many visiting birders. Two Great Northern Divers around the harbour. Twelve Russian White-fronted Geese with 300 Pink-footed Geese at Cayton Carrs. Also there single Great White and Little Egrets, and 500+ Lapwing.
Four Tundra Bean Geese and 15 Russian White-fronted Geese were with 350 Pink-footed Geese at Cayton Carrs, also 900+ Lapwing, 62 Curlews, 6 Redshank. The Red-necked Grebe was still at the Water Sports Lake, Wykeham Lakes, a Cetti's Warbler heard by the Zip Line Tower, and 2 Great White Egrets in fields to the south. 350+ Linnets at a cover crop in Silpho. Eight Mediterranean Gulls in South Bay. At Low Marishes: 350 Wigeon, 750 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets, Merlin, 400 Lapwings, 80 Fieldfares. The Great Grey Shrike still at Harwood Dale Forest, 60 Pink-footed Geese flew north there. Two Goshawks in Troutsdale and one near Hackness village. At Seamer tip pool: 13 Shoveler, 15 Gadwall. A pair of Ravens around the mast at the top of Raincliffe Woods/Irton Moor. Three Russian White-fronted Geese at Station Lane, Cloughton. The Great Northern Diver at the harbour.
Six Tundra Bean Geese were with 340+ Pink-footed Geese at Cayton Carrs. A drake Goosander flew SW over Burton Riggs. At Seamer Tip Pools: 10 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 2 Gadwall, Wigeon, 7 Mute Swans. A Little Egret at Ruston Carr bridge. Kingfisher Throxenby Mere. Three Goosanders at Seamer Road Mere. Two Russian White-fronted Geese and two Tundra Bean Geese at Low Marishes, also 800 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Cayton Carrs.
Nine Russian White-fronted Geese and three Tundra Bean Geese with c280 Pink-footed Geese at Loder's Carr/Cayton Carr. No reports of the Great Grey Shrike today. 20 Goldfinches in a Stepney garden. Eleven Greenfinches in a Cayton garden. Five Bullfinches still at Lady Edith's Drive (still no Northerns!).
The Great Grey Shrike was still in Harwood Dale Forest, a male Merlin flew over in the afternoon. At Seamer Road mere: 8 Goosanders, Goldeneye and 7 Little Grebes. Two Willow Tits at the Newclose Rigg area of Dalby Forest. A Pink-footed Goose with Greylag Geese at Saltpans Cloughton. Kingfisher again at the Open Air Theatre. Ten Siskins at Burton Riggs. The Great Northern Diver at the harbour still. Past Long Nab: Arctic Skua, 20 Teal, 4 Eiders, 19 Common Scoters, 9 Lapwings (at sea), 24 Kittiwakes.
