Thursday 30 June 2016

Wednesday 29th June 2016

Migration watch; 07.25 – 11.50hrs and 18.40 – 19.40hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 12 Wigeon north, 7 Teal + 3 north, 52 Common Scoter + 392 north, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar north, 13 Manx Shearwater + 2 north, 2 Cormorant + 2 north, 5 Whimbrel, 40 Curlew + 9 north, 15 Black-headed Gull north, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Sandwich Tern + 2 north, 1 Little Tern north at 10.10hrs, 12 Puffin + 15 north, 424 Swift, 3 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 7 Starling and 1 Corn Bunting south after pausing on wires briefly.
Six Black-headed Gull were in Burniston Bay, 2 Tufted Duck were on Johnson’s Marsh and a drake Shoveler was seen flying round Crossgates.

Monday 27th – Tuesday 28th June 2016

Migration watch; 07.30 – 09.00hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 2 Curlew north, 3 Stock Dove, 11 Swift, 7 Rook north, 3 Swallow, 5 Starling + 11 north and 6 Linnet.
A Hobby was seen over Falsgrave Park during the morning and a Green Sandpiper and a Teal were on Wykeham South Lake.

The 28th was a little less active….

Migration watch; 19.45 – 20.30hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 2 Fulmar, 8 Manx Shearwater south, 1 Common Gull and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

Tuesday 28 June 2016

Sunday 26th June 2016

Migration watch; 06.45 – 11.45hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 41 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver at 07.24hrs, 27 Fulmar + 2 south including 1 blue Fulmar south at 07.03hrs, 16 Manx Shearwater + 2 south, 9 Curlew, 5 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern + 2 south, 2 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua south, 21 Puffin + 7 south, 6 Swift and 2 Swallow.
Elsewhere a Hobby flew towards Seamer from Crossgates and a Marsh Harrier was seen over Sherburn Ings.

Friday 24th – Saturday 25th June 2016

A blank day on the 24th was followed by a short watch on the 25th

Migration watch 19.15 – 20.00hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 3 Fulmar, 5 Manx Shearwater, 3 Curlew, 1 Common Gull south, 1 Great Black-backed Gull south, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Puffin, 8 Swift south and 10 Starling south.

Thursday 23rd June 2016

Migration watch; 18.50 – 20.00hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 108 Common Scoter north, 3 Curlew, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Puffin + 8 north, 6 Swift, 5 Tree Sparrow and 5 Linnet.
Elsewhere the first returning Green Sandpiper was noted at Seamer Tip.

Wednesday 22nd June 2016

Migration watch; 07.25 – 11.40hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 39 Common Scoter + 81 north, 1 Red-throated Diver north, 4 Fulmar north, 3 Manx Shearwater + 34 north, 6 Cormorant, 6 Curlew, 26 Sandwich Tern + 4 north, 1 Arctic Tern north, 1226 Auk sp north, 7 Puffin north, 98 Swift, 2 Swallow, 1 House Martin and 1 Grey Wagtail.
A Red Kite was seen in the Willerby area, a Hobby flew over East Ayton, 12 Tufted Duck and 3 Great Crested Grebe were on Wykeham South Lake, the Sedge Warbler was in Crook Ness and 12 Grey Heron were on Johnson’s Marsh.

Monday 20th – Tuesday 21st June 2016

A Little Egret and the Wigeon were reported from Johnson’s Marsh on the 20th while a Quail was heard at Sherburn Ings on the 21st.

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Thursday 16th – Sunday 19th June 2016

A rather quiet few days, a Fulmar was seen flying north over Collumbus Ravine early on the 17th.

The 19th produced the following…
Migration watch; 06.48 – 10.45hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 3 Barnacle Geese north, 5 Shelduck, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 64 Fulmar, 9 Manx Shearwater. 1 Grey Heron, 4 Cormorant + 2 north, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, 3 Black-headed Gull north, 6 Common Gull north, 4 Sandwich Tern + 19 north, 3 Puffin + 37 north, 1 Stock Dove north, 11 Swift + 3 north, 2 Carrion Crow + 11 north, 2 Swallow, 25 Starling + 63 north, 1 Alba, 33 Linnet and 2 Goldfinch.
A Red Kite was seen over Muston at 11am and a Teal was on Johnson’s Marsh.

Wednesday 15th June 2016

Returning Curlews began to build up with 19 Curlew on Seamer Mead, the drake Wigeon was still on Johnson’s Marsh. Lesser Whitethroats were seen food carrying at Seamer Tip.
At 23.40hrs 2 Sandwich Tern were heard heading inland over Westborough!

Monday 13th – Tuesday 14th June 2016

A watch on the 13th (10.35 – 11.35hrs) only produced 3 Sandwich Tern heading south.
The drake Wigeon was on Johnson’s Marsh, a Teal and a Little Ringed Plover were on Wykeham South Lake and 2 broods of Mallard were seen on Johnson’s Marsh, a 10 and a 6.

A Marsh Harrier over Crossgates was the highlight on 14th, elsewhere 2 adult and 2 juvenile Shelduck were on Johnson’s Marsh while 9 juveniles were still on Scalby Lodge Pond.

Sunday 12th June 2016

Migration watch; 06.45 – 10.10hrs
On the move (north unless stated) were 91 Common Scoter, 19 Fulmar + 4 south, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Curlew, 2 Common Gull south, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 23 Sandwich Tern south, 7 Puffin + 5 south, 1 Swift, 3 Sand Martin south, 3 Swallow and 2 House Martin.
Elsewhere 10 Sandwich Tern were in North Bay, a Pink-footed Goose was on Harwood Dale Lake where a further 2 Mandarin broods (7 and a 3) were noted. A Turtle Dove was in Hutton Buscel, a drake Wigeon was on Johnson’s Marsh, a Hobby was seen over Flixton and the Sedge Warbler remained in Crook Ness.

Friday 10th – Saturday 11th June 2016

On the 10th a Swift was noted heading south at Long Nab and 3 Mute Swan and 7 Grey Heron were on Johnson’s Marsh.

A watch at Long Nab on the 11th (13.00 – 13.50hrs) produced 2 Fulmar and 6 Swift north, a Sedge Warbler was singing on Crook Ness and a Teal and a Mute Swan were on Johnson’s Marsh.

Friday 10 June 2016

Wednesday 8th – Thursday 9th June 2016

A quiet day on the 8th.
Migration watch; 08.05 – 11.25hrs and 19.00 – 20.20hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 11 Canada Geese south, 25 Common Scoter + 1 south, 2 Manx Shearwater, 9 Cormorant, 2 Sandwich Tern + 16 south, 23 Puffin and 3 Swift.
The only reports were of 3 Shelduck, 2 Dunlin, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 35 Great Black-backed Gull were on Scalby Lodge Pond and 5 Grey Heron were on Johnson’s Marsh.

A slightly more active day on the 9th.
Migration watch; 18.33 – 19.33hrs.
On the move south were 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 2 Linnet and 3 Goldfinch.
with a Red Kite seen heading north over Crossgates and later over Scalby.
A Red Kite was also seen again up over Wykeham Forest as were 3 Honey Buzzard and an Osprey. On Johnson’s Marsh there were 9 Grey Heron and a drake Wigeon.


Osprey over Wykeham Forest - John Harwood

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Monday 6th – Tuesday 7th June 2016

A Marsh Harrier seen between Snainton and Yeddingham was the only report on the 6th.

The 7th was better and demonstrated that the spring has not finished just yet!
A GREENISH WARBLER was found in the ‘Booted Plantation’ behind Marine Drive wall at 09.50hrs. It moved quickly towards the north side of Castle Hill where it vanished in the area behind the Skate Park.
Elsewhere a Common Tern flew east through Wykeham South Lake where there were 3 Gadwall and a pair of Yellow Wagtail feeding young. A good count of 31 Mandarin were seen flying up through Troutsdale and 2 Swift were noted heading north at Long Nab.

Sunday 5th June 2016

Migration watch; 06.45 – 10.15hrs and 16.25 – 19.10hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 87 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 85 Fulmar + 1 south, 12 Manx Shearwater, 1 Cormorant south, 1 Curlew, 3 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern + 3 south, 1 'Commic' Tern, 2578 Auk sp, 129 Puffin + 5 south, 4 Carrion Crow, 2 Swallow and 4 House Martin.
At last the first Honey Buzzards of the year were seen, the first, a displaying male, from the Wykeham raptor viewpoint and another, a female, was seen drifting south over Harwood Dale. A Red Kite was also seen from the viewpoint and a Pink-footed Goose was seen on Harwood Dale Lake.

Saturday 4th June 2016

Migration watch; 05.57 – 10.25hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 6 Teal, 77 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver at 08.57, 35 Fulmar + 2 south, 4 Manx Shearwater, 3 Shag, 1 Curlew south, 1 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull + 2 south, 10 Sandwich Tern south, 2 Black Tern south at 09.15hrs, 1 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 1220 Auk sp, 182 Puffin + 6 south, 35 Swift, 9 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 5 Starling and 10 Linnet.
A Crossbill flew west over Falsgrave Park, and a pair of Common Scoter were present on Wykeham South Lake.

Thursday 2nd – Friday 3rd June 2016

A rather quiet few days.
2nd ….
Migration watch; 07.25 – 10.30hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Common Scoter, 192 Fulmar, 18 Manx Shearwater, 1 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua + 1 south and 56 Puffin.

And the 3rd ….
Migration watch; 19.15 – 20.20hrs.
On the move north were 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Swift and 4 Swallow.
The Quail was heard again on Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) where there was also a Redshank. At Wykeham South Lake there were 2 Egyptian Geese while 4 Teal were on Johnson’s Marsh.

Thursday 2 June 2016

Wednesday 1st June 2016

Migration watch; 07.50 – 08.45hrs and 18.45 – 19.50hrs.
The Pink-footed Goose was still on Harwood Dale Lake as were the Mandarin still with 6 ducklings, 2 Oystercatcher with two well grown juveniles, a Kingfisher and 20 Sand Martin.
A singing Corn Bunting and a Little Owl were at Low Marishes.
On the move (north unless stated) were 32 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 93 Fulmar, 17 Manx Shearwater, 2 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern + 2 south and 7 Puffin.

Tuesday 31st May 2016

Migration watch; 07.50 – 10.10hrs and 18.15 – 19.15hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 12 Common Scoter, 86 Fulmar, 14 Manx Shearwater, 1 Cormorant south, 12 Sanderling, 3 Sandwich tern + 7 south and 9 Puffin.
Elsewhere a drake Common Scoter was on Wykeham South Lake.

Monday 30th May 2016

Migration watch; 06.45 – 11.40hrs.
The year’s first Quail was singing on Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) and is the 200th species to be recorded in the Scarborough area in 2016.
Also there were a female Marsh Harrier, single Greenshank and Oystercatcher and 14 Lapwing. At Harwood Dale Lake there were 2 Wigeon and a Pink-footed Goose, a Ringed Plover and 2 Little Ringed Plover were at Wykeham South Lake, 7 singing Corn Bunting were counted between Yeddingham and West Heslerton and 15 fledged Grey Heron were at Scampstone.
On the move (north unless stated) were 7 Common Scoter + 33 south, 128 Fulmar + 2 south, 3 Manx Shearwater, 1 Cormorant, 9 Common Gull + 2 south, 8 Great Black-backed Gull + 1 south, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern + 31 south, 1250 Auk sp, 14 Puffin, 4 Swift and 1 Swallow.
The 2 Red-breasted Merganser were still on the sea off Long Nab.


Red-breasted Mergansers off Long Nab - Nick Addey

Sunday 29th May 2016

Migration watch; 06.00 – 12.00hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 24 Common Scoter + 39 north, 2 Red-throated Diver + 1 north, 5 Fulmar + 30 north, 2 Shag, 1 Cormorant north, 1 Common Gull + 13 north, 8 Great Black-backed Gull north, 78 Sandwich Tern, 1170 Auk sp north, 14 Puffin + 4 north and 5 Swallow.
Elsewhere an Arctic Tern passed through Wykeham South Lake where 2 Turtle Dove were also seen and a Minke Whale was reported off Ravenscar.

Saturday 28th May 2016

Migration watch; 07.15 – 11.30hrs and 16.00 – 17.00hrs.
A very quiet day!
On the move (north unless stated) were 1 Common Scoter, 5 Fulmar, 1 Sandwich Tern + 6 south, 26 Puffin and 38 Swallow south.
Yesterday’s Wheatear remained at Long Nab, 2 Red-breasted Merganser were on the sea off Crook Ness and 2 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were on Scalby Lodge Pond.

Friday 27th May 2016

Migration watch; 06.15 – 12.30hrs and 17.10 – 18.30hrs.
There were no sign of either of yesterday’s Shrikes at Long Nab or on Castle Hill however Ravenscar itself produced another 2 Red-backed Shrike, a male and a female.
Elsewhere a Reed Warbler and a Wheatear were at Long Nab, a Garden Warbler was along South Cliff, 10 Ringed Plover and a Lapwing were on Scalby Lodge Pond and 2 Arctic Tern flew northeast through Wykeham South Lake.
Past Long Nab (north unless stated) were 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Tufted Duck, 15 Cormorant, 6 Sandwich Tern south, 3 Puffin, 35 Swallow south and 11 House Martin.


Male Red-backed Shrike - Ravenscar - Chris McNaghten

Female Red-backed Shrike - Ravenscar - John Harwood