Sunday 31 July 2016

Saturday 30th July 2016

Migration watch; 12.35 – 17.40hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 24 Common Scoter north, 1 Cormorant + 6 north, 1 Red Kite at 12.50hrs, 6 Oystercatcher + 21 north, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 12 Black-headed Gull + 3 north, 14 Common Gull + 3 north including the first juvenile of the autumn north, 5 Great Black-backed Gull north, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 79 Sandwich Tern north, 1 Kestrel and 4 Goldfinch.
A Hobby was seen at Burton Riggs, 2 Mandarin and the Pink-footed Goose were on Harwood Dale Lake and 3 purring Turtle Dove were in Broxa.

Saturday 30 July 2016

Friday 29th July 2016

Migration watch; 20.05 – 21.30hrs.
On the move south were 17 Oystercatcher, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Whimbrel.
A Storm Petrel ringing evening at Crook Ness took place during the evening however it wasn’t until the early hours of the 30th until the action started. The first bird to be trapped was a Leach’s Petrel (the first since autumn 2013!) at 01.05hrs with two Storm Petrels following at 01.23hrs and 01.40hrs. A third Storm Petrel was noted flying round the nets.

Of interest, during the evening 5 White-beaked Dolphin were seen several times between Cornelian Bay and South Bay, the first record of this cetacean in Scarborough for many years!


Storm Petrel - Long Nab - Nick Addey
Leach's Petrel - Long Nab - Steve Wignill

Friday 29 July 2016

Thursday 28th July 2016

Migration watch; 18.20 – 20.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 68 Common Scoter north, 1 Fulmar + 4 north, 3 Manx Shearwater north, 1 Shag north, 2 Oystercatcher + 7 north, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 4 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 6 Great Black-backed Gull + 4 north, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull north, 5 Sandwich tern north and 1 Puffin.

Wednesday 27th July 2016

Migration watch; 09.00 – 10.00hrs and 17.40 – 20.30hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 1 Teal, 68 Common Scoter + 1 south, 6 Eider south, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Fulmar + 2 south, 8 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Black-headed Gull + 2 south, 2 Common Gull south, 5 Great Black-backed Gull south, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 21 Sandwich Tern + 11 south, 1 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua and 2 Swallow.
Two Minke Whale were also seen of Long Nab, both headed north.
Up to 60 Common Scoter were in Cayton Bay.

Tuesday 26th July 2016

Migration watch; 18.40 – 19.15hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 4 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 3 Sandwich Tern south.
A cream-crown Marsh harrier and 60 Goldfinch were seen on Seamer Mead.

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Monday 25th July 2016

Migration watch; 07.05 – 12.25hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 7 Common Scoter north, 1 Grey Heron north, 6 Cormorant + 8 north, 1 Oystercatcher north, 1 Knot north, 9 Black-headed Gull + 2 north, 7 Common Gull + 1 north, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Sandwich tern + 51 north, 17 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow and 1 Goldfinch.
A Marsh Harrier was seen over Cayton Carr, 10 Turnstone were back in the Harbour, a Little Tern was seen heading south past Marine Drive at 18.40hrs, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Arctic Tern were off Holbeck while in Cornelian Bay there were 4 Knot, a Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone, 4 Redshank, 3 Whimbrel, 35 Curlew and 25 Oystercatcher.

Sunday 24th July 2016

Migration watch; 06.15 – 10.50hrs and 17.20 – 20.50hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 3 Teal + 7 north, 120 Common Scoter north, 7 Fulmar + 16 north, 31 Manx Shearwater + 6 north, 4 Cormorant + 1 north, 33 Oystercatcher + 5 north, 20 Black-tailed Godwit + 1 north, 18 Whimbrel, 4 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 31 Knot, 36 Sanderling, 1 adult Curlew Sandpiper at 19.21hrs, 173 Dunlin, 9 Black-headed Gull + 13 north, 14 Common Gull + 1 north, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull north, 8 Sandwich tern + 65 north, 2 Common Tern + 2 north, 2 Arctic Tern north, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Puffin, 20 Swift, 2 Sand Martin and 23 Swallow.
The first coastal Willow Warbler was in Crook Ness and a Greenshank was at Wykeham South Lake.

Sunday 24 July 2016

Saturday 23rd July 2016

Migration watch; 07.00 – 08.30hrs and 19.00 – 20.00hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 2 Common Scoter + 31 north, 2 Fulmar + 1 north, 2 Manx Shearwater north, 3 Cormorant north, 11 Oystercatcher + 1 north, 1 Curlew, 27 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 14 Knot, 18 Sanderling, 32 Dunlin, 13 Black-headed Gull, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 8 Sandwich Tern + 10 north, 6 Common Tern and 9 Puffin.
A Nuthatch was seen in Cornelian Bay, an unusual record for the area.

Friday 22nd July 2016

Migration watch; 04.55 – 07.35hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 9 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 40 Common Scoter north, 14 Fulmar, 11 Manx Shearwater, 2 Cormorant north, 8 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew + 1 north, 8 Redshank, 7 Knot, 10 Sanderling, 12 Dunlin, 15 Black-headed Gull + 1 north, 5 Sandwich Tern + 4 north, 7 Common Tern, 4 Arctic Tern and 15 Puffin + 4 north.
In Cornelian Bay there were 4 Whimbrel, 23 Curlew, 24 Oystercatcher and 2 Turnstone, 3 Little Egret flew north there.

Friday 22 July 2016

Thursday 21st July 2016

Migration watch; 18.55 – 19.55hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 2 Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwater, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Oystercatcher, 7 Whimbrel, 1 Knot, 3 Black-headed Gull + 2 north, 6 Common Gull and 5 Sandwich tern north.
An Osprey, the first of the autumn, was seen heading south over the Harbour at 09.00hrs, a Greenshank was on Harwood Dale Lake where a Kingfisher and the Pink-footed Goose were also seen and 6 Whimbrel were in Cornelian Bay.

Thursday 21 July 2016

Wednesday 20th July 2016

Migration watch; 04.45 – 14.20hrs and 18.20 – 19.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Wigeon, 2 Mallard north, 47 Teal + 19 north, 1 drake Pochard north, 3 Tufted Duck, 83 Common Scoter + 506 north, 1 Red-throated Diver north, 14 Fulmar + 13 north, 2 Sooty Shearwater, 17 Manx Shearwater + 3 north, 1345 Gannet, 1 Shag north, 6 Cormorant north, 2 Avocet at 05.23hrs, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, 26 Redshank, 2 Turnstone, 69 Knot, 22 Sanderling, 57 Dunlin, 203 Black-headed Gull + 300 north, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull north. 11 Common Gull + 2 north, 10 Sandwich Tern + 28 north, 4 Common Tern north, 11 Puffin + 10 north, 131 Swift, 29 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow and 2 Flava.
Between Scalby Nab and Long Nab were 5 juvenile Stonechat while 80+ Sand Martin remained around the colony in Jackson’s Bay.


Juvenile Stonechat - Scalby Nab - Michael McNaghten
Black-tailed Godwits passing south at Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Monday 18th – Tuesday 19th July 2016

The only report on the 18th was of 4 adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 Sandwich tern and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in South Bay.

The 19th produced…
Migration watch; 18.05 – 19.35hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Velvet Scoter north, 14 Common Scoter, 13 Fulmar, 4 Manx Shearwater, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 6 Knot, 19 Sanderling, 57 Dunlin, 6 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 3 Sandwich tern and 3 Puffin.
In Jackson’s Bay there were 6 redshank and a Whimbrel and a male Wheatear was seen at Wykeham South Lake.

Sunday 17th July 2016

Migration watch; 06.30 – 10.45hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 11 Common Scoter, 8 Fulmar, 2 Oystercatcher south, 2 Whimbrel south, 7 Black-headed Gull + 1 south, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Arctic Skua, 14 Puffin and 4 Sand Martin south.

Saturday 16th July 2016

Migration watch; 06.05 – 11.50hrs and 13.25 – 15.25hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 5 Common Scoter + 87 north, 11 Fulmar + 18 north, 5 Manx Shearwater + 4 north, 2 Grey Heron north, 22 Cormorant north, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Oystercatcher north, 1 Whimbrel + 8 north, 1 Dunlin north, 10 Black-headed Gull + 56 north, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull north, 1 Common Gull north, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull + 1 north, 32 Sandwich Tern north, 9 Arctic Tern north, 2 Arctic Skua, 12 Puffin + 2 north, 241 Swift, 26 Sand Martin, 8 Swallow, 3 Flava and 4 Linnet.
A Wheatear was on Star Carr, a Whimbrel was seen over Cayton Carr and a Hobby flew east at Seamer Tip.

Friday 15th July 2016

Migration watch; 06.10 – 15.35hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 7 Teal, 1 Velvet Scoter, 113 Common Scoter, 71 Fulmar + 9 south, 24 Manx Shearwater + 2 south, 7 Little Egret, 1084 Gannet south, 1 Shag + 1 south, 22 Cormorant + 2 south, 3 Oystercatcher south, 5 Whimbrel + 2 south, 3 Curlew, 35 Black-headed Gull + 6 south, 2 Common Gull south, 9 Great Black-backed Gull south, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull south, 1 Sandwich Tern + 9 south, 1 Great Skua, 37 Puffin + 9 south, 78 Swift south, 87 Sand Martin south, 7 Swallow south and 1 Flava south.
Elsewhere a juvenile Dunlin was seen in North Bay and 50 Black-headed Gull were scattered between Jackson’s Bay and Scalby Mills.


Dunlin - North Bay - Michael McNaghten
Record shot of the 7 Little Egret passing Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Thursday 14th July 2015

Migration watch; 07.30 – 09.35hrs and 18.10 – 19.00hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 87 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver south, 44 Fulmar + 3 south, 7 Manx Shearwater, 1 Grey Heron south, 3 Cormorant south, 2 Oystercatcher south, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank south, 1 Ruff, 14 Black-headed Gull, 7 Sandwich Tern, 12 Puffin + 1 south, 8 Swift, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Alba south.

Tuesday 12th – Wednesday 13th July 2016

The 12th was rather quiet, the only report was of 3 Whimbrel, a Redshank, 15 Curlew and 20 Oystercatcher in Cornelian Bay where 5 Manx Shearwater and 5 Common Scoter flew north.

While the 13th produced….
Migration watch; 12.10 – 13.55hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 11 Common Scoter, 13 Manx Shearwater, 16 Curlew + 1 south, 1 Common Sandpiper south, 7 Black-headed Gull + 2 south, 1 Common Gull and 1 Sandwich Tern + 2 south.
Elsewhere a Little Egret was on Johnson’s Marsh.

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Monday 11th July 2016

Migration watch; 05.50 – 13.00hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose at ca 07.30hrs, 16 Common Scoter north, 1 Red-breasted Merganser north, 9 Manx Shearwater + 5 north, 1 Little Egret, 3 Cormorant + 4 north, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel., 3 Curlew, 33 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 7 Knot, 2 Dunlin, 12 Black-headed Gull + 18 north, 1 adult Little Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls north at 06.09 and 08.38hrs, 2 Common Gull + 1 north, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Sandwich Tern + 19 north, 1 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern north, 1 Arctic Skua north, 7 Puffin + 3 north, 489 Swift, 194 San Martin and 1 Goldfinch.


Redshank - Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Swifts - Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Little Gull - Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Sunday 10th July 2016

Migration watch; 06.23 – 12.35hrs and 14.40 – 16.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 4 Mallard north, 24 Common Scoter north, 1 Red-throated Diver north, 3 Fulmar + 9 north, 3 Manx Shearwater + 6 north, 1 Little Egret north, 1 Shag north, 1 Cormorant + 5 north, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Lapwing, 48 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew + 1 north, 1 Greenshank, 3 Black-headed Gull + 3 north, 2 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull + 6 north, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull + 1 north, 6 Sandwich Tern + 9 north, 1 Common Tern, 7 Puffin, 1 juvenile Cuckoo, 920 Swift, 498 Sand Martin, 2 Flava, 30 Linnet and 2 Goldfinch.
Elsewhere a Black-tailed Godwit was on Rudda Road Flash and the Pink-footed Goose was on Harwood Dale Lake.


Cuckoo - Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Saturday 9th July 2016

Migration watch; 16.00 – 18.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 22 Lapwing, 4 Curlew north, 1 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Black-headed Gull + 3 north, 2 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls north at 17.39hrs, 1 Great Black-backed Gull north, 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Puffin north, 1035 Swift and 21 Sand Martin.

Friday 8th July 2016

Migration watch; 08.30 – 15.55hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew north, 1 Dunlin, 2 Black-headed Gull + 15 north, 6 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 6 Puffin + 3 north, 447 Swift, 82 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 Flava, 7 Linnet and 1 Goldfinch.
A Willow Tit was present briefly on the cliffs by the hut before moving south.
On Harwood Dale Lake the Pink-footed Goose was present and a Storm Petrel was controlled in Cornelian Bay during the early hours, the 205th species recorded on Scarborough this year.


Willow Tit - Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Thursday 7th July 2016

Migration watch; 08.05 – 12.35hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 16 Teal north, 2 Cormorant, 9 Whimbrel + 1 north, 6 Curlew + 5 north, 5 Black-headed Gull + 29 north, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull north, 7 Sandwich tern, 1 Common Tern north, 4 Puffin + 2 north, 993 Swift, 66 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 2 Flava, 1 Alba and 3 Linnet.
Three Whinchat, a male and 2 juveniles were feeding along the cliffs at Long Nab while slowly making their way south.


Swift passing the Long Nab hut - Michael McNaghten

Whinchats - Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Tuesday 5th - Wednesday 6th July 2016

The only report on the 5th was of 16 Curlew and a Bar-tailed Godwit southwest through Star Carr.

The 6th was a little busier….

Migration watch 07.15 – 11.45hrs and 18.45 – 19.30hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Gadwall north, 4 Teal north, 64 Common Scoter north, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar + 10 north, 1 Manx Shearwater + 27 north, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit north, 13 Whimbrel, 7 Curlew + 31 north, 54 Black-headed Gull north including 2 juveniles, 1 Common Gull + 1 north, 3 Sandwich Tern + 11 north, 1 Common Tern north, 4 Arctic Tern north, 1 Arctic Skua north, 2 Puffin + 4 north, 4 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow, 1 Flava, 2 Grey Wagtail and 6 Linnet.

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Monday 4th July 2016

Migration watch; 18.18 – 19.18hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 6 Common Scoter north, 2 Fulmar + 3 north, 2 Manx Shearwater, 1 Cormorant, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Sanderling, 9 Dunlin, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Puffin + 2 north.

Sunday 3rd July 2016

Migration watch; 06.45 – 07.45hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Cormorant, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull north, 281 Swift, 1 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 11 Starling and 5 Linnet.
On Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) there were 5 Teal and 2 Snipe.

Saturday 2nd July 2016

Migration watch; 06.10 – 09.10hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 2 Curlew, 3 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull north, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Arctic Tern north, 18 Swift, 18 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 3 Starling, 41 Linnet, 2 Crossbill at 06.20hrs and 2 Goldfinch + 2 north.
Elsewhere a Wigeon and a brood of 8 Tufted Duck were at Seamer Tip.

Thursday 30th June – Friday 1st July 2016

A quiet few days, the 30th produced the following…

Migration watch; 18.25 – 18.55hrs.
On the move were 3 Black-headed Gull north, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 82 Swift south.

While seen on the 1st were…

Migration watch; 09.00 – 11.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 22 Common Scoter north, 13 Manx Shearwater, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Curlew north, 12 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, 4464 Auk sp and 10 Puffin + 14 north.
At high tide 2 Curlew and 37 Oystercatcher were roosting in Burniston Bay.
The 2nd Yellow-legged Gull of the year was found on Peasholm Park Lake.