Thursday 31 January 2019

Friday 31st January

At Wykeham South Lake this morning there were 9 Great Crested Grebes, a Great Northern Diver, 8 Goldeneye, 3 Shellduck, 53 Coot, 47 Tufted Duck and 9 Whooper Swans (5 of them adult) which flew off westwards. In the fields nearby were 400+ Lapwing and 50+ Golden Plover. 7 Mediterranean Gulls (6 adults and a second winter bird) were present at Holbeck, plus another 3 adults in a field next to the A165 Osgoodby roundabout junction. At North Moor there were 27 Fieldfare, 42 Lapwing and 3 Common Gulls, while at Hutton Buscel there were 6 Lesser Redpolls and a Little Owl. Late in the afternoon 7 Waxwings were spotted in a garden in Thornton Dale.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190131

Moorhen dancing on ice - Paul Malton

Waxwing - Graham Sigsworth


Wednesday 30 January 2019

Wednesday 30th January

A Great Northern Diver remained at Wykeham South Lake today, and another was again in the harbour before flying off towards Holbeck. 2 Little Owls were seen at Hutton Buscel, where a flock of 30 Lapwings were 2 fields north of the walled garden. Highlights from Long Nab included 37 Golden Plover in the observatory field and 48 Red-throated Divers flying past.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190130

Golden Plover - Pauline Dent

Barn Owl - Paul Malton

Tuesday 29 January 2019

Tuesday 29th January

The highlight from Long Nab this morning was an immature Glaucous Gull flying south, and later in the day a Goldeneye and 42 Pink-footed Geese going north. At Wykeham South Lake there was a Great Northern Diver, 11 Cormorants, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Grebes and 4 Goldeneye. 15 Corn Buntings were once again spotted near White House Farm, Low Marishes. Lastly, a Chiffchaff and a Snipe were seen in a garden in Barmoor Close, Scalby this morning.


Sparrowhawk - Keith Raper

Monday 28 January 2019

Monday 28th January

There were 2 Great Northern Divers in the harbour this morning, near Luna Park and a Whimbrel and a Woodcock at Long Nab. At least 3 Goshawks and 6 Buzzards were sighted from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, and a Great Grey Shrike was spotted in Dalby Forest in a clearing at the top of Flainsey Rigg.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190128

Siskin - Mick Francis

Great Northern Diver - Joe Bamfield


Sunday 27 January 2019

Sunday 27th January

Rather little news in on this blowy Sunday. There were 2 Marsh Tits in Peasholm Glen this morning, and a flock of 90 Jackdaws in Newby. 98 Guillemots, a Razorbill, a Common Scoter and 80 Gannets were seen passing Long Nab, and there was a Great Northern Diver in the inner harbour.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190127

Dunnock - Beverley Senturk


Saturday 26 January 2019

Saturday 26th January

Highlights from Long Nab this morning include a Great Northern Diver, 35 Red-throated Divers, a Common Scoter and 2 Velvet Scoters passing, plus 12 more Red-throated Divers and 70+ Guillemots feeding offshore. In the harbour there were 20 Purple Sandpipers roosting and a Razorbill in the harbour mouth. There were 320 Herring Gulls, a Common Gull and a second calendar year Mediterranean Gull at Scalby Mills, and about 90 Pink-footed Geese flew north over North Bay. 19 Crossbills were seen in Cloughton Woods and a pair of Stonechats were spotted on the cliffs at the southern end of Jackson's Bay.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190126

Kingfisher - Paul Malton


Friday 25 January 2019

Friday 25th January

This afternoon there were about 50 Bramblings with a finch flock along Long Causeway Road, and 3 Great White Egrets, a drake Pochard and 5 Goldeneye on Wykeham South Lake. At Scalby Mills there was a Little Grebe, and in Thornton Dale there was a Dipper on the stream. At Wilton Heights 2 Goshawks were heard, and 6 Bramblings, 4 Tree Sparrows, 25 Yellowhammers, 45 Chaffinches and 3 Buzzards were seen. 46 Corn Buntings were again present in a field near the entrance to White House farm, Low Marishes, together with 120 Fieldfare (grid ref:SE823 776). There were 2 Dippers at Hilla Green bridge, Troutsdale, and 5 Gadwall and 25 Teal on Scampston Lake.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190125

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Jan and Gary Powell


Thursday 24 January 2019

Thursday 24th January

Early this morning there were 2 Barn Owls seen at Brompton and a Dipper in the beck at Scalby Mills. There were 2 Wigeon, 2 Mute Swans, a Shelduck, a Shoveler, 16 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 6 Coot and 21 Mallard at Seamer Tip pool, despite it being largely frozen over. 2 Egyptian Geese, 48 Tufted Duck, 8 Goldeneye and 12 Gadwall were present at Wykeham South Lake. This afternoon a Goosander was seen at Scalby Mills, plus 6 Teal and 2 Dunlin. There were 9 Golden Plover with a large flock of Lapwings on Cayton Carr, plus several Fieldfare, a Barn Owl and a Buzzard. 2 Little Egrets were at Folkton Bridge, and the 5 Whooper Swans remained at West Flotmanby. A Barn Owl was also spotted on a fence between Folkton and Muston. The highlights from Long Nab included 44 Golden Plover and another flying past, plus 4 Shelduck, 30 Teal and 24 Red-throated Divers going past. Lastly, a Goshawk and 13 Crossbills were seen in Harwood Dale Forest .

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190124

Bullfinch - Mark Metcalfe

Goosander at Seamer Road Mere


Wednesday 23 January 2019

Wednesday 23rd January

Must have been too nippy for everyone this morning - no news in till after noon! 6 Golden Plover were in the observatory field at Long Nab, where 2 Goosanders were seen flying north and 2 Common Scoters flying south. In Wykeham Forest a Goshawk, a Peregrine and 2 Buzzards were seen from the raptor viewpoint, and a Goshawk and 15 Crossbills just east of Highwood Brow. There was a Short-eared Owl seen over the fields to the south of Wykeham South Lake, while on the lake there was a Great Egret, a Goosander, 6 Goldeneye, a second calendar year Mediterranean Gull, 600 Black-headed Gulls, 3000+ Common Gulls, 650 Herring Gulls and 90 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Long Nab count here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190123

Kestrel - Melanie Pearl


Tuesday 22 January 2019

Tuesday 22nd January

Over 100 Fieldfares were on Spiker's Hill Farm fields this morning, and at Wykeham South Lake there were again 3 Great White Egrets and 150+ Lapwings. There were 2 sightings of Great Grey Shrikes: one north of Swairdale in Dalby Forest, and the other at Derwent Head Rigg in Langdale Forest. A Peregrine was also spotted at Langdale Rigg, and another Peregrine and a Little Egret were seen on Seamer Mead. The Corn Buntings were seen again near the entrance to White House Farm, Low Marishes, and there was a Razorbill in the harbour.

Count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190122

Shag diving in the harbour - Doris Drainpipe

Coot goes for the 100m sprint record - Terry Hobson


Monday 21 January 2019

Monday 21st January

A flock of about 35 Redpoll were seen in Wykeham Forest this morning, plus 8 Brambling and 5 Crossbills. Later 23 Crossbills were seen there, plus a Goshawk from the raptor viewpoint. A flock of 37 Corn Buntings were seen at Low Marishes near White House Farm. At Seamer Road Mere there were 38 Mute Swans, 3 Teal, 37 Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, 37 Moorhen, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

Redwing - Melanie Pearl


Sunday 20 January 2019

Sunday 20th January

The Great Northern Diver and 2 Great White Egrets were again present at Wykeham South Lake this morning, though the former flew off just after midday and there was no sign of the Egrets by then either. Also on the lake were 6 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 28 Tufted Ducks, 7 Goldeneye and 8 Great Crested Grebes. 70 Lesser Redpolls were seen in birch trees near Darrell's Low Farm, and 3+ Bramblings on Long Causeway Road. A Great Grey Shrike was again spotted in Langdale Forest at May Moss. At high tide this afternoon there were 6 Mediterranean Gulls (5 adults and a third calendar year) at Holbeck, and there were 6 Red-throated Divers in North Bay and one in South Bay.

Wigeon at Scalby Mills - Andy Hall


Saturday 19 January 2019

Saturday 19th January

The Great Northern Diver and 2 Great White Egrets were again present at Wykeham South Lake, plus 2 Redshank, a drake Pintail, 9 Goldeneye, 5 Teal, a Shelduck and a Barn Owl. 3 Whooper Swans were seen circling the area, and there were 200+ Lapwing and 200 - 300 Golden Plover beside Garth End Road Road leading down to the lake. There were 10 Gadwall on the fishing lake and 35 Brambling along Long Causeway Road west of the lakes. A Great Northern Diver remains in the harbour, and another flew into Cornelian Bay, where there was also a Common Scoter and 5 Red-throated Divers. 16 Purple Sandpipers were seen on East Pier, and a Whimbrel was again near Long Nab. 8 Teal, 9 Herons and  a Wigeon were on Johnson's Marsh, and about 50 Siskins were in trees beside the Derwent in East Ayton. 4 Mandarins were on Hackness Lake, 2 Green Sandpipers were on Thornton Carrs, and 2 Little Egrets, a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were on Thornton Beck. At Jackson's Bay and Scalby Mills there were 87 Redshank, 61 Oystercatchers, 17 Turnstones, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 162 Wigeon and 7 Red-throated Divers.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190119

Redshank in the harbour - Andy Hall


Friday 18 January 2019

Friday 18th January

82 Pink-footed Geese flew over Long Nab this morning. At Wykeham South Lake there was a Great Northern Diver still, a single Great White Egret, 60+ Teal, 40+ Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 8 Goldeneye, a male Pintail, 43 Coot, an Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Grebes, 8 Great Crested Grebes, a Redshank and 6 Gadwall; while in fields nearby there were 286 Lapwing and 6 Golden Plover. A pair of Goshawks, a pair of Stonechats and a single female Crossbill were seen at Moor Rigg in Langdale Forest, and 50+ Fieldfare were seen below Snainton. A Rosy Starling was seen on several occasions in Newby round the middle of the day, at times with a small group of Starlings. At least 3 Goshawk, 10 Buzzards and 30+ Crossbills were seen from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint this afternoon, while a Great Northen Diver remained in the harbour, and a Green Sandpiper, 6 Snipe and 22 Teal were on Thornton Carrs. There were 12 Yellowhammers, 45 Chaffinches, 6 Bramblings and 3 Buzzards at Wilton \Heights; a Goshawk, 2 Willow Tits and 6 Marsh Tits in Sandale; 30 Siskin in Ellerburn; and a Grey Wagtail and a Dipper on Thornton Beck. Between Dalby Visitor Centre and Sandale 2 Willow Tits, 8 Marsh Tits, 3 Nuthatches, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 22 Crossbills were seen late afternoon.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190118

Song Thrush - Nick Addey

Peregrine - Joe Bamfield


Thursday 17 January 2019

Thursday 17th January

2 Great White Egrets were at Wykeham South Lake again this morning, and a Great Northern Diver remained in the harbour. A Great Northern Diver was also seen from Long Nab flying north as well as a Velvet Scoter flying south, and a Dipper was seen at Scalby Mills. At Wykeham South Lake late afternoon there were 700 Black-headed Gulls, 400 Common Gulls, 600 Herring Gulls, 140 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Pochard and 7 Goldeneye; plus 70 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Willow Tits in the Causeway plantation. A  Mediterranean Gull was photographed at Holbeck that had been ringed in Poland on 17/5/2013 and has wintered here ever since. A Siskin was seen on a feeder in Heron Lane, Crossgates.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190117

The ringed Mediterranean Gull - Rose Habberley


Wednesday 16 January 2019

Wednesday 16th January

There were again 2 Great Northern Divers in the South Bay this morning, and 14 Red-throated Divers feeding off Long Nab. A Chiffchaff was seen at Crook Ness and a Great Grey Shrike was spotted once more at May Moss. In Wykeham Forest this afternoon about 30 Lesser Redpolls were seen, plus 3 Common Redpolls, about 40 Siskins, 13 Crossbills, 3 Marsh Tits and a Willow Tit. In the Givendale/Dalby area  there were 3 Bramblings with about 100 Chaffinches. There was a Whimbrel in a field near Cloughton Field Farm, and 150 Fieldfares just south of Turkey Carpet.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190116

Turnstones - Terry Hobson



Tuesday 15 January 2019

Tuesday 15th January

The Great Northern Diver remained at Wykeham South Lake today, and the 3 Great White Egrets were back; plus a Great White Egret was also seen at Seamer Tip pool. A Waxwing was spotted outside Dunelm, and later (after being scared off by a Mistle Thrush) in front of B&Q. At Long Nab there was a Snow Bunting, 11 Rock Pipits and a Whimbrel. A drake Goosander and 2 Goldeneye were seen at Seamer Road Mere, while 17 Purple Sandpipers were on the rock armour on East Pier and a Great Northern Diver was in the South Bay.


Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190115

Mistle Thrush - Kevin Groocock


Monday 14 January 2019

Monday 14th January

Great Northern Divers remained at both Wykeham South Lake and the harbour today. The 3 Great White Egrets left the former site early morning, though one was seen round midday at Seamer Tip pool. 2 more Little Egrets joined those present yesterday on the banks of the River Hertford just west of Folkton Bridge, bringing the total there today to 7. A female Blackcap was spotted in a garden in Scalby.

Red-throated Diver - Chris Bell

Sunday 13 January 2019

Sunday 13th January

2 Great Northern Divers were still present in the harbour this morning. There were 3 Great White Egrets at Wykeham South Lake and 5 Little Egrets at Folkton sewage works. A male Goshawk was seen displaying in Troutsdale, where there were also 20+ Brambling, about 200 or more Chaffinches, and about 120 Linnets. An adult Mediterranean Gull was spotted late afternoon at Scalby Mills.

Long Nab count here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190113


Grey Heron - Beverley Senturk

Saturday 12 January 2019

Saturday 12th January

The Great Northern Diver remained at Wykeham South Lake this morning, where there were also 31 Teal, 34 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, the Shelduck with its hybrid mate, a Pochard, 34 Tufted Duck, 4 Goldeneye, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 10 Cormorants. At Johnson's Marsh there were 12 Herons and a Buzzard, and a Great White Egret was back at Seamer Tip pool. Down at the harbour there were 2 Red-throated Divers and at first one, then 2, Great Northern Divers. 4 Red-throated Divers were also seen in Cornelian Bay, as well as 2 Common Scoter. 18 Curlew were in the field at the top of the ravine there. A Water Rail was at the Open Air Theatre, and at Scalby Mills there were 450 Herring Gulls, 60 Great Black-backed Gulls and 190 Black-headed Gulls.

Great Northern Diver - Chris Bell


Friday 11 January 2019

Friday 11th January

Both the Great Northern Diver and the Great White Egret remained at Wykeham South Lake today, and again 300+ Lapwings were seen in the fields nearby. There were 78 Yellowhammers, 70+ Tree Sparrows and 15+ Reed Buntings seen at Bogg Hall Barns, just north of the Ganton rail crossing. 7 Red-throated Divers were spotted in South Bay, and another 3 in North Bay plus a Common Scoter. There were 5 Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck and 2 Guillemots off the toll house.

Long-tailed Tit - Beverley Senturk


Thursday 10 January 2019

Thursday 10th January

A second calendar year Glaucous Gull was spotted first thing this morning at Wykeham South Lake but soon flew off, while 2 Great White Egrets dropped in. Also at the lake were 7 Whooper Swans, a rather elusive Black-throated Diver, and a Great Northern Diver. There were large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover (200+ of each) in fields to the left of the road going down to the lake. Late afternoon, the Great Northern Diver was still present, plus 120 Great Black-backed Gulls, 650 Herring Gulls and 400 Common Gulls. Earlier, a Woodcock and a Merlin were spotted at Seamer Tip. There were 150 Fieldfares on Seamer Mead, 2 Little Egrets and a Peregrine on Flixton Carr and 5 Shovelers on Seamer Tip pool.


Nuthatch - Dan Redfern

Great Northern Diver at Wykeham Lakes - Terry Hobson



Wednesday 9 January 2019

Wednesday 9th January

Mid-morning at Wykeham South Lake there were 28 Tufted Duck, 47 Coot, 12 Gadwall, 7 Goldeneye, 7 Great Crested Grebes, a Black-throated Diver and a Great White Egret. In the afternoon 13 Ringed Plover were seen at Scalby Mills, and 5 Whooper Swans (2 adults and 3 juveniles) were in a stubble field at West Flotmanby, just visible from the road.

Wren - Doris Drainpipe




Tuesday 8 January 2019

Tuesday 8th January

This morning 3 Great White Egrets were seen together at Wykeham South Lake. Round midday 2 Guillemots and a Great Northern Diver were seen at the harbour, joined later by a second Great Northern Diver. At Burton Riggs there was a Goosander and a Great Crested Grebe.


Great Northern Divers - Chris Bull


Monday 7 January 2019

Monday 7th January

A Great White Egret was still at Ruston Bridge this morning, while a Little Egret was in a field below Ebberston village. A murmuration of about 400 Starlings was seen this evening in the Clifton Street area of Scarborough.

Mute Swan - Beverley Senturk

Sunday 6 January 2019

Sunday 6th January

About 60 White-fronted Geese were seen flying over Wykeham South Lake this morning towards Willerby Carr, and were seen again from Crossgates as well as 7 more flying east over Seamer. Also at Wykeham South Lake were 6 Goldeneye, 27 Gadwall, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe and a Redshank. A Water Rail, a Kingfisher and 2 Willow Tits were spotted at Brompton Carr, a Woodcock flew over Seamer Tip, and there were 15+ Brambling in a cover crop at Hutton Buscel Carr. This afternoon 6 Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe were in Cornelian Bay, where a Dark-bellied Brent Goose was seen flying south. At the corner of Long Causeway and Swanhills Lane there was a Barn Owl plus a mixed flock of Brambling, Siskin, Goldfinch and Greenfinch. A Great White Egret was at Ruston Bridge.

House Sparrow - Paul Malton


Saturday 5 January 2019

Saturday 5th January

Two sightings of Barn Owls before dawn this morning - one over the A64 near Morrisons and one on the fence beside the A64 in Sherburn. Later in the morning there was a Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver in the North Bay, 11 Gadwall and 5 Shovelers at Seamer Tip pool, and a Water Rail behind the Open Air Theatre. A Great White Egret was seen by the River Hertford, and in a stubble field in Wykeham Forest there was a mixed flock of 80 to 100 Chaffinches, Bramblings and Yellowhammers. This afternoon 4 Red-throated Divers were in Cornelian Bay, together with 2 Great Crested Grebes, a Grey Plover and 2 Ringed Plovers. A Little Egret was spotted at Thornton Dale sewage works.

Kestrel and Chaffinch - Rose Habberley

Friday 4 January 2019

Friday 4th January

Not much news in today. There was an Egyptian Goose at Harwood Dale Lake, 5 Shovelers at Seamer Tip pool, and a Great Egret on Seamer Mead.

Goldcrest - Mark Hepples

Buzzard - Rose Habberley

Thursday 3 January 2019

Thursday 3rd January

40+ White-fronted Geese were present in the fields south of Wykeham South Lake this morning, and about 30 were present on the lake later in the day, together with 2 Goldeneye, 2 Shelduck and a hybrid type. 180+ Great Black-backed Gulls were on the lake at dawn, and 2200+ Starlings flew west. Harwood Dale Lake had 4 Goosanders and 90 Lapwings, plus 7 Lesser Redpolls feeding in birch trees nearby. 3 Red-throated Divers were on the sea off Scalby Nab, and 8 Scoters (species uncertain) flew north. Around Garth End Road in Ayton there was a mixed flock about 250 strong, comprised mainly of Lapwings plus 10-20 Golden Plover and 3 Egyptian Geese. 2 Marsh tits were spotted on Scalby Beck and a Red-necked Grebe at Scalby Mills. A Rosy Starling was seen briefly in trees on Throxenby Lane near the junction with Lady Edith's Park before flying into a garden. Seamer Road Mere this afternoon hosted 2 Teal, 40 Tufted Duck ,2 Goldeneye, a Goosander, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Water Rails, a Kingfisher and 2 Chiffchaffs. A garden on Valley Road had 2 Blackcaps, a male and a female. 3 Shoveler and a Shag were seen at Seamer Tip pool, and a Goosander was at Burton Riggs.

Green Sandpiper - Graham Sigsworth


Wednesday 2 January 2019

Wednesday 2nd January

Rather less news in today than yesterday! There were 40+ Lapwing seen at Carr Lane, Ayton this morning, and on the river near Wrench Green there were 6 Mandarin Ducks, 2 Dippers, 40+ Siskin and 6 Bullfinch. A Great Grey Shrike was spotted in Langdale Forest at May Moss but was rather elusive. The stunning male Eider below was in the harbour mouth this morning.

Eider - Doris Drainpipe


Tuesday 1 January 2019

Tuesday 1st January 2019

The New Year started with the Black-throated Diver being seen again at the harbour, then flying north past Long Nab. Later in the morning a possible Surf Scoter flew south past Scalby Mills. There were a Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Teal and 2 Great Crested Grebes in South Bay, while at Long Nab there were 5 Red-throated Divers, 17+ Guillemots and a Great Crested Grebe, plus 15 Rock Pipits in the fields there. A Puffin was feeding in Cornelian Bay late morning, along with 5 Red-throated Divers and a Mediterranean Gull. 5 Snipe were flushed from the field at the top of the ravine near there. At Seamer Road Mere this morning there were 3 Teal, 34 Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Water Rail and 3 Chiffchaffs. 7 Purple Sandpipers were present on the outer rocks off East Pier. 2 Waxwings were spotted near Aldi, a pair of Peregrines were seen on the Castle headland, and a Little Egret and 300 Lapwings were at Seamer sewage works. 14 Pink-footed Geese remained at Johnson's Marsh, along with 16 Herons and a Shelduck. 5 adult and 1 second winter Mediterranean Gull were in the Holbeck car park area, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Scalby Mills. A Great Grey Shrike was spotted in Dalby Forest off Housedale Lane at Midday. At Seamer Tip pool this afternoon there were 9 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler and a Water Rail; at Harwood Dale lake there were 4 Goosander and a Shelduck; and at Wykeham South lake there were 4 Goldeneye, a Shelduck and 2 Pink-footed Geese. A Little Owl was reported to be in Hutton Buscel and a Little Egret and 20 Wigeon at Flotmanby Carr. 9 Pink-footed Geese flew over Seamer Meads. A busy first day of the year!

Full count from Long Nab here:  https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190101

Peregrine - Paul Malton

Kestrel - Paul Malton