Wednesday 5th February

A Manx Shearwater, 6 Shelduck and 2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese (90+78 individuals) passed Long Nab this morning heading north, while 2 Brent Geese passed by southwards, and a Chiffchaff was present at Crook Ness. 86 Pink-footed Geese were also seen heading north over West Ayton and a skein of about 80 (the same one?) were seen at a similar time over Harwood Dale. At Wykeham South Lake there were 2 Redwings, 9 Teal, a Grey Heron, a Shelduck, a Kestrel, 7 Goldeneye and 5 Great Crested Grebes, plus 2 Egyptian Geese near the new workings. A Great Crested Grebe was at Burton Riggs, and at Seamer Tip a Barn Owl was seen by the 3 ponds and 3 Pink-footed Geese were in the field by the bridge. Good numbers of Siskins and Crossbills were seen near Standing Stones Rigg, where a Green Woodpecker was heard. A Water Rail and a Kingfisher were again at the Open Air Theatre, plus a Greenfinch. 2 Purple Sandpipers were spotted on the sea wall below the Sea Life Centre. A Merlin was hunting over Beedale this afternoon, and a Goshawk was displaying over the forest, viewed from Hilla Green bridge where there were 2 Crossbills. At Harwood Dale Lake there were 19 Lapwings, 47 Wigeon and a single Pink-footed Goose. About 100 Linnets and 20 Greenfinches were in a sheep field at Suffield, a female Blackcap was in Hutton Buscel, and a male Stonechat was by the Long Nab observatory.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20200205

Pair of Gadwall at Brompton pond - Chris Bell