Saturday 7th November

 A Grey Phalarope flew south through Cornelian Bay this morning, 18 Purple Sandpipers were at the harbour, and a Great Grey Shrike was at Derwent Head Rigg in Langdale Forest. Again a number of flocks of Pink-footed Geese were seen through the day: 230 over town and to Knipe Point before turning inland, a flock over Gristhorpe, 562 past South Cliff, 250+ over Crossgates, about 100 heading towards Wykeham Lakes, and a large flock over Manor Road Park late afternoon. Also passing South Cliff were an Egyptian Goose and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose heading north. 13 Lapwings, 4 Redwings, a Blackbird, 8 Fieldfare, 16 Starlings and a Brambling arrived in off the sea. 5 Curlew and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Johnson's Marsh, 80+ Lapwings were at Harwood Dale Lake, and a drake Pintail was at Seamer Tip Pool. In Dalby Forest 9 Willow Tits were at Nabgate and Sand Dale, 3 Marsh Tits were at Pexton Lake, and 3 Buzzards and 30 Yellowhammers were at Wilton Heights. A Buzzard was also seen over Crossgates, and a flock of 40+ Fieldfare were at the far north end of North Lane, in with cattle. Through the thick fog at Wykeham Lakes 20+ Goldeneye, 50+ Canada Geese, 3 Egyptian Geese, 6 Cormorants, 24 Lapwing, a female Stonechat and the usual wildfowl were seen at South Lake, while at East Lake there were 165 Lapwing, 190+ Greylag Geese, an Egyptian Goose, 38 Mallard, 2 Cormorants, a mixture of  gulls (Black-headed, Common, Herring and Great Black-backed), a Grey Heron, and 2 Great Crested Grebes. Later in the day about 45 Whooper Swans, 35+ Goldeneye, 2 Goosanders, 2 Great Egrets and a Little Egret were seen there. Between South and Cornelian Bays there were 10 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebes, a juvenile Mute Swan, 13 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Eiders, 9 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills and a Kittiwake. 2 Bramblings, a Lesser Redpoll, a Goldcrest, 2 Marsh Tits, a Coal Tit, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Fieldfare flew in off the sea at Castle Hill. A Marsh Harrier was spotted over Great Moor Road heading towards Yedmandale.

Tufted Duck - Mark Hepples