Tuesday 29 June 2021

Tuesday 29th June

A Black Guillemot in summer plumage flew north past Long Nab this morning, as did a Common Tern, 3 Curlew, a Shelduck, 2 Teal, 37 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, 3 Black-headed Gulls and 1129 Herring Gulls, while a Lesser Black-backed Gull flew south. A Little Egret was seen by a small pond to the east side of Seamer Tip.

Monday 28 June 2021

Monday 28thJune

4 Black-headed Gulls flew in from the coast and circled round Crossgates this morning, while a pair of Curlew and a group of 5 Cormorants flew over Cloughton Wyke. 12 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 4 Eiders, 243 Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, 21 Curlew and a Hobby flew past Long Nab. Two Common Terns were at Wykeham Lakes in the morning.

Sunday 27 June 2021

Sunday 27th June

A Hobby flew south at Long Nab this morning, while other highlights from there include: 5 Gadwall, 3 Eiders, a Tufted Duck, 23 Curlew and 239 Puffins. 3 juvenile Lesser Whitethroats were in the hedge on Seamer Tip Road, and a female Yellow Wagtail was spotted at Wykeham East Lake. 2 Turtle Doves were at the Mill Inn. At Seamer Road Mere 5 pairs of Coot have produced seven broods between them, comprised of 28 young, while a sixth pair that have recently arrived are now incubating. 24 Tufted Duck are present, but the only brood so far has been totally predated.

Saturday 26 June 2021

Saturday 26th June

A Great Skua spent some time this morning in the field behind the Long Nab observatory, from where 92 Manx Shearwaters, 19 Curlew, 2 Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua were seen flying by northwards. In Harwood Dale Forest a Cuckoo was calling just north of the Falcon Inn, and there were reports of Ospreys from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint and Wykeham Lakes. 4 Common Terns flew east over Crossgates.

Friday 25 June 2021

Thursday 24th June

A pair of Lesser Whitethroats were seen carrying food at Burton Riggs this morning, while 4 singing Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat were near Talyor Way, where Black-headed Gulls were flying south. 2 drumming Snipe and a Cuckoo were at Helwath Beck; a chipping Snipe and a Cuckoo were on Sneaton Low Moor; and 16 Crossbills were seen in Harwood Dale Forest. A pair of Yellow Wagtails were seen in the Coverdale Moor area, and a Honey Buzzard was seen twice in Dalby Forest near Givendale Head Farm this afternoon. 7 Teal, 352 Common Scoter, 26 Curlew and 648 Starlings flew north past Long Nab, while a Common Term flew south.

Thursday 24 June 2021

Wednesday 23rd June

183 Common Scoter, 17 Curlew, a Golden Plover, 239 Starlings and a Corn Bunting flew north past Long Nab this morning, while one Curlew and 107 Starlings went south. A female Shelduck was at Johnson's Marsh. 38 Fulmar pairs were at Blea Wyke Point, plus 2 pairs at Hundales, where there was just one Herring Gull nest. A male Redstart was seen at Ellerburn this afternoon, a Hobby was seen at North Moor, and a Willow Tit and 3 Goshawks were spotted from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint. In a 4 hour watch over Dalby from Givendale this morning the following were noted: 8 sighting of Goshawk and 14+ of Buzzard, 2 Crossbills, 4 Tree Pipits, 6 Yellowhammers and a Jay. At Cloughton Pond a male Shelduck was with 7 young, a Coot had one young, and 2 Moorhens were with one young.

Tuesday 22 June 2021

Tuesday 22nd June

A Great Skua flew north past Marine Drive yesterday, and another flew north past Long Nab today. At Helwath Wood/Beck there were a Wood Warbler, 3 Spotted Flycatcher territories, a Marsh Tit family group of 5, and a Stonechat and juvenile. A Hobby flew north-east over Crossgates this afternoon, and 2 Curlew were at Johnson's Marsh.

Sunday 20 June 2021

Sunday 20th June

There were 3, possibly 4, churring Nightjars, 2 Woodcock and a Cuckoo at Birch Hall last night, and 6 Nightjars were churring in Harwood Dale Forest east of the main road. A Great Skua and 260 Common Scoter passed LongNab this morning. 2 TurtleDoves were seen at the Mill Inn.

Saturday 19th June

A Redwing at Helwarth Beck. An Osprey was seen over Wykeham Lakes this morning, and another was at Dalby, where 4 Goshawks, a Sparrowhawk and a Green Woodpecker were also seen. An Arctic Skua and a Great Skua flew past Long Nab, and a Wood Warbler was singing in Helwath Wood, Harwood Dale. There was an unconfirmed report of a Hoopoe at Harwood Dale.

Friday 18 June 2021

Friday 18th June

A Sandwich Tern was in South Bay this morning, and on a quiet sea watch at Long Nab 2 Curlew and 127 Puffins flew past. A Honey Buzzard was seen over Wykeham Forest while 3 Goshawks, 6 Buzzards, 2 Tree Pipits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker were seen during a 2 hour watch over Dalby Forest. A count of occupied Kittiwake nests on Castle Headland showed the highest number (1963) since the year 2000, well up on last year's count of 1772. A fock of 21 Common Scoter were at the Water Park, Wykeham Lakes early morning.

Thursday 17th June

Passing Long Nab this morning were 5 Teal, 10 Shelduck, 971 Common Scoter, 74 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Common Terns and 4 drake Eiders. A female Gadwall at Seamer Tip pool was seen with at least 4 ducklings, and a Mute Swan was seen on the sea at Holbeck. A Barn Owl flew over an East Ayton garden. The annual town count of occupied Kittiwake nests gave a result of 961 nests, continuing an increasing trend over the last 4 years despite increased gull-proofing measures in the town.

Wednesday 16 June 2021

Wednesday 16th June

The family of Mute Swans from Taylor Way have moved to Burton Riggs, where there was a Lesser Whitethroat. 3 Common Terns were photographed at the Wykeham Lakes Water Park where there were also 2 Egyptian Geese present. A pair of Mute Swans with a cygnet were at East Lake, while 5 Crossbills were below Highwood Brow, Wykeham Forest. A Peregrine was seen circling over Ellerburn.

Tuesday 15 June 2021

Tuesday 15th June

The following were seen during a 3 hour watch over Dalby Forest: an Osprey, 2 Honey Buzzards, a Red Kite, about 12 Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, one or possibly 2 Green Woodpeckers, a Willow Tit and 4 Crossbills. 3 Teal and 4 Manx Shearwaters flew north past Long Nab this morning and a pair of Rock Pipits were feeding their young in a nest near the observatory. A Goshawk and 4+ Common Buzzards were seen from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, while a Jay was nearby.

Monday 14th June

A Red Kite and 405 Swifts flew south past Long Nab this morning. This evening 3 Nightjars were churring and 2 pairs were displaying north of the Falcon Inn, where there were also 2 Cuckoos and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A singing Quail at Wilton Ings.

Sunday 13 June 2021

Sunday 13th June

A Cuckoo was seen flying north along the cliff at Crook Ness this morning. During a 3 hour watch over Dalby Forest fron Nabgate there were 6 sightings of a Goshawk, one Honey Buzzard, one Red Kite and 20+ Common Buzzards, including displaying birds. Also seen were a Sparrowhawk, 3 Tree Pipits, 2 Crossbills and a Redstart.

Saturday 12 June 2021

Saturday 12th June

A Quail was singing this morning in the BBS square TA0078 for the third consecutive year. A Red Kite was seen from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, from where Honey Buzzards are being reported daily. Possible sighting of a Hen Harrier at Stoupe Brow.

Friday 11th June

A singing Marsh Warbler at Seamer tip. A Quail was sound recorded over Crossgates during the night, and a Hobby flew west over the rooftops of Heron Lane this morning. At Sneaton Moor there were 2 Cuckoo and 2 Mistle Thrush, while a Jay and 4 Mistle Thrush were at May Beck. A Common/Arctic Tern was spotted high over Wykeham East Lake, while in Forge Valley a female Mandarin was seen with 2 young and a pair of Mandarins were also seen further along the river. In Wykeham Forest late evening a Woodcock was seen roding while 2 Nightjars were seen in flight and 3 were churring.

Thursday 10 June 2021

Thursday 10th June

Highlights of a BBS square at Scampston this morning included 3 Red Kites, 2 Green Woodpeckers, a Lesser Whitethroat, and a juvenile Lapwing with its parents. 12+ Swifts and a Buzzard were seen over Woodlands cemetery. A Quail was sound recorded over Crossgates in the eartly hours again.

Wednesday 9 June 2021

Wednesday 9th June

Last night there were 3 churring Nightjars, 2 (possibly 3) Cuckoos singing, and a Woodcock behind the Falcon Inn. A drake Wigeon was at Burton Riggs this morning. A Red Kite was seen heading south over Heron Lane, Crossgates, followed by another 2 hours later. A Red Kite was also seen Wykeham Forest, as were 14 Common Buzzards and a Turtle Dove. A Quail was sound recorded over Crossgates in the early hours.

Tuesday 8 June 2021

Tuesday 8th June

A Red Kite was seen from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint this morning, as were 6+ Common Buzzards and at least one Goshawk, while the pale male Honey Buzzard was seen from North Moor. 5 Oystercatchers were in the field south of Seamer Tip and a white Greylag was with a goose flock in the field to the east of the pond. A Yellow Wagtail was seen carrying food near Star Carr. 3 Black-headed Gulls flew south over Crossgates.

Monday 7 June 2021

Monday 7th June

At least 4 Nightjars were seen in the cleared area behind the Falcon Inn last night, and another was seen from the Reasty Bank car park. Today at least 4 Nightjars were churring in clearings in the Housedale area of Dalby, where there were 4+ Woodcock. A Green Woodpecker was at Wilton Heights and a male Redstart was at Crosscliffe and 2 at Staindale.

Sunday 6 June 2021

Sunday 6th June

A Hobby was spotted over Wykeham South Lake this afternoon, and a Red Kite was over Morrison's.

Saturday 5 June 2021

Saturday 5th June

A Little Egret was roosting at Burton Riggs this morning, and an Osprey was spotted circling over Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint before drifting off north-east.

Friday 4 June 2021

Friday 4th June

A pale male Honey Buzzard was seen high, heading north towards town along South Cliff this morning, and a Hobby flew south over Newby.

Thursday 3 June 2021

Thursaday 3rd June

There was a possible sighting of 3 Common Cranes this morning flying north off Marine Drive then heading inland. A pale male Honey Buzzard was seen from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, plus an Osprey, a Peregrine, 2 Crossbills, a Garden Warbler, a Tree Pipit and 5 Buzzards. 3 Swifts flew over a garden in Ravenscar and 4 over one on Stepney Road. A male and a female Bullfinch were in the Italian Gardens, plus a Chiffchaff drinking in the fountain.

Wednesday 2 June 2021

Wednesday 2nd June

An Osprey was at Wykeham Lakes this morning, and in Harwood Dale Forest there were 2 Cuckoos singing and 7 Tree Pipits.

Tuesday 1 June 2021

Tuesday 1st June

2 Shelduck at Johnson's Marsh had a brood of 7 or 8 young. A Sedge Warbler was at South Cliff and a Reed Warbler was singing from scrub at Seamer Road Mere. 2 Honey Buzzards were seen high over Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, while a Hobby was hunting, a Red Kite was circling and 2 Buzzards flew south-east over Crossgates. A Little Ringed Plover was at Wykeham East Lake while at least one Osprey was above. A Cuckoo was calling at Scar Wood and another was calling at the same time from Jugger Howe.