Wednesday 16th July

A female Honey Buzzard was seen circling Troutsdale mid-morning. Highlights past Long Nab were 5 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, and Red-throated Diver. The first Caspian Gull of autumn was a juvenile following a fishing boat north off Yons Nab into Cayton Bay late afternoon. Also past Yons Nab were 54 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, and 3 Mediterranean gulls. 42 Curlews in Gristhorpe Bay. 30 Swifts over East Ayton. A Green Sandpiper at Northstile Pool, Wrench Green. Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 4 Green Sandpipers, 6 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier Potter Brompton Carr. 

Grey Heron Johnson's Marsh - martin Moseley.

Tuesday 15th July

 At Potter Brompton Carr: 3 Shoveler, 6 Teal, Shelduck, 2 Water Rails, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, Snipe, Dunlin, 12 Little Egrets, Red Kite, Hobby. 36 Whimbrel flew south past Yons Nab. A Little Egret at Brompton Ponds. Great White Egret, Oystercatcher Wykeham East Lake. Green Sandpiper Johnson's Marsh. Two Dunlin, 2 Yellow Wagtails south past Long Nab.

Dipper Sea Cut - Martin Moseley.

Monday 14th July

 A Little Egret at Brompton Ponds. At Potter Brompton Carr: 6 Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 11 Little Egrets, Great White Egret, and Marsh Harrier. Highlights past Long Nab: 188 Common Scoter, 7 Goosanders, Ringed Plover, 12 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew, 47 Redshank, 3 Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 158 Sandwich Terns. A Little Egret at Wykeham East Lake. 36 House Martins over Burniston.

Little Egret Brompton Ponds - Chris Bell

Sunday 13th July

 Highlights past Long Nab included a Pochard, 90 Common Scoters, Mediterranean Gull, and Arctic Skua. 

Kingfisher Peasholm Glen - Martin Moseley

Saturday 12th July

 Highlights moving past Long Nab were 359 Common Scoters, 6 Whimbrel, 6 Curlew, Dunlin, 25 Oystercatchers, 6 Redshank, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 105 Black-headed Gulls, 2= Arctic Terns. A Mediterranean Gull at Holbeck, South Bay.

Common Scoters passing Long Nab - Chris Bell

Friday 11th July

 Two Ravens at Ravenscar, a flock of 27 Cormorants, Yellow Wagtail and 4 Crossbills flew north. A Red Kite flew south over Burniston plus one east over the A64 at Seamer Carr. A singing Quail between Wrench Green and Northstile. One Honey Buzzard, Red Kite, and 5 Ravens from Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. Two Turtle Doves, 3 Tree Pipits, 3 Garden Warblers just west of the viewpoint car park. At Wykeham East Lake: Little Egret, 38 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 12 Lbb Gulls, 2 Oystercatchers. A Grasshopper Warbler reeling by the S bend on the Folkton to Cayton road. Three Nightjar territories Swang Road, Broxa. At least 7 Nightjars at Dalby Howl Dale/Givendale Rigg (5 churring).

Common Swift Newstead - Chris Bell

Thursday 10th July

 Two Great White Egrets, 3 Oystercatchers at Wykeham East Lake. A Wood Sandpiper at Harwood Dale Lake. Little Egret at Johnson's Marsh. A Bar-tailed Godwit flew north past Scalby Mills. Three Mediterranean Gulls in South Bay (2 ads, 1x2cy). Crossbills were on the move again: 2 unseen flocks north over Hovingham Drive, 22 through Ravenscar (14 north, 8 south).

Starlings in a Scalby garden - Nick Gibbons

Wednesday 9th July

 57 Crossbills moved through Ravenscar early morning. Three Mandarins, Green Sandpiper and 2 Turtle Doves at Harwood Dale Lake. A Raven flew north-west over Snainton. A Sedge Warbler at Yedingham bridge. Kingfisher in Peasholm Glen. Three Whimbrel and a Dunlin flew south at Yons Nab. A pair of Grey Partridge with 7 young at Long Lane, Seamer.

Moorhens Peasholm Glen - Nick Addey

Tuesday 8th July

 Three Oystercatchers at Wykeham East Lake. Moving past Long Nab were 4500 Guillemot/Razorbills, 89 Puffins, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, and the first juvenile Sandwich Tern of autumn. Two Golden Plover were in the fields there. Kestrel plus 2 fledged young at Cloughton. 

Bullfinch Cayton - Paul Tozer

Monday 7th July

 The Quail still calling at Long Nab. Moving past there were 15 Teal, 70 Common Scoter, 23 Manx Shearwaters and 5 Curlews. An Osprey circled Potter Brompton Carr before moving off southwards, also there were 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 86 Lapwings, Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier, and 6 Crossbills flew north. Six Oystercatchers, and 3 Little Ringed Plovers at Wykeham East Lake.

Whitethroat at Ravenscar - Paul Tymon.

Sunday 6th July

 Still no sign of the Ortolan Bunting despite efforts over the last few days. Four Honey Buzzards were reported from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint (the pale male + 3 females). At Potter Brompton Carr: 11 Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, Marsh Harrier, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Yellow Wagtails. A pair of Grey Partridge with 3 young at Yons Nab. At least three Kestrels hunting over the Castle Headland. The Quail was still at Long Nab having moved further inland along Rocks Lane. A Marsh Tit there was only the eighth record for the site. Two Mediterranean Gulls flew north, and two Little Terns and a Whimbrel south. Masses of Guillemots and Razorbills feeding offshore probably exceeded 6000. A Little Egret was at Scalby Beck. Two Turtle Doves around Harwood Dale Lake (1 juvenile), 4 Mandarin and a Jay. A pair of Stock Doves with 2 juveniles in a Burniston garden. Three Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher at the Sea Cut. A Reed Bunting at Cloughton Wyke.

Woodpigeon Wykeham Forest - David Hutchinson.

Saturday 5th July

 The singing Quail was still present at Long Nab. A Whimbrel flew in from the east there and continued west, 2 Little Egrets flew south and 2 Mediterranean Gulls flew north. Two Kingfishers and a Grey Wagtail were at Scalby Beck. A Willow Tit in the Crosscliffe area of Dalby Forest and 2 Yellow Wagtails at Givendale. A Green Sandpiper flew south at Yons Nab, plus a pair of Rock Pipits present.

Jay in Forge Valley - Andy Messenger.

Friday 4th July

 Three Dunlin and a Whimbrel flew south past Long Nab, the singing Quail still. At Potter Brompton Carr: 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Green Sandpipers, 9 Little Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, Red Kite, Cetti's Warbler. A family party of Redstarts at Troutsdale Moor. At Wykeham East Lake: 2 Shelducks, Teal, 5 Herons, 3 Little Ringed Plovers (1 juv), Oystercatcher. 

Garden Warbler Long Causeway, Wykeham - Paul Tozer.

Thursday 3rd July

 A Green Sandpiper at Nothstile Pool. Five Ravens together at Wykeham Forest. At Wykeham East Lake: Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Little Ringed Plovers (3 juvs), 2 juv Shelducks, Egyptian Goose, Oystercatcher, 14 Black-headed and 2 Common Gulls. Past Long Nab: 3 Manx Shearwaters, Shelduck, 5 Teal, 4 Eiders, 1 Mediterranean Gull.

Little Ringed Plover Wykeham East Lake - Steve Hey.

Wednesday 2nd July

 Still no reports of the Ortolan Bunting. At Wykeham East Lake: 8 Little Ringed Plover (4 juveniles), Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Oystercatchers, Curlew, Teal, 4 Herons. A Greenshank, 7 Little Egrets (2 juveniles), 2 Curlew, Marsh Harrier at Potter Brompton Carr. Highlights past Long Nab included 3 Golden Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Redshank, Arctic Tern, Arctic Skua and 55 Manx Shearwaters. 70 Swifts at Ellerburn valley. 

Grey Wagtail Scalby Beck - Martin Moseley.

Tuesday 1st July

 A Quail was calling early morning at Long Nab. Highlights on the watch included Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 50 Teal, 490 Common Scoter, 10 Curlew, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, a Crossbill and a probable Saker seen briefly flying north. A Little Owl on wires on the west side of East Heslerton. A singing Lesser Whitethroat at Irton Garden Centre. The Osprey was still present in the Ellerburn Valley. An unusual Gristhorpe village visitor was a Goldcrest moving through a garden there. The Lbb Gulls have fledged a chick on Highfield. 

Juvenile Kestrels West Ayton - Lucy Hobkinson.

Monday 30th June

 No reports of the Ortolan Bunting today, one Honey Buzzard from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. Five Black-tailed Godwits at Potter Brompton Carr left east in the evening, also one Green Sandpiper present. The Osprey was again in the Ellerburn valley, a Red Kite at Dalby/Ebberston Low Moor. Three Shoveler and a Redshank at Wykeham East Lake. A Little Egret at Brompton Ponds, and Red Kite flew south.  An increase in activity at Long Nab in the morning: moving past were 12 Teal, 79 Common Scoter, 27 Curlew, 6 Knot, 14 Mediterranean Gulls (a site day record count), 10 Manx Shearwaters, and 2 Common/Arctic Terns in the haze. Eight Herons at Johnson's Marsh. A Little Grebe + chick at Cloughton Pond.

Little Egret Brompton ponds - Chris Bell.

Sunday 29th June

 An Osprey was seen at Ellerburn. Eider below Long Nab Observatory. Seventeen Black-tailed Godwits flew south past Scalby Mills. The Ortolan Bunting still at Wykeham Forest.

Chiffchaff at Long Nab - Chris Bell.

Saturday 28th June

 The Ortolan Bunting put in a few appearances during the day, at least one Honey Buzzard seen from the Raptor Viewpoint. Red Kites continue to feature; one over the A64 near Rillington, and two over Gristhorpe village. A good Black-tailed Godwit movement was witnessed through Yorkshire, a flock of 34 were feeding at Wykeham East Lake. Fourteen Black-tailed Godwits were seen flying south over Wykeham Forest earlier, and 47 flew south past Yons Nab.Also at Wykeham Lakes were a Little Egret, 5 Little Ringed Plovers (2 juvs), Oystercatcher. Five family parties of Stonechats near RAF Fylingdales, also 3 Cuckoos, Peregrine and 5 Buzzards.

Black-tailed Godwits at Wykeham East Lake - Nick Addey

Friday 27th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains elusive at Wykeham Forest. A Little Ringed Plover at Wykeham East Lake, a Tufted Duck with 4 young on nearby Match Lake. A Golden Plover, 26 Crossbills, 24 Siskins moved through Ravenscar early morning. Eight Wood Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier at Potter Brompton Carr. 

Long-tailed Tit Barrowcliffe - Martin Moseley.

Thursday 26th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest but quite elusive generally. Two Red Kites were over the A64 at Rillington Fields mid-morning. 24 Curlews at Star Carr. Three newly hatched Little Grebe chicks at Staindale Lake, a second pair present. A morning watch at Long Nab produced 97 Common Scoter, Tufted Duck, 11 Curlew, Red-throated Diver and 21 Sand Martins. 

Ortolan Bunting - Paul Coombes.

Wednesday 25th June

 Eight Crossbills flew south at Ravenscar early morning, otherwise very quiet. The Ortolan Bunting is still at Wykeham Forest, one Honey Buzzard was reported from the nearby Raptor Viewpoint. Two Little Ringed Plovers (1 juvenile) at Harwood Dale Lake, a male Cuckoo still calling nearby. A Turtle Dove at The Mill Inn. Two Kingfishers at Staindale Lake, Dalby Forest. 22 Swifts over Scalby Cricket Club. At Potter Brompton Carr: 15 Teal, 2 Shoveler, Water Rail, Little Ringed Plover, 4 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler.

Dipper at Scalby Beck - Martin Moseley.

Tuesday 24th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest. A Fmale Goosander flew north past Long Nab, a 2cy Mediterranean Gull flew south. Two Mandarins at Harwood Dale Lake. A Little Ringed Plover, 2 juv Herons and a Reed Warbler at Wykeham East Lake. Two Wood Sandpipers at Potter Brompton Carr, also Greeen Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Whooper Swan, 6 Little Egrets, Great White Egret. Nine Herons at Johnson's Marsh. Two Common Terns in North Bay in the afternoon. 

Whitethroat Cayton Bay - Stephen Beaver.

Monday 23rd June

 A total of 7 Wood Sandpipers at Potter Brompton Carr, 6 of which left high westwards. Also there were the Whooper Swan, 27 Teal, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 8 Little Egrets, and a Great White Egret. A singing Quail and a Corn Bunting near Long Nab Bird Observatory plus a Cuckoo at Hundale gully, 4 Red Kites, 377 Swifts, 41 Sand Martins flew south, 7 Curlews flew north in the morning. Another 2 Red Kites flew south over Throxenby Mere. Two Honey Buzzards at the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint, the Ortolan Bunting remained elusive for many today. A Dipper and Grey Wagtail at Scalby Beck. Two Turtle Doves just north of Burniston. A drake Eider off Marine Drive. A Grasshopper Warbler at Scalby Ness. 

Eider at Marine Drive - Chris Bell.

Sunday 22nd June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest. A Red Kite flew south at Johnson's Marsh. South past Ravenscar were 286 Swifts, 12 Crossbills, 28 Siskins. A Willow Tit at Harwood Dale Forest. A Lbb Gull at Lebberston. A Red Kite over Stepney Hill. A Quail singing at Cromer Point, 100 Swifts moving south in just five minutes there mid-afternoon. At Harwood Dale Lake: Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover. A Turtle Dove at the Mill Inn. 

Juvenile Sand Martin Cayton Bay - Stephen Beaver.

Saturday 21st June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest, one Honey Buzzard reported from the Raptor Viewpoint. Good numbers of finches were observed moving south at Ravenscar early morning: 165 Crossbills, 619 Siskins, 47 Chaffinches, 36 Goldfinches, plus a Cuckoo and Raven present. Two Wood Sandpipers,  a Green Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plovers were at Harwood Dale Lake. Four Green Sandpipers at Potter Brompton Carr, also there 2 Curlews, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Little Egrets, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite and Cetti's Warbler. Two Turtle Doves at The Mill Inn, Harwood Dale. A Red Kite flew south over Burniston. A juvenile Dipper at Low Staindale, Dalby Forest and Kingfisher at Staindale Lake. Two Cuckoo near RAF Fylingdales, also a Wheatear at Eller Beck. 

A typical view of the elusive Ortolan Bunting - Andy Hood.

Friday 20th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest. NB. The area is cordoned off to avoid excessive disturbance, it is paired with a male Yellowhammer. Good views are still being achieved.

The Sand Martin colony at Cayton Bay (20 holes) has many juvenile fledged birds around. Thirty Swifts over Westover Club plus 16 over Burniston. 39 Crossbills, 24 Siskin moved through Ravenscar early morning, a Cuckoo present there. Five Mandarin, Shelduck and 2 Little Ringed Plovers at Harwood Dale Lake. One Honey Buzzard reported from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. A Tawny Owl at Wrea Head Hotel. At Wykeham East Lake: 55 Mallard, 2 Little Ringed Plovers (+ 2 chicks), Curlew, Oystercatcher, 2 Great Crested Grebes (+ 3 chicks), 2 Little Egrets. A redstart at Dargate Slack, Dalby Forest.

Reed Bunting Seamer tip pool - Paul Tozer.

Thursday 19th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest, one Honey Buzzard reported from the Raptor Viewpoint. Two Ravens at Ravenscar, 24 Crossbills flew south there, plus a Curlew flew high north. The pair of Little Ringed Plovers with 2 chicks at Wykeham East Lake, also a pair of Yellow Wagtails, and the Great Crested Grebe pair with 3 chicks. At Folkton Carr: Short-eared Owl, Hobby and a male Marsh Harrier. A reeling Grasshopper Warbler still at Scalby Beck. 

Grey Partridge at Snainton - Chris Bell.

Wednesday 18th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham forest. One Honey Buzzard reported from the nearby Raptor Viewpoint. A Little Owl near Scalby Cricket Club. At Harwood Dale Lake: Wood Sandpiper, Mandarin, and Little Ringed Plover. 27 Crossbills moved through Ravenscar early morning (12 south, 15 north). 

Razorbill - Becca-Marie Sealife Safari.

Tuesday 17th June

 The Ortolan Bunting continued to entertain many visitors at Wykeham forest. 36 Crossbills flew south at Ravenscar early morning. A Mandarin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Common Gull at Harwood Dale Lake. A Turtle Dove at the Mill Inn. The Little Ringed Plovers at Wykeham East Lake have two chicks. A Little Egret, two pairs of Coots building new nests at Brompton Ponds. Two broods of Tufted Ducks at Seamer Rd Mere. A Quail called briefly at Malton Cote. At least seven breeding pairs of Redstarts in the Scar/Castlebeck Wood area plus two pairs along helwath Beck.

Ortolan Bunting Wykeham Forest - Jo Symon.

Monday 16th June

 The Ortolan Bunting at Wykeham Forest attracted good numbers of birders today. One Honey Buzzard was reported from the nearby Raptor Viewpoint, also a Nightjar was located roosting on a log near the benches. Five Whinchat territories were located at Eller Beck/RAF Fylingdales area. Surprisingly no Wheatears present. Single Great White and Little Egrets at Wykeham East Lake. 33 Crossbills flew south-west at Ravenscar early morning. Two Little Ringed Plovers still at Harwood Dale Lake.

Nightjar Wykeham Forest - Andy Hood.