Thursday 29 August 2013

Thursday 29th August 2013

A much slower day with vastly decreased coverage. On the move south was 1 Marsh Harrier + 1 blogging north of Long Nab, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Arctic Skua, 13 Swallow, 8 House Martin and 1 Sand Martin.
Leftover migrants in the Long Nab area included 2 Whitethroat and 4 Chiffchaff.
The 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were still on Flotmanby along with 3 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 1 Green Snadpiper and 1 Greenshank, 2 Wigeon, 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were on Wykeham South Lake.
A Red-necked Grebe was reported on the sea visible from Boggle Hole though no additional details were received.

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Wednesday 28th August 2013

In the Italian Gardens 2 GREENISH WARBLERS were found together where they showed on and off for about 45 minutes but were only heard after that.
Migrant totals were 1 Turtle Dove (Ravenscar), 17 Pied Wagtail (Ravenscar), 16 Whinchat (Long Nab), 1 Wheatear, 2 Redstart (Italian Gardens, Ravenscar), 12 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Goldcrest.
On the move (south unless started) were 5 Fulmar + 2 north, 2 Manx Shearwater north, 4 Cormorant north, 2 Grey Heron north, 4 Teal north, 6 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Golden Plover, 4 Knot, 9 Curlew, 21 Swallow and 13 House Martin.
Waders seen included 2 juvenile Little Stints and 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on Flotmanby Carr and 2 Dunlin and 2 Snipe on Johnson's Marsh.
Late news from yesterday was of a juvenile Hen Harrier in the Stoupe Brow area.


One of the Italian Gardens Greenish Warblers - Michael McNaghten
 
 

 


Tuesday 27 August 2013

Tuesday 27th August 2013

Plenty of new migrants were discovered during the day, the Castle was particularly active with 1 Dunlin! 1 Redstart, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler 1 Pied Flycatcher and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
Other totals were 14 Whinchat (11 Long Nab, 1 South Cliff, 2 Seamer Tip), 3 Wheatear, 9 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler (Long Nab), 1 Grasshopper Warbler (South Cliff), 3 Willow Warbler and 18 Chifchaff.
On the move south were 3 Barnacle Goose, 4 Common Tern, 16 Swallow, 1 Flava and 5 Linnet.
The Curlew roost on South Cliff numbered 48, a Wigeon was on Seamer Tip, 2 Greenshank were on Johnson's Marsh and a Merlin was seen near the Mast at Ravenscar.

Of interest a Clouded Yellow was seen at Seamer Tip.

Lesser Whitethroat, Castle Hill - Michael McNaghten

Spotted Flycatcher, Castle Hill - Michael McNaghten

Dunlin near the steps to the Castle - Michael McNaghten

 

 

Scarborough Birders Meetings

Its getting to the time of year when the Scarborough Birders Meetings start up again. As usual they will be held in the Duchess PH and will start at 8.00pm. The first meeting is Thursday 19th September and the talk will be by Michael McNaghten on 'Birding SEQ'. All members and non-members welcome, see you there!


Tahiti Petrel, Southport Pelagic, Queensland - Michael McNaghten
 

Monday 26 August 2013

Monday 26th August 2013

A GREENISH WARBLER at Holbeck early morning was presumably the bird from yesterday relocating, it was very elusive only calling and showing very occasionally and only early morning.
A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was seen briefly on a few occasions at Ravenscar before disappearing, other migrant totals were 2 Turtle Dove (Ravenscar), 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Whinchat (1 Cloughton, 8 Ravenscar, 2 Castle), 2 Wheatear (Castle), 2 Redstart (Ravenscar), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 51 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 11 Willow Warbler and 40 Chiffchaff.
Over the sea 5 Cormorant passed south and 15 went north along with 2 Teal.
Elsewhere a Little Egret, 5 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and 2 Ruff were on Flotmanby, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Wigeon, 4 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Yellow Wagtail were on Wykeham South Lake and 150+ House Martin were at Scalby Lodge.

Sunday 25 August 2013

Sunday 25th August 2013


Although many migrants had cleared out there were still plenty of new ones to look for, the best new discovery being a GREENISH WARBLER found in the early afternoon in the Italian Gardens along South Cliff which showed on and off for nearly two hours before moving off.
Commoner migrant totals were 1 Cuckoo (Hundale), 1 Whinchat (Ravenscar), 3 Redstart (Ravenscar, Castle, South Cliff), 3 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 8 Willow Warbler,10 Chiffchaff, 2 Pied Flycatcher (Hundale, Castle) and Spotted Flycatcher (Crook Ness).
Over the sea (south unless stated) were 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Manx Shearwater + 8 north, 1 Sooty Shearwater north, 3 Cormorant, 1 Mallard, 111 Teal + 6 north, 41 Common Scoter + 19 north, 33 Oystercatcher, 1 Turnstone, 20 Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 11 Arctic Skua + 2 north, 3 Great Skua and 2491 Kittiwake north.
Elsewhere 2 Sand Martin at Harwood Dale, 3 Ruff near Staxton and 15 Turnstone were in the Harbour.
Late news for yesterday, 2 Pied Flycatcher at Night Point.


Record of todays Greenish Warbler in the Italian Gardens - Michael McNaghten



Saturday 24 August 2013

Saturday 24th August 2013

A busy day was headlined by a BARRED WARBLER in Crook Ness. It was elusive though and was only seen on two occasions.
Grounded between Ravenscar and South Cliff were Cuckoo (Hundale - Cloughton), Tree Pipit (Long Nab), 2 Whinchat (South Cliff), 2 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 17 Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Wood Warbler (Hundale), 34 Willow Warbler, 37 Chiffchaff, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Castle), 2 Pied Flycatcher (Hundale 1, Crook Ness 1).
Waders included 2 Common Sandpiper along South Cliff, 2 Golden Plover at Long Nab, a Green Sandpiper along Rudda Road, a Ringed Plover a Dunlin and a Black-tailed Godwit on Scalby Lodge Pond and a Greenshank and 4 Snipe on Johnson's Marsh.
Heading South were 4 Whimbrel and a Greenshank.
Elsewhere 9 Yellow Wagtail were on Seamer Tip Pools and a Wryneck was reported from the Hackness area via Birdguides, any information would be appreciated.


Wood Warbler, Hundale - Chris Bradshaw
 

Friday 23 August 2013

Friday 23rd August 2013

The first east winds of the autumn had predictably got things going and grounded a few migrants in the coastal bushes, totals from Long Nab to Cornelian Bay were 1 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff and 39 Willow Warbler.
On the move (south unless stated) were 45 Teal + 122 north, 3 Ringed Plover, 13 Golden Plover, 19 Whimbrel, 6 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Sand Martin, 9 Swallow and 1 Alba.
Elsewhere 5 Little Stints were found on Scalby Lodge Pond as well as 97 Teal, a female Garganey, 1 Wigeon, Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank. Ten Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and 2 Greenshank were on Flotmanby Carr, 110 Teal and 22 Common Scoter were in Jackson's Bay, a Little Egret, 30 Teal and a Greenshank were on Johnson's Marsh, a flock of 8 Common Sandpiper and 6 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults, 3 3rd winters and 1 1st winter) were at Holbeck and 4 Whimbrel were with 38 Curlew roosting on South Cliff.


The 8 Common Sandpipers at Holbeck leaving to the south - Michael McNaghten
 

Thursday 22nd August 2013

The outstanding autumn for waders just keeps getting better! Black-tailed Godwit, often a scarce species in the area has had a bumper autumn and all records have been smashed, today 15 were found, 13 at Scalby Lodge where there were 2 Dunlin and 2 on Johnson's Marsh where there was a Greenshank.
Up to 6 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults, 4 2nd winters) were around Holbeck, 4 Oystercatcher, 6 Whimbrel and 9 House Martin flew south, 4 Chiffchaff were along the South Cliffs and 42 Curlew were in the roost there.

Wednesday 21st August 2013

Past Long Nab between 12 and 1pm (south unless stated) were 3 Cormorant + a flock of 38 north! 2 Teal north, 24 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, 3 Black-headed Gull and 20 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler were in Crook Ness. On Johnson's Marsh were 20 Teal and a Greenshank, and at Flotmanby there were 2 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, 6 Green Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Tuesday 20th August 2013

Wader numbers on Flotmanby Carr had dropped since yesterday leaving 2 Ringed Plover, 8 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Ruff. A Green Sandpiper a Willow Tit and a Spotted Flycatcher were at Potter Brompton while at Wykeham South Lakes the 3 Barnacle Geese remained, an Egyptian Goose had joined them and a Common Sandpiper was also there.
A Honey Buzzard was reported at Hackness and a Minke Whale was seen in North Bay during the morning.

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Monday 19th August 2013

At least 5 Mediterranean Gulls were at Holbeck and included an adult supporting a red Darvic inscribed PNN5, a Polish bird, hopefully get the history on it soon.
In Cornelian Bay were 24 Cormorant, 47 Oystercatcher, 1 Turnstone and 39 Redshank and 53 Curlew were roosting along South Cliff and 3 Willow Warblers were along the tops there.
Flotmanby Carr held 2 Shelduck, 4 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin, 8 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Ruff.


Mediterranean Gull 'PNN5', Holbeck - Dave Mansell
 

Monday 19 August 2013

Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th August 2013

A very quiet weekend, strong westerlies and many observers being away meant coverage was very low!
The only reports were on 18th, a Spotted Flycatcher and 5 Whitethroat at Ravenscar and a Hobby over Cayton Carr.

Saturday 17 August 2013

Friday 16th August 2013


The Garganey first found on Seamer Tip Large Pool on 11th was still present there today and at Wykeham South Lakes there were 3 Barnacle Geese a drake Pochard, 7 Buzzard and a juvenile Cuckoo. Singles of Dunlin and Greenshank were on Scalby Lodge Pond while on Johnson's Marsh there was another Greenshank and 2 Snipe. Up to 9 Turnstone were in the Harbour and in the Highwood Brow area were 3 Goshawk, 3 Tree Pipit, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and 29 Crossbill.


Turnstone, Scarborough Harbour - Michael McNaghten




 

Friday 16 August 2013

Welcome!

Welcome to the all new Blog format for Scarborough Birders. As you will see at the moment we are up and running but the site is still very basic, we will be transferring the content of the last site to this one in due course but wanted to get going so the daily sightings are updated regularly now we are into the exciting part of the year! Thank you for your patience and good birding.

Thursday 15th August 2013
A juvenile Garganey at Johnson's Marsh and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults, 2 juveniles) at Wykeham South Lake were the highlights of the day. Also at Wykeham South Lakes were 22 Teal, 3 Common Sandpiper a Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank, 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 250 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin and 60+ Pied Wagtail.
At Flotmanby Carr there were 3 Shelduck, 29 Ringed Plover, 17 Dunlin, 8 Green Sandpiper a Greenshank and a brilliant count of 9 Ruff. A Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank were on Scalby Lodge Pond, the autumns first Wheatear was at Harwood Dale Lake along with a Shoveler a Green Sandpiper and 7 Snipe and 2+ Nightjars were in Harwood Dale Forest including a juvenile trapped and ringed.