Tuesday 31 December 2013

Tuesday 31st December 2013

A quiet end to what has been a fantastic year for birding in the Scarborough area.
A Kingfisher, 2 Marsh Tit and a flock of 60 Siskin were along Scalby Beck and 130 Linnet were along Field Lane nearby.
Happy New Year to all readers.

Monday 30 December 2013

Monday 30th December 2013

A slow day, the Great Northern Diver was still present in the Harbour, 2 Red-throated Diver, 16 Common Scoter and a Guillemot were in South Bay and 5 Gadwall were at Burton Riggs.

Sunday 29 December 2013

Sunday 29th December 2013

The Firecrest was still at Seamer Mere along with 2 Treecreeper and a Goldcrest, the Great Northern Diver was still in the Harbour and 61 Turnstone were also there.
Out in South Bay were 3 Red-throated Diver, 5 Great Crested Grebe and 15 Common Scoter, off Holbeck were 80 Oystercatcher, 10 Redshank and 5 Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Egret and 20 Fieldfare were at Star Carr, 6 Gadwall and a Barn Owl were at Seamer Tip, 2 Redhshank were at Seamer sewage works, and 61 Skylark, 1 Reed Bunting and 3 Lapland Bunting were at Long Nab.
On the move past Long Nab (south unless stated) 21 Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar + 10 north, 2 Gannet north, 3 Cormorant + 1 north, 1 Wigeon north, 6 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew north, 54 Black-headed Gull, 81 Common Gull, 528 Herring Gull, 204 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Kittiwake, 3 Auk sp north, and 1 Snow Bunting.

Saturday 28 December 2013

Saturday 28th December 2013

The Firecrest at the Mere was seen again today, it was again about 100 yards west of the Cafe. In the Harbour the Great Northern Diver was still present while in South Bay there were 2 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Canada Goose, 11 Common Scoter and 3 Guillemot, 16 Wigeon flew south. In North Bay there was a Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe, 16 Red-throated Diver a Canada Goose, 8 Guillemot, a Razorbill and 2 Meadow Pipit were at Cloughton Wyke, 54 Teal, 18 Wigeon, 14 Curlew and a Bar-tailed Godwit were on Johnson's Marsh and 5 Buzzard and 2 Green Sandpiper were on Thornton Carr.

Firecrest at the Mere - John Harwood
 

Friday 27th December 2013

At Wykeham South Lake there were 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost, also there were 2 Goldeneye, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 72 Great Black-backed Gull.
Elsewhere the Great Northern Diver was still in the Harbour and a Great Crested Grebe was in South Bay, another Great Northern Diver flew south at Cloughton Wyke, 59 Teal and 22 Wigeon were on Johnson's Marsh and 5 Gadwall, 37 Tufted Duck and a Kingfisher were at Seamer Mere.

Friday 27 December 2013

Thursday 26th December 2013

Another Firecrest was discovered today, it was feeding in the Cemetery along Manor Road in the Gully by the metal bridge.
Past Long Nab (south unless stated) were 9 Red-throated Diver + 13 north, 7 Fulmar north, 1 Gannet + 2 north, 22 Cormorant + 2 north, 7 Pink-footed Geese, 15 Common Scoter, 9 Black-headed Gull + 1 north, 4 Common Gull, 521 Herring Gull, 51 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Kittiwake north and 12 Auk sp north. Also in the Long Nab area were 47 Skylark, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Reed Bunting and 1 Lapland Bunting.
Elsewhere the Great Northern Diver was still present in the Harbour though did wander out off Marine Drive to escape the Raft Race! Between the Harbour and Scalby Mills were 3 Red-throated Diver, 6 Shag and 11 Guillemot, 4 Goosander and 112 Lapwing were at Harwood Dale Lake and 2 Mediterranean Gulls were in South Bay.

Thursday 26 December 2013

Wednesday 25th December 2013

Highlights on Christmas Day were 9 Waxwing at Hutton Buscel Carr which flew off towards Ings Bridge, also at Hutton Buscel Carr there was a Brambling and a Lesser Redpoll and the Great Northern Diver was still in the Harbour.
Elsewhere a Goldeneye was on Wykeham South Lake, a Red-throated Diver and 81 Wigeon were at Scalby Mills, 2 Green Sandpiper and 6 Bullfinch were on Thornton Carr, a female Blackcap was along Stepney Drive, 25+ Brambling were by the Railway north of Ravenscar and 40 Greenfinch were roosting by Seamer Railway Station

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Tuesday 24th December 2013

A fairly productive Christmas eve. The Great Northern Diver was still in the Harbour, as was an Eider, 41 Purple Sandpiper and a Guillemot, out in South Bay there was a Black-throated Diver, 11 Common Scoter and a Guillemot and at Scalby Mills there was an adult Little Gull.
Elsewhere 2 Little Egret and 11 Whooper Swan were at Folkton Carr, 8 Cormorant, 18 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye and 36 Coot were on Wykeham South Lake, 25 Curlew were on Johnson's Marsh, a Barn Owl was at Seamer Tip, 43 Skylark, 1 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting were at Long Nab and 2 Goldcrest were at Burton Riggs.
Past Long Nab (south unless stated) were 1 Red-throated Diver + 9 north, 10 Fulmar + 10 north, 5 Gannet north, 2 Cormorant + 2 north, 1 Eider, 1 Common Scoter, 11 Black-headed Gull + 3 north, 14 Common Gull, 409 Herring Gull, 119 Great Black-backed Gull, 29 Kittiwake north and 2 Auk sp + 72 north.

Monday 23 December 2013

Monday 23rd December 2013


The Yellow-legged Gull was still present on Wykeham South Lake along with 18 Tufted Duck, 24 Coot and 145 Lapwing, the Great Northern Diver was still present in the Harbour, 5 Mediterranean Gulls were at Holbeck, a Great Crested Grebe was in South Bay and 11 Whooper Swas flew south past Marine Drive.

Sunday 22 December 2013

Sunday 22nd December 2013

A Firecrest at the Mere on the Railway side was the highlight of the day and is the first December record in Scarborough. Elsewhere 12 Goosander and 116 Lapwing were on Harwood Dale Lake, 2 Red-throated Diver and 3 Guillemot were at Scalby Mills, 18 Wigeon, 61 Teal were on Johnson's Marsh, 5 Common Buzzard were seen over Everly Hotel and a Dipper was at Wrench Green.

Saturday 21 December 2013

Saturday 21st December 2013

The adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in the roost at Wykeham South Lake, also there were 3 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, 30 Linnet and a Brambling. The Great Northern Diver was still in the Harbour, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 14 Common Scoter were in South Bay, 5 Red-throated Diver, 14 Linnet and 20 Yellowhammer were at Cloughton Wyke, 68 Teal, 17 Wigeon and 9 Curlew were on Johnson's Marsh, 2 Peregrine were seen over Ruston Carr and 30 Brambling were at Cockmoor Hall.
On the move (north unless stated) were 2 Red-throated Diver, 11 Fulmar + 2 south, 5 Gannet, 12 Herring Gull south, 4 Great Black-backed Gull south, 11 Kittiwake and 16 Guillemot.

A popular bird, Great Northern Diver in the Harbour - Chris Bell
 

Friday 20 December 2013

Friday 20th December 2013

At Wykeham South Lake the adult Yellow-legged Gull and the adult Iceland Gull were both seen again, also there were 4 Goldeneye, 200+ Lapwing, 750 Common Gull, 1000 Herring Gull and 65 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 1 Mandarin and 3 Goosander were on the Mere, 6 Mediterranean Gull were at Holbeck, a female Eider was at Scalby Mills, 2 Red-throated Diver and 15 Common Scoter were in South Bay and 32 Pink-footed Geese flew south at Ravenscar.

Thursday 19 December 2013

Thursday 19th December 2013

The Great Northern Diver continued its stay in the Harbour, also there were 36 Purple Sandpiper and 59 Turnstone. Another 5 Purple Sandpiper and a Red-throated Diver were in North Bay, 3 Whooper Swans were on Burton Riggs before leaving to the west, 60 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 360 Herring Gull, 150 Great Black-backed Gull were at Scalby Mills, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 9 Teal and 6 Common Scoter were in South Bay and 20 Waxwing were seen near Pickering.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Tuesday 17th - Wednesday 18th December 2013

On the 17th the only reports were of the Great Northern Diver and 59 Turnstone in the Harbour and 4 Great Crested Grebe in South Bay.
The 18th was a little more active with a adult Yellow-legged Gull at Wykeham South Lake along with 1500+ Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 150+ Great Black-backed Gull, the 18 Waxwing along Red Scar Lane and 3 Pink-footed Geese were at Potter Brompton Carr before leaving east.

Monday 16 December 2013

Monday 16th December 2013

An adult Iceland Gull was the Highlight at Wykeham South Lake, also there were 1000+ Black-headed Gull, 850+ Common Gull, 800+ Herring Gull and 150+ Great Black-backed Gull. The Great Northern Diver was in the Harbour, 18 Waxwing were in Newby and a Chiffchaff at Burton Riggs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 5 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar + 1 north, 1 Cormorant, 1 Curlew north, 2 Common Gull, 96 Herring Gull, 33 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Kittiwake and 1 Guillemot north.

Sunday 15 December 2013

Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th December 2013

A quiet day on 14th saw only one report, that being two Bean Geese seen briefly in flight at Burton Riggs.
The 15th was at least a little more lively. An adult Iceland Gull south at Long Nab was the highlight of a watch there, also on the move (south unless stated) were 10 Red-throated Diver + 9 north, 20 Fulmar + 2 north, 4 Gannet north, 3 Cormorant + 1 north, 2 Shelduck north, 1 Common Scoter + 24 north, 9 Black-headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, 803 Hering Gull, 89 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Kittiwake and 5 Auk sp + 1 north.
Also at Long Nab were 2 Lapland Bunting.
Elsewhere the Great Northern Diver was in the Harbour, 5 Gadwall, 64 Tufted Duck and a Kingfisher were at the Mere, a Shelduck, 44 Teal and 25 Wigeon were at Johnson's Marsh, 75 Mallard, 9 Pochard, 4 Goldeneye, 18 Coot, 400 Lapwing, 3 Golden Plover and 9 Linnet were at Wykeham South Lake, 13 Goosander were on Harwood Dale Lake and an Eider was at Scalby Mills.
A strange record involved a Turnstone feeding in the porch way in Tesco car park on the other side of town from the Harbour!

Saturday 14 December 2013

Friday 13th December 2013

The 1st year Great Northern Diver continued its stay in the Harbour, also there were 65 Turnstone and 33+ Purple Sandpiper and at Wykeham South Lake there was a Goldeneye, 474 Lapwing, 900 Common Gull, 1450 Herring Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Friday 13 December 2013

Thursday 12th December 2013

An adult White-fronted Goose was present at Burton Riggs briefly during the morning. Almost as brief was a Great Grey Shrike half a mile north of Spikers Hill on the uncut part of the hedge there, it was found at 10am but wasn't seen again after 11am.
The Great Northern Diver was still present by the Harbour, 153 Pink-footed Geese were on Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) and left to the east and 191 flew west over Sherburn. The Gull roost at Wykeham South Lake held 600+ Black-headed Gull, 1400+ Common Gull, 1100+ Herring Gull and 250+ Great Black-backed Gull.

Please note, the open morning scheduled to take place at Potter Brompton Carr on Saturday 14th December has been cancelled.

Management work taking place on the farm necessitated the lowering of water levels in late November. This work has taken longer than expected and although sluices were raised earlier this week, the generally dry conditions of recent days has meant that the fields have not yet flooded again.

I had a walk around this afternoon and although I was pleased to encounter a flock of Pink-footed Geese, these soon departed leaving the area fairly devoid of birds. Therefore the event has been cancelled.

Another open morning is planned for mid February and details will be announced in due course.

Thursday 12 December 2013

Wedneday 11th December 2013

Two Great Northern Diver were in the Harbour today, the 1st year plus a near perfect breeding plumaged adult! Unfortunately after leaving the Harbour it soon became beached and after a few near misses from passing Dogs it was boxed up and taken into care.
Another Great Northern Diver was seen in North Bay where there was also a Great Crested Grebe, 3 Shag and a drake Eider, 68 Pink-footed Geese flew south, the Blackcap was still in Crossgates, 12+ Waxwing and 8 Bullfimch were in Harwood Dale and 11 Goosander were on Harwood Dale Lake.


Great Northern Diver in the Harbour - Dave Mansell


Soon after beached in South Bay - Dave Mansell

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Tuesday 10th December 2013

Waxwings continued to arrive with 8 new birds at Curlew Rise in Crossgates and 20 were again were reported from Harwood Dale. Elsewhere the Great Northern Diver was still in the Harbour, 5 Great Crested Grebe and 8 Common Scoter were in South Bay, 3 Little Grebe, 7 Mandarin and 17 Teal were on Hackness Lake, the White-fronted Goose, 26 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard and 2 Goldeneye were on Wykeham South Lake, 130 Wigeon were on Flotmanby Carr, 11 Goosander were on Harwood Dale Lake, a Little Egret, a Water Rail, a Barn Owl and a Lesser Redpoll were by Flixton Bridge, 5 Mediterranean Gull were at Holbeck, 150 Fieldfare, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 15 Reed Bunting and 57 Yellowhammer were at Ganton, 32 Brambling were at Cockmoor Hall and a Snow Bunting was at Stoupe Brow.

Great Northern Diver, Scarborough - Dave Mansell

Monday 9 December 2013

Monday 9th December 2013

The Great Northern Diver remained on show in the Harbour where there were 45 Purple Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail. In South Bay there was a Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant and 3 Shag. On Wykeham South Lake were 5 Whooper Swan, 231 Greylag Geese, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye and 48 Greenfinch, 60+ Chaffinch and 8 Brambling.

Sunday 8 December 2013

2013 Records

2013 has been a record breaking year in Scarborough in many ways, 236 species have been recorded up to now and many species have been recorded in above average numbers, for example it was an excellent autumn for passage wader species such as Knot, Sanderling and Black-tailed Godwit, the previous day record of Great Skuas was almost double this year and who can forget the Yellow-browed Warbler influx?
Because the year has been so good we have decided to once again produce a report, although we plan for it to be a PDF published via the website.
Lots of work has already gone into the report as the year has progressed to ensure its accuracy however I'm sure many people out there will have visited the Scarborough area during the year and may well have a few records that could be contributing to the knowledge of birds and their conservation in the Scarborough area, so if possible can anyone who may have the odd record please email them to scarboroughbirdrecords@gmail.com as quickly as possible, regardless of how unimportant they may seem.
And if anyone would like to contribute pictures for possible inclusion in the report you can just send them through to the same address, just include the date and place any pictures were taken and send. Please could you send through the originals, no cropped or photo shopped pictures, Thankyou.

Sunday 8th December 2013

Past Long Nab (north unless stated) were 6 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver + 1 south, 1 Fulmar + 1 south, 1 Gannet, 5 Cormorant + 6 south, 5 Teal, 1 Long-tailed Duck south, 3 Common Scoter, 4 Goosander south, 25 Black-headed Gull south, 22 Common Gull south, 39 Herring Gull + 661 south, 18 Great Black-backed Gull + 69 south, 7 Guillemot, 10 Auk sp + 2 south.
Present at Long Nab were 19 Pink-footed Geese, 15 Skylark, 90 Tree Sparrow, 2 Reed Bunting and 6+ Lapland Bunting.
Elsewhere Great Northern Divers were seen in the Harbour and in Cornelian Bay, a Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 51 Common Scoter and a Velvet Scoter were in Cayton Bay, 20 Common Scoter were in South Bay, 2 Little Egret and 23 Curlew were on Folkton Carr, 3 Little Egret were on Flixton Carr, 51 Teal and 19 Wigeon were on Johnson's Marsh and 18 Waxwing were at Willymath Close Industrial Estate in Burniston.

Saturday 7 December 2013

Saturday 7th December 2013

The White-fronted Goose remained on Wykeham South Lake, also of note there were Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 10 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and a Long-tailed Duck. Elsewhere 11 Goosander were on Harwood Dale Lake, a male Blackcap was in Crossgates, a Waxwing was reported from Burniston, 23 Cormorant flew south at sea, 2 Mandarin were on Hackness Lake and a Barn Owl was by Folkton treatment works.

Friday 6 December 2013

Friday 6th December 2013

The tidal surge yesterday evening and this morning caused lots of damage along the South and North Bay sea fronts and even breached the seawall at Scalby Mills!
Unfortunately the weather didn't spark off much in the way of movement and made checking the Bays almost impossible, on the move (north unless stated) were 7 Red-throated Diver + 3 south, 1 Fulmar, 6 Gannet + 6 south, 4 Cormorant + 6 north, 1 Shag, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Velvet Scoter, 3 Common Scoter south, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Eider south, 1 Snipe in off, 84 Auk sp + 5 south.
Present in the Long Nab area were 1 Pink-footed Goose, 41 Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting and 3 Lapland Bunting. In South Bay there was a Red-throated Diver and 42 Common Scoter, a Grey Wagtail was in the Harbour, 12 Pink-footed Geese flew over West Ayton, the 14 Waxwing were still in Harwood Dale and 10 Goosander were on Harwood Dale Lake.

Thursday 5 December 2013

Thursday 5th December 2013

The first White-fronted Goose of the year was found on Wykeham South Lake during the evening, also there were 24 Tufted Duck, a Pochard, 1 Goldeneye, 500 Common Gull, 285 Herring Gull and 140 Great Black-backed Gull. In the Harbour were 73 Turnstone and 35+ Purple Sandpiper while out in South Bay were 2 Great Crested Grebe, the Great Northern Diver and 35 Common Scoter, the Gull roost there attracted 80 Black-headed Gull, 7 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Gull, 300 Herring Gull, 100 Great Black-backed Gull and a Gannet!

Mediterranean Gull, South Bay - Michael McNaghten
 

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Wednesday 4th December 2013

Up to 5 Mediterranean Gulls were at Holbeck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 5 Shag, 33 Common Scoter and the Great Northern Diver were in South Bay and 58 Wigeon, a Goldeneye and 16 Fieldfare were at Wykeham South Lake.

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Tuesday 3rd December 2013

A quiet day with few reports. Only 14 Waxwing were in Harwood Dale, down by one from yesterday, 2 Little Egret were on Seamer Mead, the Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 5 Common Scoter and an Eider were in South Bay, 10 Goosander were on Harwood Dale Lake, a Goldeneye, 280 Black-eaded Gull, 870 Common Gull, 340 Herring Gull and 60 Great Black-backed Gull were in Wykeham South Lake and a Green Sandpiper was at Seamer Tip.

Monday 2 December 2013

Monday 2nd December 2013

Up to 15 Waxwing were still present in Harwood Dale showing well by the Church, 40 Skylark, 8 Lapland Buntings and 2 Yellowhammer were at Long Nab, the Great Northern Diver was still by the Harbour mouth and 37 Wigeon, 5 Pochard, a Goldeneye, 374 Lapwing and 40+ Fieldfare were at Wykeham South Lake.
Passage at Long Nab included (south unless stated) were 4 Red-throated Diver + 20 north, 3 Gannet + 18 north, 2 Cormorant, 1 Shag, 4 Pochard west, 4 Eider, 3 Common Scoter + 25 north, 2 Black-headed Gull + 4 north, 15 Common Gull, 126 Herring Gull, 46 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Meadow Pipit and 1 Linnet.

Sunday 1 December 2013

Open morning at Potter Brompton Carr on 14th December 2013

As previously announced an open morning for Scarborough Birders to visit the wetland scheme at Potter Brompton Carr has been scheduled to take place in December. 
 
I can now confirm that it will take place on Saturday 14th December 2013. The start time will be 0930hrs. The meeting point will be at the Cut bridge which is a few hundred metres north of the Ganton Railway Crossing.

Due to recent management work taking place on the farm, water levels have been dropped recently and the number of ducks and waders present has reduced significantly. However water levels should be back up again by the end of this week and hopefully birds will quickly return in time for this event.

In the event of there being very cold weather conditions around 14th December the event may have to be cancelled as birds quickly vacate the farm when the floods freeze over.  However I will work on the basis that the event will be able run as planned. 
 
If you wish to attend, I would appreciate it if you can advise me in advance on chrisgbradshaw@hotmail.com. This will also enable me to contact all those planning to attend should the event have to be cancelled.

Sunday 1st December 2013

The Great Northern Diver was still seen again by the Harbour mouth in South Bay, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Eider and a Goldeneye were in Cornelian Bay, 35 Common Scoter were in Cayton Bay, a Goldeneye was on Wykeham South Lake, 70 Turnstone and a Kittiwake were in the Harbour, 8 Goosander, 43 Lapwing and a Kingfisher were at Harwood Dale Lake and 80 Skylark, 5 Lapland Bunting and 3 Reed Bunting were at Long Nab.
Passage was slow, on the move (south unless stated) were 6 Red-throated Diver + 6 north, 1 Great Northern Diver, 3 Gannet + 1 north, 27 Cormorant + 2 north, 1 Shag, 3 Eider north, 1 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter north, 1 Black-headed Gull + 5 north, 6 Common Gull + 4 north, 298 Herring Gull north, 71 Great Black-backed Gull north, 1 Auk sp north and 1 Snow Bunting north.