Monday 1st September 2014

Migration watches; 07.00 - 09.10hrs and 18.50 - 19.50hrs.The month began with the 4th Caspian Gull of the year, a showy bird on rocks on the north side of Castle Hill near the Skate park. This bird brings the total number of Scarborough to 7, since the first in 2006!
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Fulmar + 33 north, 7 Cormorant, 1 Shag + 3 north, 3 Teal, 2 Common Scoter, 47 Oystercatcher, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin north, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 304 Kittiwake north, 7 Sandwich Tern + 4 north, 77 Common Tern north, 1 Commic Tern north, 3 Swallow, 34 Meadow Pipit, 4 Goldfinch and 3 Linnet.
There was no sign of the Greenish Warbler on Castle Hill despite it being searched for all morning and early afternoon. Elsewhere 17 Teal, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Snipe, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Reed Warbler were on Potter Brompton Carr (no general access), 32 Teal were on Scalby Lodge Pond with another 18 on Johnson's Marsh, 4 Teal, 1 Pochard, 19 Tufted Duck, 21 Lapwing, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 1 Ruff and 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull were on Wykeham South Lake and 7 Redshank, a Greenshank, 25 Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were at Scalby Mills.
Grounded migrants were almost non existent, a Whinchat on South Cliff was the only report.

Caspian Gull - Michael McNaghten

Showing the underwing and tail pattern - Michael McNaghten

Caspian and Herring Gull - Michael McNaghten