Saturday 31 December 2016

Saturday 31st December 2016

The highlight of the day was the discovery of a juvenile Glaucous Gull along Marine Drive by Chris Bradshaw at 13.38 when it was heading in the direction of the harbour. Despite being looked for in the harbour area and in South Bay the bird went missing until 15.50 when it was seen by Steve Turner on the sea off the harbour wall. Also in the harbour area were the Great Northern Diver and the Black-necked Grebe continuing their long residency and 2 Velvet Scoters seen at 10.00am.

The Velvet Scoter remained in Cayton Bay with the small group of Common Scoter and there was a Sanderling there as well.

3 adult Mediterranean Gulls were in the Holbeck car park, a Brambling was seen in the Forge Valley and a Nordic type Jackdaw was on Stepney Drive.

Finally today at Wykeham South Lake there was a Kestrel, an Egyptian Goose and 3 Great-crested Grebes.

Sanderling - Cayton Bay - Chris Bull

Velvet Scoter - Cayton Bay - Chris Bull

Friday 30 December 2016

Friday 30th December 2016

A Tundra Bean Goose was found this morning, being seen in the field by the track to Scalby Lodge Pond and in the fields south and west of Johnson’s Marsh where there was also 120 Wigeon and 10 Curlew.

The Black-necked Grebe was in the harbour again and today the Great Northern Diver had returned as well, also the Black Redstart was seen again on the sea defences and a Red-throated Diver was close in shore.

No Waxwings today but a Mistle Thrush had laid claim to the berries on the trees outside B&Q.

There were 2 Green Sandpipers on Thornton Carr, 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck and in Cornelian Bay a Shelduck, Grey Plover, 7 Ringed Plover and 13 Purple Sandpipers.

Tundra Bean Goose - Scalby Lodge - Terry Hobson

Tundra Bean Goose - Scalby Lodge - Terry Hobson


Thursday 29th December 2016

The group of Waxwings at the front of Halfords on Seamer Road had increased to 33 today but were only seen in the morning.

The Black-necked Grebe was in the harbour again today with 16 Purple Sandpipers in the roost on East Pier and 31 Turnstones on the jet boat slipway.

14 White-fronted Geese were in the field below Seamer Tip pool and there was a Pintail on Harwood Dale Lake.

In Cornelian Bay there were 2 Gadwall, 10 Mallard and a Goldeneye flew south.

Waxwing - Seamer Road - Chris Bull

Wednesday 28th December 2016

Waxwings were back in the news again today with 27 being seen on Seamer Road, at the front of Halfords.

At Ravenscar there was a Raven at the hotel and a pair of Stonechats about 200 metres south of the station.

The long staying Great Northern Diver and Black-necked Grebe were in South Bay just outside the harbour entrance and 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Holbeck.

At Cayton Carr there were a Barn Owl, Peregrine, Kingfisher and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Wednesday 28 December 2016

Tuesday 27th December 2016

Just one single Waxwing was reported today, seen by a single observer and photographed in a garden in Scalby.

In the Seamer area there was a Goosander at Burton Riggs and a Jack Snipe and Little Egret at Taylor Way.

In Langdale Forest today a single Great Grey Shrike at May Moss and 3 Goshawks and 20+ Crossbills in the Maw Rigg area.

Star Carr was quite productive today with 18 White-fronted Geese, 6 Pink-footed Geese and another 34 flew over to the southwest with a Greylag Goose, 2 Little Egrets, 100 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, 200 Lapwings and a Kingfisher;

Elsewhere other records included 2 Water Rails at the Open Air Theatre, 97 Wigeon at Johnson’s Marsh and 3 Barn Owls and a Tawny Owl at Ruston Carr/Brompton Road.
Mammal news concerned a Mink seen in New Dike, Seamer Tip.

White-fronted Goose - Star Carr - Dave Mansell

Pink-footed Geese - Star Carr - Dave Mansell


Monday 26 December 2016

Monday 26th December 2016

A bit more news today as people were obviously trying to get rid of those calories added yesterday.

At Long Nab a Long-tailed Duck, a Bonxie and 122 Fulmars flew north and nearby at Scalby Mills a Great Northern Diver went high to the south.

At Harwood Dale Lake there were 3 White-fronted Geese and 4 Goosanders, nearby a Raven flew over Helwath Road, Harwood Dale in the morning, while Johnson’s Marsh had 15 Grey Herons, 72 Wigeon, 29 Teal and 22 Curlews.

There was a Chiffchaff at Burton Riggs, a Kingfisher at the Open Air Theatre and 3 adult and 1 second winter Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck.

This afternoon in Ellerburn and Dalby Forest there were Peregrine, Common Buzzard, Goshawk, Willow Tit and good numbers of Crossbills.

White-fronted Geese - Harwood Dale Lake - Nick Addey

Mediterranean Gull - Holbeck - Mandy Clarke

Sunday 25 December 2016

Sunday 25th December 2016

Not unexpectedly there wasn’t much bird news today. In fact there was only two bits of information that came in all day.

The Velvet Scoter remained in Cayton Bay and there were 2 Black-necked Grebes in the harbour.


Finally a group of 12 Crossbills were seen in Wykeham Forest East.

Merry Christmas everyone.

2 Black-necked Grebes - Scarborough Harbour - Frank Moffatt


Saturday 24 December 2016

Unfortunately sad news today not only did we all hear about the passing of Rick Parfitt from Status Quo but the Red-throated Diver that had been frequenting Peasholm Park was found dead on the lake this morning. However, the White-fronted Goose was seen again at this location.

At Potter Brompton Carr there were 16 White-fronted Geese, c90 Teal, 14 Wigeon and abour 60 Linnet.

Johnson’s Marsh had 9 Grey Herons and 8 Curlews and at Long Nab 402 Herring Gulls went south in 2 hours including 6 of the northern argentatus, also in this area 3 Red-throated Divers and a Song Thrush came in off the sea.

The Harbour still held 2 Black-necked Grebes and at Holbeck there were 4+ adult Mediterranean Gulls. 

Song Thrush - in off at Long Nab - Nick Addey

Friday 23 December 2016

Friday 23 December 2016

Waxwings were back in the news with 17 on Seamer Road outside Pets At Home and Brantano, not just catching up with some shopping this was definitely the crowd before the Boxing Day sales. Also 8 were reported outside Grip Cycles, Dunslow Road in Eastfield today.

The Black-necked Grebe remained in the Outer Harbour, the Red-throated Diver was still in Peasholm Park but was looking rather unwell, North Bay held a Red-throated Diver plus 2 Common Scoter and in South Bay there were 2 Red-throated Divers.

On Harwood Dale Lake there was a Pintail and 3 Goosander, at Staintondale a single Raven was seen and at Seamer Tip pool there were 9 White-fronted Geese.

Elsewhere at Deepdale there was a Woodcock and 2 Crossbills, c70 Redpolls at Staindale, 3 Grey Plovers in Cornelian Bay and 7 Mediterranean Gulls (6 ads and 1 2nd winter) at Holbeck.

I can never resist a nice Waxwing photo so here's one from today.

Waxwing - Seamer Road - Chris Bell


Thursday 22 December 2016

Thursday 22 December 2016

Most of the news today concerned species that were still present in the area. The Red-throated Diver at Peasholm Park Lake, the Great Northern Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebes in the harbour and the Velvet Scoter in Cayton Bay with 9 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver.

Elsewhere at Seamer Tip pool there were 6 White-fronted Geese, a Pink-footed Goose and a Barnacle Goose with the Goose flock and a Shelduck flew over, a Chiffchaff was at Burton Riggs and 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls were around the Holbeck car park this morning. 

Red-throated Diver - Peasholm Park - Deb Schild


Wednesday 21 December 2016

Wednesday 21 December 2016

The most significant discovery today was a group of 7 Tundra Bean Geese in the field behind Rudda Road flash, Staintondale by Chris McNaghten, there was also a Merlin there.

A White-fronted Goose was also discovered this morning in Peasholm Park giving some great photographic opportunities.

At Ellerburn Fish Farm there were 8 Grey Herons, 40 Redwings, a male Peregrine and 140 Lapwings flew south.

The Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe and Black Redstart all remained in situ.

A Great Black-backed Gull ringed as a chick in 2012 in Denmark was seen at Scalby Mills by Steve Wignill.

The Purple Samdpipers in North Bay had increased to 5, at Seamer Road Mere the count included 35 Tufted Ducks, 19 Cormorants, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Little Grebes and the Black-headed Gull ringed in Lithuania, at Seamer Tip pool 9 White-fronted Geese dropped in to join the 2 Shoveler and 8 Gadwall and finally at Taylor Way there were 2 Jack Snipe and 3 Common Snipe.

Red-throated Diver - Peasholm Park Lake - Dave Mansell
White-fronted Goose - Peasholm Park - Dave Mansell


Tuesday 20 December 2016

Tuesday 20 December 2016

The Red-throated Diver at Peasholm Park, the Great Northern Diver and Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour and at least one Black Redstart and the Stonechat in North Bay all remained for another day.

The Waxwing on Seamer Road was still present this morning but had been joined by a mate who seemed equally keen on shopping. They were feeding on the berries outside Brantano but also spent time in the tall trees opposite Pets At Home.

Also in North Bay today there were 4 Purple Sandpipers on the long steps between Albert and Oasis Cafes.

Finally, at Holbeck there was just one adult Mediterranean Gull around the car park on the falling tide.


Stonechat - North Cliff - Tony Clarke
Waxwing - Seamer Road - Tony Clarke


Monday 19 December 2016

Monday 19 December 2016

The Red-throated Diver at Peasholm Park Lake remained for another day, as did the Great Northern Diver and Black-necked Grebe in the harbour.

The 2 Black Redstarts remained opposite the Albert Café but there was also a White-fronted Goose there today.

The Waxwing was seen again on Seamer Road but this time in front of Pets at Home. Obviously it still had more shopping to do and couldn’t find everything yesterday in Dunelm.

A female Merlin was at Rudda Road, Staintondale and in Cayton Bay the Velvet Scoter was still present with the small group of Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Divers and a few Razorbills and Guillemots.

Red-throated Diver - Peasholm Park - Andy Hood

White-fronted Goose - North Bay - Andy Hood 


Sunday 18 December 2016

Sunday 18 December 2016

Another Waxwing was reported today, this one was outside Dunelm during the morning, obviously doing a bit of last minute Christmas shopping. I challenge it to spend more in store than my wife!!!!

The young Red-throated Diver was still on Peasholm Park Lake today but there are concerns being raised as to its state of health and ability to consume food.

The Black Redstart in the council depot at Dean Road was seen again today.

At Potter Brompton Carr there were 9 White-fronted Geese that were flushed by an aircraft at 12.45 but returned to the site just 15 minutes later.

Also today a Black-throated Diver was seen at Wykeham South Lake.

The Seamer area had a Mandarin Duck, Little Egret and Kingfisher along Black Dike, 4 Shoveler and 6 Gadwall on Seamer Tip pool and 2 Shoveler and a Chiffchaff at Burton Riggs.

Black-throated Diver - Wykeham South Lake - John Harwood

Black Redstart - Dean Road Council Depot - Paul James

Red-throated Diver - Peasholm Park Lake - Chris Bell

White-fronted Geese - Potter Brompton Carr - Chris Bradshaw


Saturday 17 December 2016

Waxwings were again back in the news today with one seen flying north over Cayton in the morning and 2 were in a garden opposite the Irton Garden Centre

In the Harbour today there were 2 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver, and just down the road on the sea defences opposite the Albert Café in North Bay there are now 2 Black Redstarts and a Stonechat.

Wildfowl movements today included c30 Pink-footed Geese East over Wykeham South Lake at 09.45 and 110 of the same species south over Long Nab at 13.24. Other wildfowl reports today included 2 Whooper Swans East over McDonalds Seamer; White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose and Shoveler at Seamer Tip pool and 35 Mandarin Ducks at Hackness of which 23 were drakes.

At Wykeham South Lake there were 2 Peregrines, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Great-crested Grebes and 2 Little Grebes.

In Langdale Forest 25 Crossbills were seen at Brecken Howe but there was no sign of the Great Grey Shrike last seen on the 14th.

The Open Air Theatre was still hosting a Water Rail and a Kingfisher whilst nearby on Peasholm Park Lake the surprise of the day was a Red-throated Diver.

Black Redstart - North Bay - Chris Bell
Reed Bunting ♀ - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Friday 16 December 2016

The Black Redstart was still present today on the sea defences opposite the Albert Café in North Bay and in South Bay there was a Great Northern Diver and a Black-necked Grebe.

At Wykeham South Lake today the wildfowl count included 22 Gadwall, 3 Goldeneye (drakes), 3 Pochard and 4 Great-crested Grebes.

Finally what was probably the bird of the day was discovered in Cayton Bay by Chris Bull, a fine female Velvet Scoter with 8 Common Scoter.

Black Redstart - North Bay - Steve Race
 
female Velvet Scoter - Cayton Bay - Chris Bull

Thursday 15 December 2016

Thursday 15 December 2016

All of today’s news came from the coastal strip from The Spa round to The Sands.

In South Bay there were 3 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, 7 Razorbills, a Guillemot and a Great-crested Grebe.

The Harbour held 2 Black-necked Grebes in the early afternoon and in North Bay opposite Hairy Bob’s Skate Park a Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver and a Goosander were seen at 08.10.

Finally the Black Redstart had moved and was seen today on the sea defence opposite the Albert Café this afternoon.

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Good news today, there are two Great Grey Shrikes still present in Langdale Forest with one at Low Woof Howe and the other at Brecken Howe.

At Wykeham South Lake the wildfowl count was 21 Gadwall, 4 Egyptian Geese, 2 Pochards, 22 Tufted Duck, 6 Teal, 38 Wigeon and 3 Goldeneye plus approximately 300 Lapwings.

In North Bay the Black Redstart was seen again on the rocks opposite Hairy Bob’s Skate Park and there was a Red-throated Diver on the sea. Near the Harbour, behind the Tea Pot Café, there were 2 Red-throated Divers and a Guillemot.

A wader count at Jackson’s Bay produced 69 Oystercatchers, 27 Redshanks and 23 Turnstones and a count of Wigeon flock in North Bay produced 266 birds.

Elsewhere, at Burton Riggs there were a Pochard, a Gadwall and a Great-crested Grebe, at Seamer Tip pool 4 Shoveler and 6 Gadwall and on the river by Star Carr a total of three Little Egrets.

A mammal report today concerned two Otters seen on the River Hertford by Mick Francis near Star Carr about 1km west of Flixton Carr bridge. 

Great Grey Shrike - Liow Woof Howe - Chris Bradshaw
 
Wigeon - North Bay - Terry Hobson

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Not much reported today but a couple of nice birds were seen in the vicinity of Hairy Bob’s Skate Park. Firstly a Black Redstart was seen on the rocks opposite by Rob Stark and then later a female Long-tailed Duck was on the sea there, discovered by Terry Hobson.

In the Harbour area the Black-necked Grebe was in the outer harbour, the Great Northern Diver was seen in the harbour mouth and 34 Purple Sandpipers were roosting on the East Pier.

Black-necked Grebe - Outer Harbour - Terry Hobson
 
Long-tailed Duck - North Bay - Terry Hobson

Monday 12 December 2016

Monday 12 December 2016

The Black-throated Diver found late yesterday at Wykeham South Lake was still present this morning after the fog cleared but could not be located this afternoon. Also at Wykeham today a Stonechat was in front of the blind and there were also 6 Whooper Swans (2ads+4juvs) that departed at 08.44, 60 Pink-footed Geese which also departed early to the north, 3 Goldeneye, a Pochard, 9 Gadwall, 6 Egyptian Geese, 3 Great-crested Grebe and 2 Little Grebe, 2 ad Whooper Swans were also present later in the day one of which may have been the Long Nab bird.

At Long Nab it was fairly quiet with Whooper Swan south-west, Goldeneye south, Red-throated Diver south and Common Scoter 7 south and 2 north.

At the Harbour 4 Redshanks were roosting with 20+ Purple Sandpipers on the East Pier and in South Bay there was a Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers, 6 Guillemots and 2 Razorbills.

At Burton Riggs there was a Chiffchaff and a Great-crested Grebe, Seamer Tip pool had a White-fronted Goose and a Barnacle Goose, at Rudda Road flash there were 16 Pink-footed Geese and a Harwood Dale Lake a female Pintail and 125 Lapwings. 

Black-throated Diver - Wykeham South Lake - Terry Hobson
 
Stonechat - Wykeham South Lake - Terry Hobson

Sunday 11 December 2016

Sunday 11 December 2016

The 2 Black-necked Grebes were back in the Harbour and also in the Harbour/South Bay area were 2 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver and 45 Purple Sandpipers. There was also a Red-throated Diver seen off the Sealife Centre in North Bay.

The highlight today was the discovery late in the afternoon of a Black-throated Diver at Wykeham South Lake by Richard Baines, where there was also 3 Goldeneye and a Merlin was seen just before dark.

At the Mere today commoner species counts included 38 Tufted Duck, 28 Moorhen, 2 Teal, 4 Little Grebe, 11 Cormorants, 2 Kingfishers and a Grey Wagtail.

Cornelian Bay played host to 10 Common Scoter plus 3 flew south, 4 Grey Plover and a Little Egret flew south.

Elsewhere in our area there were 2 Water Rails at the Open Air Theatre where a Crossbill flew north in the morning, c60 Pink-footed Geese flew over Wykeham Forest at 10.30 and at Wykeham Nursery there were 7 Crossbills and a Goshawk.

Great Northern Diver - Scarborough Harbour - Chris Bell

Saturday 10 December 2016

In the Harbour/South Bay area the Great Northern and Red-throated Divers were still present and in the afternoon there were 2 Black-necked Grebes together between the Grand and Esplanade Hotels.

At Potter Brompton Carr today’s count included 120 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 16 Lapwing, a Snipe and 3 Pink-footed Geese flew over to the east.

Wykeham South Lake held 34 Wigeon, 8 Goldeneye, 7 Pochard, 23 Tufted Duckand 5 Great-crested Grebes.

Also reported today were 38 Pink-footed Geese flying south over Lebberston, a single Pink-footed Goose in fields by Seamer Tip pool, 50 Pink-footed Geese over Ayton at midday, 5 Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck, a Kingfisher at the Open Air Theatre, 2 Chiffchaffs at Burton Riggs and 270 Wigeon at Scalby Mills.

Kingfisher - Open Air Theatre - Stuart Baines

Friday 9 December 2016

Friday 9 December 2016

A quiet day today with very little news submitted for inclusion.

At Seamer Road Mere there was no sign of yesterday’s Yellow-browed Warbler but a Kingfisher was seen and a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was on the jetty by the café.

Johnson’s Marsh held 54 Wigeon, 25 Teal and 11 Grey Herons whilst nearby at Scalby Mills there were 154 Wigeon.

The count today from Wykeham South Lake included 325 Greylag Geese, 2 Pochard, a Goldeneye, 4 Great-crested Grebes and 75 Coot.

Thursday 8 December 2016

Thursday 8 December 2016

A Yellow-browed Warbler was heard at the southern end of The Mere, Seamer Road but unfortunately was not seen despite attempts using playback.

No sign of the Little Auk today in Cayton Bay but a group of 6 Common Scoters and 3 individual Red-throated Divers were present today and a Slavonian/Black-necked Grebe was also seen but was too distant for a positive identification.

At Johnson’s Marsh there were 54 Mallard, 32 Wigeon, 23 Teal and a Barn Owl at 15.00 this afternoon.

Wednesday 7 December 2016







Fairly hot on the heels of his dramatic discovery exactly one month ago Cbris Bull found a Little Auk in Cayton Bay today at 13.00 this afternoon.

A Waxwing reappereared today on the trees in front of Brantano near to B&Q.

Another new bit of news today was a Black Redstart at the Council Depot on Dean Road which has been present for a couple of days according to Paul James. This is a private site with no public access.

At Seamer Tip pool there was a Mediterranean Gull, 20 Wigeon, a Shoveler and a WaterRail. At Star Carr there were 9 Pink-footed Geese and a Grey Plover flew over to the east and there was a Barnacle Goose at Burton Riggs.
In the harbour today the Great Northern Diver was still present and there was also a Red-throated Diver.

Finally at Wykeham South Lake the gull roost held 1900 Common Gulls, 1200 Herring Gulls, 120 Black-headed Gulls and 32 Greater Black-backed Gulls, also in the area was a Stonechat.

Little Auk - Cayton Bay - Chris Bull
 
Black Redstart - Dean Road - Council Depot












Tuesday 6 December 2016

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Firstly we have some late news from yesterday; there were 11 Shore Larks and a Snow Bunting seen at Crook Ness. Also the Shag seen yesterday with the green darvik ring was ringed as a chick earlier this year on the Isle of May.

Today was fairly quiet with very little being seen. The bird of the day was a Short-eared Owl at Ganton Dale Farm, Staxton, this afternoon reported by Frank Shearer. Also a large flock of 150+ Redwings and Fieldfares were seen in hedges about 1 mile north of the A64 on the B1258 near Knapton Lodge. Late news in concerns the continued presence of 11 Shore Larks at Crook Ness.