Wednesday 31 August 2016

Tuesday 30th August 2016

Migration watch; 07.10 – 10.30hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 13 Teal north, 11 Common Scoter north, 1 Red-throated Diver, 8 Fulmar + 16 north, 1 Manx Shearwater north, 1 Cormorant + 13 north, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 11 Kittiwake north, 6 Black-headed Gull north, 3 Common Gull + 1 north, 2 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern + 10 north, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Auk sp north, 9 Swift, 63 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 1 Flava and 6 Meadow Pipit.
At Long Nab were 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and 1 Stonechat while 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Scalby Mills during the evening.


Pale-bellied Brent Geese - Scalby Mills - Chris Bell

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Monday 29th August 2016

A generally quiet day, a Grasshopper Warbler was flushed along South Cliff where 19 Meadow Pipit and 5 Swallow flew south, a Lesser Whitethroat was on Scalby Nab and a Garden Warbler, a Whinchat and 4 Willow Warbler were at Ravenscar.
Offshore 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew north off Marine Drive while 32 Common Tern were also noted heading north.
In Cornelian Bay there were 4 Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Dunlin, 5 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover were in Jackson’s Bay.

Friday 26th – Sunday 28th August 2016

After a completely birdless two days the 28th finally produced some interest, most of which was over the sea.
Migration watch; 09.10 – 15.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 2 Wigeon + 7 north, 1 Shoveler north, 1 Pintail north, 71 Teal + 224 north, 27 Common Scoter + 172 north, 3 Red-throated Diver, 47 Fulmar + 94 north, 7 Manx Shearwater + 3 north, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shag + 1 north, 7 Cormorant + 13 north, 8 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 28 Knot, 2 Dunlin + 19 north, 37 Kittiwake + 161 north, 7 Black-headed Gull + 9 north, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 10 Common Gull + 3 north, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull north, 9 Sandwich Tern + 37 north, 19 Common Tern + 26 north, 1 Arctic Tern, 2 Black Tern at 13.59hrs, 1 Pomarine Skua at 13.55hrs, 27 Arctic Skua + 2 north and 1 Puffin.
A Wheatear and a Whitethroat were behind Marine Drive Wall and a second juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was seen blogging off Long Nab.


Record shot of juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (with Common Terns) off Long Nab - Michael McNaghten

Wheatear - Marine Drive - Michael McNaghten

Friday 26 August 2016

Thursday 25th August 2016

Migration watch; 07.50 – 11.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 46 Fulmar + 64 north, 5 Manx Shearwater north, 1 Sooty Shearwater north, 1 Balearic Shearwater at 10.06hrs, 9 Cormorant + 23 north, 2 Mallard north, 128 Teal + 90 north, 5 Wigeon + 15 north, 20 Common Scoter + 67 north, 1 Golden Plover north, 6 Ringed Plover north, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit in off and northwest, 12 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel + 2 in off and north west, 1 Curlew north, 2 Arctic Skua north, 1 Great Skua north, 1 Common Gull + 3 north, 48 Great Black-backed Gull north, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull north, 1 juvenile Caspian Gull north at 09.58hrs, 29 Common Tern north, 33 Sandwich Tern north, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Flava, 4 Swallow north and 2 Goldfinch.
On Castle Hill there were 16 Willow Warbler (4 of which arrived in off), 1 Whitethroat in the 'booted'plantation and 2 Grey Wagtail.
In the Long Nab area were a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 9 Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat and 1 Tree Pipit.
At Holbeck there were 5 Mediterranean Gull and a Cuckoo was the highlight at Wykeham South Lake where there were also 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper and 14 Teal.


Fresh in Willow Warbler in the 'booted' plantation - Michael McNaghten

Wednesday 24th August 2016

Migration watch; 07.15 – 09.20hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 1 Teal + 5 south, 32 Common Scoter, 16 Fulmar + 5 south, 3 Manx Shearwater, 1 Balearic Shearwater at 08.33hrs, 1 Shag. 6 Cormorant, 2 Whimbrel south, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Sandwich Tern, 1 Great Skua and 11 Swallow.
A Little Egret was seen on Johnson’s Marsh and later at Scalby Mills, 2 Whimbrel were also at Scalby Mills.
At Ravenscar there were single Redstart and Wheatear as well as 2 Willow Tit, in Cornelian Bay there were 2 Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Common Sandpiper.

Of note a Humpback Whale was seen breaching from a boat off Ravenscar!

Tuesday 23rd August 2016

Migration watch; 09.15 – 10.45hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 6 Fulmar north, 4 Cormorant north, 10 Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 1 Arctic Skua, 8 Great Black-backed Gull, 55 Herring Gull, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 27 Sandwich Tern north, 2 Common Tern north, 1 Swift, 1 Flava, 6 Meadow Pipit, 6 Swallow and 39 House Martin.
In the Long Nab area there were 120 House Martin, 11 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, 60 Linnet and 35 Goldfinch.
On Castle Hill there were a minimum of 45 Willow Warbler grounded while in Jackson’s Bay there were 3 Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, 24 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull. The Wigeon was still on Johnson’s Marsh.


Willow Warbler - Castle Hill - Michael McNaghten

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Monday 22nd August 2016

On Castle Hill there were 5 Willow Warbler, a Common Sandpiper was on Wykeham South Lake, 3 Common Sandpiper, 6 Dunlin, a Knot and 2 Whimbrel were in Cornelian Bay, a Wigeon was on Johnson’s Marsh while Jackson’s Bay attracted 37 Oystercatcher, 25 Ringed Plover, a Knot, 3 Sanderling, 22 Turnstone, 9 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, 24 Redshank and 4 Curlew.

Friday 19th – Sunday 21st August 2016

A rather quiet few days.

The 19th produced a Snipe and a Green Sandpiper on Johnson’s Marsh and a Whinchat was at Long Nab.

Six Swift were seen over Burton Riggs on the 20th.

While 7 Swift were seen over Peasholm Park on 21st were 5 Swallow and 3 Sand Martin flew south.

Thursday 18th August 2016

Migration watch; 07.45 – 10.30hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 2 Fulmar + 5 north, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant north, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew north, 11 Dunlin, 2 Common Gull, 12 Sandwich Tern north, 2 Raven that arrived from the north before heading off southwest, 11 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Flava and 1 Meadow Pipit.
In the Long Nab area there were 7 Teal, 2 Swift, 3 Sand Martin, 40 Swallow, 24 House Martin, 7 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 12 Whitethroat and 2 Stonechat.

Wednesday 17th August 2016

Migration watch; 07.30 – 11.35hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 6 Teal, 4 Common Scoter + 116 north, 1 Shag north, 4 Cormorant north, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel + 1 north, 7 Black-headed Gull + 35 north, 9 Common Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern north, 8 Swift, 9 Swallow + 1 north, 4 House Martin north, 1 Flava, 5 Linnet and 4 Goldfinch.
In the Long Nab area there were 1 Coal Tit, 9 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 26 Whitethroat and 1 Wheatear. A Red Kite was seen south of Wykeham Forest at 12.30hrs.

Tuesday 16th August 2016

Migration watch; 06.20 – 11.00hrs and 18.30 – 20.00hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 6 Teal, 51 Common Scoter north, 4 Manx Shearwater north, 8 Cormorant north, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Sandwich Tern, 6 Swallow and 3 Sand Martin.
In the Long Nab area were 1 Coal Tit, 15 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 5 Whitethroat, a male Marsh harrier was seen at Scalby Lodge Pond. An Osprey was found at Ellerburn while 16 Grey Heron and a Snip were on Johnson’s Marsh.

Monday 15th August 2016

Migration watch; 06.50 – 11.10hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Fulmar + 2 north, 2 Cormorant north, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Golden Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 3 Redshank north, 1 Turnstone, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Black Tern north.
In the Long Nab area there were 13 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Lesser Redpoll. A Little Egret and a Snipe were on Johnson’s Marsh.

Sunday 14th August 2016

Migration watch; 06.25 – 09.25hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 4 Teal, 25 Common Scoter, 108 Fulmar + 21 south, 6 Manx Shearwater, 2 Cormorant south, 1 Marsh Harrier in off and north, 9 Oystercatcher south, 1 Ringed Plover south, 1 Knot, 7 Black-headed Gull + 1 south, 1 Common Gull south, 12 Great Black-backed Gull + 2 south, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Arctic Skua south, 1 Auk sp, 1 Puffin, 4 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin and 1 Flava south.warbler, a Goldeneye, 6 Gadwall and a Kingfisher were at Seamer Tip.

Friday 12th - Saturday 13th August 2016

After no reports on the 12th the 13th produced a few reports.
A Red Kite was seen north of Ruston, 13 Grey Heron, a Little Egret, a Teal, 18 Moorhen and a Yellow Wagtail were on Johnson’s Marsh and a Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, an Egyptian Goose and 42 Coot were at Wykeham South Lake.

Saturday 13 August 2016

Thursday 11th August 2016

At Wykeham South Lake there were 60 Black-headed Gull, 800 Herring Gull (including a partial leucistic bird with white primaries), an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a juvenile Kittiwake, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper.

Thursday 11 August 2016

Wednesday 10th August 2016

Migration watch; 07.15 – 10.15hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 6 Teal + 5 south, 34 Common Scoter, 208 Fulmar + 6 south, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 14 Manx Shearwater, 3 Cormorant south, 15 Oystercatcher + 31 south, 216 Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gull + 3 south, 3 Common Gull south, 5 Sandwich tern + 26 south, 11 Common Tern, 1 Commic Tern, 1 Arctic Skua south, 2 Sand Martin south and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
A Snipe was on Johnson’s Marsh, 3 Kingfisher were at the Mere, a Green Sandpiper was at Harwood Dale Lake and an Arctic Skua was blogging in Cornelian Bay.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

Tuesday 9th August 2016

Migration watch; 08.20 – 10.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 7 Fulmar + 48 north, 1 Manx Shearwater north, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Black-headed Gull, 22 Sandwich Tern + 2 north, 1 Great Skua north and 1 Arctic Skua.
At Wykeham South Lake there were 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 500 Herring Gull and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Little Egret, a Snipe, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Teal were on Johnson’s Marsh and 200 Swallow and 150 House Martin flew north at Stoupe Brow.

Tuesday 9 August 2016

Sunday 7th – Monday 8th August 2016

A generally quiet few days, the 7th produced…

Migration watch; 06.35 – 09.00hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 4 Fulmar north, 1 Cormorant, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier west, 1 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 3 Swift north and 6 Swallow.

The 8th proved a little better….

Migration watch; 06.45 – 09.55hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Red-throated Diver, 10 Fulmar + 32 north, 326 Gannet, 3 Cormorant + 7 north, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew north, 1 Knot north, 1 Black-headed Gull + 2 north, 2 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull + 12 north, 20 Sandwich Tern + 5 north, 1 Guillemot north, 4 Swift, 2 Sand Martin and 3 Swallow.
At Wykeham South Lake there were 2 Teal, a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin, a Greenshank was on Johnson’s Marsh and a Little Egret was noted flying north over the Open Air Theatre during the Bryan Adams gig!

Sunday 7 August 2016

Saturday 6th August 2016

Migration watch; 09.15 – 10.15hrs and 19.55 – 20.45hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 4 Teal south, 3 Common Scoter, 8 Fulmar, 10 Cormorant + 2 south, 1 Oystercatcher + 7 south, 3 Curlew, 18 Black-headed Gull south, 2 Mediterranean Gull (1 adult and 1 juvenile), 1 Common Gull + 3 south, 2 Great Black-backed Gull south, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Sandwich Tern south, 1 Arctic Skua south1 Swift, 1 Sand Martin south, 61 Swallow, 4 Alba, 12 Linnet south and 3 Goldfinch south.
The 2nd Osprey of the autumn was found fishing at Ellerburn Trout farm where it remained for most of the day, the juvenile Little Ringed Plover was still at Ravenscar as were 2 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Willow Warbler, 13 Mandarin were on Harwood Dale Lake and a Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Whimbrel were in Cornelian Bay.


Osprey - Ellerburn Trout farm - Graham Sigsworth

Friday 5th August 2016

Migration watch; 20.15 – 21.15hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 19 Cormorant north, 15 Oystercatcher + 32 north, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 11 Common Gull, 18 Swallow and 3 House Martin.
In the Long Nab area were 2 Willow Warbler and a Treecreeper while a Storm Petrel was controlled at Crook Ness at 11.35hrs with another seen at 01.00hrs on the 6th.
Elsewhere a juvenile Little Ringed Plover was in fields south of the Raven Hall Hotel, Ravenscar and 32 Turnstone were in the Harbour.

Thursday 4th August 2016

Migration watch; 19.20 – 20.20hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 9 Fulmar, 40 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel north, 2 Black-headed Gull, 160 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and 4 Sandwich tern + 4 north.
At Seamer tip there were 8 Shoveler and 6 Gadwall, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, an Egyptian Goose and a Yellow Wagtail were at Wykeham South Lake and 9 Grey Heron, a juvenile Shelduck, 21 Redshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull were in Cornelian Bay. 

Thursday 4 August 2016

Wednesday 3rd August 2016

Migration watch; 05.30 – 08.00hrs and 18.30 – 20.30hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 adult female Garganey north (amazingly the first Garganey of the year and the 210th species recorded in 2016), 73 Common Scoter north, 4 Fulmar + 2 north, 1 Manx Shearwater, 3 Cormorant + 1 north, 72 Oystercatcher, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Black-headed Gull + 1 north, 6 Common Gull + 1 north, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Sandwich Tern + 14 north, 16 Swift and 7 Swallow.
At Seamer Tip 3 Gadwall and a Shoveler, a cream crown Marsh harrier was seen over Star and Cayton Carrs, 2 Ringed Plover were on Wykeham South Lake before leaving southwest, 2 Snipe and 2 Yellow Wagtail were on Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) and 120 Common Scoter were on the sea in South Bay.

Tuesday 2nd August 2016

Migration watch; 05.50 – 07.00hrs and 07.30 – 10.30hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 2 Mallard north, 10 Teal, 2 Common Scoter +54 north, 19 Fulmar north, 1 Blue Fulmar, 17 Manx Shearwater + 3 north, 2 Cormorant + 5 north, 27 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 1 Knot, 3 Dunlin, 2 Black-headed Gull + 7 north, 3 Common Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Sandwich Tern + 25 north, 1 Common Tern north, 3 Puffin + 2 north, 13 Sand Martin, 9 Swallow and 1 Grey Wagtail.
Six juvenile Grey Wagtail were together in Scalby Beck, 3 juvenile Stonechat were at Cromer Point and 2 were at Long Nab.
An Ocean Sunfish was seen off Marine Drive early morning.

Monday 1st August 2016

At Holbeck there were 11 Mediterranean Gulls (10 adults and 1 2cy), a Wheatear and Common Sandpiper, at Seamer Tip there was a Gadwall, a Shoveler and a Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and 6 Teal were on Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) while in South Bay there were 220 juvenile Herring Gull and 25 juvenile Kittiwake.

Sunday 31st July 2016

Migration watch; 06.45 – 10.00hrs and 18.40 – 19.25hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 11 Common Scoter north, 3 Fulmar + 7 north, 1 Cormorant + 1 north, 1 Oystercatcher, 5 Black-headed Gull + 1 north 1 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Sandwich Tern north and 2 Puffin.
A Mallard was with 8 new ducklings on Johnson’s Marsh and 4 adult Mediterranean Gull were off Holbeck.