Friday 27th January 2017

In the Harbour today 2 Black-necked Grebes were seen again, the Red-breasted Merganser remained until about 12.45 when it was seen to fly off to the north and a Great-crested Grebe was outside the Harbour mouth. Nearby in South Bay the 2 Long-tailed Ducks were seen again and there were at least 9 Common Scoter while at Holbeck there were 9 unringed  Mediterranean Gulls including 6 adults and now 3 1^st-winter birds.

At Long Nab today an Eider flew south and the Stonechat was still present.

On the River Hertford at Staxton Carr there was a Green Sandpiper and at Willerby Carr had 24 Whooper Swans, 5 Mute Swans and 2 Little Egrets both areas had good numbers of thrushes with 250+ Fieldfares and 200+ Redwings including 100 on the sports field in Staxton alone.

On the east side of Seamer Tip there was a mobile group of 15 Redpolls and 58 Golden Plovers flew west overhead.

Finally at Ellerburn in Dalby Forest a brief visit produced 40 Redpoll, 50+ Brambling, 12 Crossbills and a single Goshawk.

The following photograph illustrates nicely the differences between Shag (on left) and Cormorant.

Shag and Cormorant - Scarborough Harbour - Deb Schild