Monday, 31 December 2018

Monday 31st December

A Black-throated Diver was present off the harbour and in South Bay, seen several times today. A Chiffchaff was spotted at Cow Wath Beck road bridge on Field Lane in Scalby. At Johnson's Marsh there were 66 Teal, 13 Herons, 14 Pink-footed Geese and 63 Canada Geese, while at Wykeham South Lake there were 270 Common Gulls. That's it for 2018 - a Happy New Year to everyone.

Reed Bunting - Paul Malton


Sunday, 30 December 2018

Sunday 30th December

Today at Long Nab there were 7 Pink-footed Geese, 13 Rock Pipits and 15 Linnets, while 65 more Pink-footed Geese, a Goldeneye and a Goosander flew past. A female Blackcap was at a bird feeder in Heron Lane, Crossgates. At Low North Camp there was a Green Woodpecker, a Barn Owl, 2 Marsh Tits, a Nuthatch and 3 Redpolls. Scalby Mills hosted 333 Wigeon, 14 Redshank and a Mediterranean Gull. A Mediterranean Gull was also seen from Marine Drive and 19 Purple Sandpipers were present in the harbour.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20181230

Black-headed Gull - Mark Hepples

Blackcap - Mick Francis

Kingfisher - Stuart Baines


Saturday, 29 December 2018

Saturday 29th December

A Great Northern Diver was seen in the South Bay today, plus a Great Crested Grebe. At Johnson's Marsh there were 98 Teal, a drake Shoveler and 13 Grey Herons. A drake Goosander flew south past Long Nab. On Thornton Carrs there was a Common Buzzard, a Green Sandpiper, 12 Yellowhammers and 300+ thrushes, mostly Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20181229

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beverley Senturk

Little Egret - John Harwood

Friday, 28 December 2018

Friday 28th December

At Seamer Road mere today there were 42 Tufted Duck, a female Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, a Teal, 5 Little Grebes, 2 Water Rail and 2 Chiffchaffs. A Green Sandpiper was seen at Thornton Carrs, plus 100+ Fieldfares and 20+ Yellowhammers. 15+ White-fronted Geese were seen at Brompton Carr before flying off towards Wykeham South Lake. Potter Brompton Carr hosted a Water Rail, Shelduck, 60+ Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 3 Snipe, a male Peregrine, 80+ Tree Sparrows, and 22 Yellowhammers. Also seen there were 400+ Lapwing flying west and 88 Pink-footed Geese flying south-west. There was again a Great White Egret at Seamer Tip pool, while at Scalby Mills there was a pair of Goldeneye, and in the harbour there were 20 Purple Sandpipers.
Tufted Duck - Beverley Senturk
Mute Swans - Paul Malton

Thursday, 27 December 2018

Thursday 27th December

8 Waxwings were seen feeding on rowan berries on Limestone Road, Burniston this morning. There were 12 Herons and 86 Teal on Johnson's Marsh. A Great Northern Diver flew into North Bay this afternoon, while on the north side of Cornelian Bay there were a Black-throated Diver, 6 Red-throated Divers, 8 Mallard, 12 Purple Sandpipers, a Grey Plover, and 16 Common Scoters flying south. The Great Grey Shrike remains at May Moss in Langdale Forest where it was seen briefly in flight today. At Seamer Road Mere there were 45 Tufted Duck, a Goldeneye, 4 Little Grebe, 2 Water Rails, 55+ Moorhen and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Marsh Tit - Paul Malton

Wednesday, 26 December 2018

Wednesday 26th December

The two Slavonian Grebes appeared in North Bay around midday but could not be relocated later. Also in North Bay the Black-throated Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Guillemots, a Puffin and a Great Northern Diver. The latter was also seen around the harbour mouth. South bay held 2 Great Crested Grebes, a Razorbill, 2 Guillemots and a Shag. The Great Egret as usual was at Seamer tip pool plus 2 female Shovelers. A Woodcock was at Burton Riggs. Flower of May pond held 280+ Wigeon, 2 Tufted Ducks and a Chiffchaff in nearby hedgerows. 79 Curlews, 28 Redshank in Gristhorpe Bay and 4 Meadow Pipits Redcliffe Farm.

Nuthatch - Paul Malton


The Slavonian Grebes remained distant - Nick Addey


Adult Great Northern Diver off Marine Drive - Phil Bennett

Tuesday 25th December

Two Slavonian Grebes were at the south end of North Bay, also a Common Scoter there. The Black-throated Diver was again seen off the Teapot cafĂ© mid morning. A Great Northern Diver and 2 Red-throated Divers were in South Bay. A Shag, Great Crested Grebe and a Guillemot were in the harbour, 3 Goosanders were seen flying inland there. The Great Egret was again at Seamer tip pool plus 5 Shovelers. A Green Sandpiper at Charity arm, Thornton le Dale. At Seamer Road Mere there were 40 Tufted Ducks, 3 Goosanders, 3 Goldeneye, Teal, Water Rail,3 Little Grebes and a Chiffchaff.

Shag - Keith Raper


Great Egret - Andy Hood

 

Monday, 24 December 2018

Monday 24th December

The Black-throated Diver was in North Bay today plus a Great Northern Diver off Marine Drive. A Puffin was photographed in Scarborough waters today (location unknown). 5 Grey Plovers were in Cornelian Bay. The Whimbrel was seen again in fields at Long Nab where a single Snow Bunting flew south and 35 Pink-footed Geese flew north. The Great Egret was still at Seamer tip pool plus 2 Shoveler there. At Nabgate, Sandale and Ellerburn totals included 6 Brambling, 17 Yellowhammers, 31 Chaffinches, a Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tits, 21 Siskin, a Redpoll and 2 Common Buzzards. The Kingfisher performed well at the Open Air Theatre.

Long Nab counts here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20181224

Puffin - David Caulfield

Black-throated Diver North Bay - Chris Bell

Great Northern Diver Marine Drive - John Harwood
 

Sunday, 23 December 2018

Sunday 23rd December

A Black-throated Diver was feeding just off the East Pier late afternoon, also 5 Red-throated Divers, 4 Shags and a Guillemot. 10+ Purple Sandpipers were roosting at the end of East Pier. 800 Starlings roosting at Old Town. At Scalby Mills there were 95 Wigeon, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Razorbills and 2 Purple Sandpipers. Reduced numbers of ducks at Wykeham South Lake included 2 Goldeneye. A Water Rail and a Little Grebe were at the River Hertford at Flixton Carr bridge. The Great Egret was seen flying over Seamer village and later on Seamer tip pool. No sign of yesterday's Great Grey Shrike at May Moss.

Black-throated Diver East Pier - Steve Wignill
 

Saturday, 22 December 2018

Saturday 22nd December

A Great Egret, 3 Shovelers and 3 Grey Wagtails were seen this morning at Seamer Tip pool, plus a Green Sandpiper at the pond by Seamer Tip bridge. This afternoon there were 5 drake Goosanders and a female Goldeneye at Seamer Road mere, while at Thornton Carr there were 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 2 Common Buzzard, 4 Bullfinch, 70 Lapwing and 50+ Fieldfare. In Langdale Forest a Great Grey Shrike was seen at May Moss, plus a Stonechat at High Greens and 35+ Crossbills. There were 2 Dippers at Hilla Green and 34 Mandarins flew towards Hackness. At Scalby Mills there were 33 Wigeon, and 3 Velvet Scoters which departed to the north.

Crossbills - Nick Addey
Treecreeper - Paul Malton

Friday, 21 December 2018

Friday 21st December

Early this morning there were 3 Little Egrets in a field near Folkton Bridge. Early afternoon a flock of about 100 geese, presumed Pink-footed, flew over the Dean Road area. At Wykeham South Lake mid-afternoon there was a Shelduck, a hybrid Australian type Shelduck, 32 Gadwall, 23 Wigeon, 6 Goldeneye, 1 Pochard, 33 Tufted Duck, 8 Great Crested Grebes, and 28 White-fronted Geese which flew off to the south and landed on Binnington Carr.

Goldeneye - John Harwood


Thursday, 20 December 2018

Thursday 20th December

At Wykeham South Lake this morning there were 2 Egyptian Geese, 56 Wigeon and a male Scaup, plus 300 Lapwings seen heading inland. At Seamer Road Mere there were 7 Goosander, a drake Goldeneye and 2 Little Grebes in the morning, and 10 Goosanders and 2 Goldeneye in the afternoon. A Great White Egret was still at Seamer Tip pool, plus 2 Shoveler, and about 22 White-fronted Geese to the east of the tip. A Great White Egret was also seen at Brompton Butts. There were 3 Bullfinches seen at Flixton, and 100 Wigeon near the Flower of May. At Cayton Carr there was a Little Egret among cattle, 10 Redshank in a flooded field near the level crossing, and about 200 Lapwing flying west. Johnson's Marsh had 75 Teal, 10 Grey Herons and a Buzzard. Finally, a Red Kite was seen near the A64 at Sherburn.

Great White Egret - Kevin Groocock

Shoveler -Mick Francis

Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Wednesday 19th December

A day of geese: 4 White-fronted geese, 1 Barnacle Goose and a small flock of Greylags at Wykeham South Lake; 9 White-fronted Geese with Greylags at Potter Brompton Carr; large flock of geese in field east of Seamer Tip pool which included 21 White-fronts, 2 Barnacle and 2 Pink-footed. Also at Seamer Tip pool were a Great Egret, a Kingfisher, and a Short-eared Owl which was flushed from the reedbed on the mound above the pool. There were 21 Mute Swans on fields adjacent to Foulbridge Lane in Snainton.

Grey Heron - Paul Malton


Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Tuesday 18th December

Today's only news is of a Great Egret still at Seamer Tip Pool and a Little Egret at Folkton Bridge.

Great White |Egret - Chris Bull

Little Egret - Chris Bull

Monday, 17 December 2018

Monday 17th December

Today was Green Sandpiper day: one at the pond by Seamer Tip bridge, another at Star Carr, and 3 at Thornton Carrs. There was a Little Egret at Brompton Butts, and a Great Egret at Seamer Tip pool. At Johnson's Marsh there were 8 Herons, 17 Teal and a Curlew.

Marsh Tit - Keith Raper


Sunday, 16 December 2018

Sunday 16th December

A Great White Egret was seen this morning in the field below Seamer Tip pool, and visible from the mounds there were approximately 20 White-fronted Geese and 2 Barnacle Geese. There was a drake Shoveler at Scalby Mills, and a Little Egret at Folkton Bridge. Seamer Road Mere hosted 4 Little Grebe, 42 Tufted Duck, a Goldeneye, a Coot, 2 Water Rails and 2 Chiffchaffs. At Thornton Carrs there were 3 Green Sandpipers, a Little Egret, 2 Buzzards, a Yellowhammer and a Bullfinch. A Goldeneye remained on Peasholm Park lake, and a drake Goosander was on the angling lake at Burton Riggs. At dusk Scalby Mills had just a few gulls - 320 Black-headed Gulls, 440 Herring Gulls, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, and a Common Gull.

Goldcrest - Paul Malton

Kingfisher - Joe Bamfield

Saturday, 15 December 2018

Saturday 15th December

Lots of geese at Seamer Tip pool this morning, including 5 different species. Up to 60 White-fronted Geese were seen to fly in and land in the fields to the east of the pool. There were also 2 Barnacle Geese and 2 Pink-footed Geese. Below Holbeck, just above the site of the old swimming pool there was a Green Woodpecker in the bushes. At Harwood Dale Lake there were about 150 Fieldfare, a Dunlin, 27 Wigeon and 2 Goosander. Along the riverbank near Hilla Green there were 2 Dippers, 50+ Siskins, 20+ Redwings, a Mistle Thrush, 4 Marsh Tits, 4 Nuthatches, and several Goldcrests.

Pink-footed, Greylag and Canada Geese - Terry Hobson

White-fronted Geese - Terry Hobson

Barnacle Geese - Terry Hobson

Friday, 14 December 2018

Friday 14th December

2 Egyptian Geese were present at Wykeham South Lake today, plus a pair of Shelduck, one of which was possibly a Shelduck/Ruddy Duck hybrid. A Rose-coloured Starling was seen in a private garden in the Throxenby area.

Goosander - Nigel Webster


Thursday, 13 December 2018

Thursday 13th December

Today at Wykeham South Lake there were 3 Egyptian Geese, plus the Scaup still, but now just 3 Grey Partridges. A Great White Egret was present at Seamer Tip pond, while on Harwood Dale Lake there were 2 White Fronted Geese, 27 Wigeon, a Mandarin and 52 Lapwings. A Great White Egret was also seen flying across the A64 and Star Carr, settling by the River Hertford, and last seen on Seamer Mead. There was also a Little Egret by the river. About 20 Pink-footed Geese flew south over town this evening.

Goldeneye - Joe Bamfield


Wednesday, 12 December 2018

Wednesday 12th December

At Wykeham South Lake today: female Pintail, male Scaup, Shelduck, 52 Coot, 36 Tufted Duck, 36 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, a Buzzard, 7 Great Crested Grebes, and 180 Lapwings in the fields nearby. Up to 4 Waxwings were seen off and on in the car park near B&Q.
 Thrush - Doris Drainpipe

Grey Partridge - Terry Hobson


Tuesday, 11 December 2018

Tuesday 11th December

A Barn Owl and a Scaup were seen early this morning at Wykeham South Lake, plus a displaying Goldeneye. Nearby at Ings Farm were 14 Pink-footed Geese and a covey of 11 Grey Partridge. Sightings in Langdale Forest included: 2 Goshawks, lots of Crossbills including one flock of 25, a Great Grey Shrike at High Greens, 2 Stonechat at Lunn Rigg, and 12 Meadow Pipits at Maw Rigg. In the early afternoon there were 3 Waxwings in the B&Q car park, and at Seamer Tip 2 Barnacle Geese and (briefly) a Great White Egret.

Treecreeper - Andy Brown


Monday, 10 December 2018

Monday 10th December

There was just one Waxwing in the B&Q car park this morning. A Great White Egret was seen at Seamer Tip pool and 42 Moorhens at Seamer Road Mere. Wykeham South Lake hosted 94 Greylag Geese, 5 Teal, 9 Mallard, 8 Wigeon, 33 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 34 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 6 Goldeneye, 1 Scaup, 1 Little Grebe, 61 Coot, 2 Moorhen and a Heron. On Johnson's Marsh there were 83 Teal and 5 Wigeon, on Cayton Carrs there were 100+ Lapwing, and in the fields near Long Nab there was a Whimbrel. An Asio owl (probably Long-eared) was seen briefly in the Seamer tip area.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20181210

Waxwing - Terry Hobson


Sunday, 9 December 2018

Sunday 9th December

Rather little news in today. There were 2 Great White Egrets at Wykeham South Lake. A Goshawk was seen at Ellerburn this afternoon, plus 5 Common Buzzards, 2 Bullfinch, 9 Siskin, 2 Jays and a Marsh Tit.

Counts from Long Nab: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20181209


Common Buzzard at Oliver's Mount - Beverley Senturk

Grey Heron at Seamer Road Mere - Beverley Senturk


Saturday, 8 December 2018

Saturday 8th December

5 Waxwings were seen again this morning in the car park outside B&Q, and 7 were seen on Heron Lane, Crossgates. There were 2 Goldeneye and 2 Barnacle Geese at Burton Riggs, and 12 Gadwall at Seamer Tip pool. The drake Scaup remained at Wykeham South Lake, plus 8 Goldeneye. At Potter Brompton Carr there were 180+ Fieldfare, 130+ Wigeon, 30 Teal, a Pink-footed Goose and 226 Greylag Geese. A Little Egret was spotted off Irton Moor Road, and a female Blackcap was seen in Pickering garden this afternoon in the Scarborough recreation area.

Little Egret - Melanie Pearl


Friday, 7 December 2018

Friday 7th December

8 of the Waxwings were seen again first thing this morning outside Halfords on Seamer Road, before flying off. A Great White Egret was again present at Seamer Tip pool. 50+ Chaffinches, 6 Bramblings and 20 Yellowhammers were seen at Wilton Heights, plus a Grey Wagtail in a cattle field nearby. There was a Goshawk over Sandale, a Little Egret at Ellerburn fish farm, and a Kingfisher on the stream there.
Barnacle Geese on Seamer Tip Pool - Melanie Pearl

Red-throated Diver - Stuart Baines




Thursday, 6 December 2018

Thursday 6th December

Waxwings were drawing the crowds outside B&Q today, starting with 5 early morning and increasing to 16 by early afternoon. At the harbour there were 4 Shags, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Divers, a Guillemot and a Great Crested Grebe. On Wykeham South Lake there were 250 Wigeon, 42 Gadwall, 1 Scaup, 6 Goldeneye and 8 Great Crested Grebes.

Waxwing - Rose Habberley

Goldeneye - Terry Hobson

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Wednesday 5th December

Not many reports in today - hardly surprising given the awful weather. However, a Buzzard and a soggy Barn Owl were seen at Wykeham South Lake, plus 12 Pochard, 1 Shoveler, 32 Tufted Ducks, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Gadwall and 32 Coot. 13 Waxwings were spotted opposite Dunelm on Seamer Road, and a Great White Egret was seen at Seamer Tip pool before it flew off towards the Carrs.

Fieldfare - Terry Hobson


Tuesday, 4 December 2018

Tuesday 4th December

No further sign today of yesterday's Black-throated Diver. Wykeham South Lake this morning had the usual duck species including the male Scaup still. Also present was a Great White Egret, a small flock of Redwing/Fieldfare, 13 Greenfinches, and 150 Lapwings in the fields nearby. A Great White Egret was also seen in the field below Seamer Tip pool before flying to the adjacent field to the east. A Snow Bunting was seen on Reasty Bank above Low North Camp. 3 Waxwings were spotted mid-morning beside the A165, firstly just south of the Harwood Dale turn-off, then later just north of this turn-off, after which they flew off to the south.

Black-throated Diver - Andrew Leggett

Black-throated Diver - Andrew Leggett


Monday, 3 December 2018

Monday 3rd December

A number of reports of Whooper Swans today: 21 seen heading onto the Carrs near Wykeham South Lake this morning, 11 still present in the stubble field at West Flotmanby, 13 by the rail track near Staxton this afternoon, which were then seen flying over the A64. Also several reports of flocks of Pink-footed Geese (14 over Wykeham Lakes, about 60 over town and 150 over Crossgates), and flocks of Lapwings (approx 150 over Wykeham Lakes this morning and 80+ over Wrench Green in the afternoon). At Wykeham South Lake there were also 3 Great White Egrets, a male Scaup, a Merlin and 100+ Fieldfares/Redwings. Along the riverbank in Wrench Green there were 2 flocks of 45+ and 60+ Siskins, 25+ Redwings, 4 Treecreepers and 4 Mistle Thrushes. 2 Barnacle Geese were seen on Seamer Tip pool. There was a Black-throated Diver off East pier, as well as 2 Red-throated Divers in South Bay.

Reed Bunting - Nick Addey


Sunday, 2 December 2018

Sunday 2nd December

Lots of Pink-footed Geese moving south today - 527 counted from Long Nab. Also south at Long Nab were 2 Tundra Bean Geese, 2 Snow Buntings and a Great Northern Diver. A Whimbrel landed in the field south of Crook Ness. A male Scaup remained at Wykeham South Lake, plus 45 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 14 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye, 10 Great Crested Grebes and several Wigeon. A Goldeneye was also spotted in Peasholm Park. A Great White Egret flew from Seamer Tip pool early morning, and a Little Egret flew over Star Carr. A Raven, which was initially seen among sheep on Seamer Mead, flew onto Seamer Tip. This afternoon there were 4 Common Scoter in the North Bay; 4+ Red-throated Divers, a Razorbill and 5 Guillemots off Marine Drive; 130 Wigeon at Scalby Mills; and 14 Ringed Plover and a Common Scoter in Jackson's Bay.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20181202

Cormorant - Iain Leadley


Red-throated Diver - David Caulfield