Monday 26th March 2018

This morning a singing male Blackcap was at The Holmes, Castle Hill and 36 Pink-footed Geese flew north over the hospital at 08.47. Also this morning around Wrench Green a Dipper, Nuthatch, Grey Wagtail, Son Thrush, 4 Mandarin Duck and a Treecreeper and in Troutsdale 2 Dippers, a pair of Mandarin Ducks and a Chiffchaff.

On Potter Brompton Carr early afternoon a pair of Pintail, 13 Shoveler, 105 Wigeon, 8 Snipe, a Redshank and a Curlew. Later in the afternoon a Short-eared Owl was seen around Seamer Tip, 5 Mediterranean Gulls were in South Bay (3 adults and 2 x 2^nd winter) and this evening 1950 Common Gulls were roosting off Long Nab.

Mediterranean Gull - Holbeck Car Park - Andy Hall

Peregrine (with prey) - Castle Cliffs - Ian Glaves

Sunday 25th March 2018

It was all fairly quiet up at Long Nab this morning apart from a single Manx Shearwater heading north, the first of the year, and in the afternoon a Blackcap in the top plantation and a Whimbrel on the rocks below the Obs were the highlights.

Chiffchaffs have begun to arrive with 2 at Burton Riggs, one on the Scalby to Burniston cinder track and 2 at The Mere where there was also a Pink-footed Goose, a Teal, 38 Tufted Duck and 6 Goosanders.

At Wykeham Raptor View Point the birds of prey included a Red Kite, 4 Goshawks, 6 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Kestrels; 41 Mute Swans were grazing in fields at Ings Farn, West Knapton and at Scalby Mills there were 388 Wigeon and 48 Redshanks.

Little Owl - Hutton Buscel - Jan & Gary Powell

Peregrine - Castle Cliffs - Andy Hall

Pink-footed Goose - The Mere - Chris Bell

Saturday 24th March 2018

This morning on Johnson’s Marsh we had 18 Wigeon, 9 Teal and 2 Oystercatchers and on Harwood Dale Lake a Goosander, 15 Teal, 9 Wigeon and 2 Oystercatchers. At Potter Brompton Carr today 21 Whooper Swans, 18 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Shoveler, 45+ Wigeon and a Chiffchaff.

A 3½ hour seawatch from Scalby Nab this morning produced 6860 Kittiwakes moving south along with 31 Red-throated Divers, 49 Common Scoter, 2 Eider and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls; just along the coast at Scalby Mills there were 350 Wigeon, a pair of Pintail, 2 Purple Sandpipers, a 1^st summer Mediterranean Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 6 Eiders flew north past there.

Other sightings from the rest of our area included a Redwing behind the Marine Drive wall; a Willow Tit on the feeders behind the visitors centre at Ravenscar; on the western edge of the recording area 10+ Red Grouse were seen to the east of the Pickering to Whitby road north of RAF Fylingdales; 6 Goosanders were on The Mere and this evening 1200 Starlings came to roost in Old Town.

male Goosander - The Mere - Mark Hepples

Friday 23rd March 2018

An early morning shock today with the discovery of an Avocet on Peasholm Park Lake swimming around near to the bandstand!! Unfortunately, it did not remain for long and was last seen when it flew off to the south at 08.12. Also new today were a couple of Snow Buntings along the Cleveland Way, one was by “Pipe Gully”, the first gully to the south of Crook Ness and the other was at Cromer Point where a Dunlin was on the pond. Also today a Willow Tit was at New Dyke, Seamer Tip.

Passing Long Nab today we had 8 Greylag Geese, a Canada Goose, 2 Teal, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Eider, a Rock Pipit and a Goldfinch all heading south and 2 alba Wagtails, 2 Meadow Pipits and a Linnet went north, 13 Starlings came in off the sea.

At Potter Brompton Carr Lesser Black-backed Gulls had increased to 16 and there were 5 Shelduck, 9 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, 100+ Teal, 90+ Wigeon and a Peregrine; 10 Tufted Duck were on Johnson’s Marsh; on The Mere 10 Goosanders and 25 Tufted Duck and on Harwood Dale Lake a Goosander, 9 Wigeon and 2 Teal.

At Scalby Mills the Wigeon count was down to 87 along with 32 Redshank, a Lapwing and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, also a pair of these had returned to their rooftop breeding site on Spring Bank.

At Wilton Heights, near Thornton-le-Dale, there were still 60+ Bramblings plus 8 Common Buzzards and a Goshawk whilst two Hawfinches continued to frequent their favoured private garden in the village.

Also of note today were 2 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies behind the Marine Drive wall.

Avocet flying off - Peasholm Park Lake - Adrian Ewart

Avocet - Peasholm Park Lake - Stuart Baines

Thursday 22nd March 2018

Again we start with Wykeham South Lake this morning where there were 13 Cormorants, a Goldeneye, 7 Oystercatchers and a mating pair of Little Owls; 4 Tufted Ducks on Barmoor Lane pond; 2 Red-throated Divers close in off Marine Drive post 55 and the Peregrines were seen mating on the Castle Cliffs this morning.

At Potter Brompton Carr today there were 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a 2^nd summer Mediterranean Gull, 600+ Common Gulls, 400+ Black-headed Gulls, 4 Pintail, 5 Shoveler, 2 Oystercatchers, a Redshank, 2 Curlew, 130+ Wigeon and 40+ Teal.

Johnson’s Marsh had 2 Snipe plus 4 Pink-footed Geese feeding in the field to the west and there was a Redshank on Scalby Lodge Pond.

Dipper - Hilla Green - Andy Brown

Wednesday 21st March 2018

At Wykeham South Lake this morning 11 Great Crested Grebes, a Goldeneye, 2 Egyptian Geese,  4 Shelduck, 11 Tufted Duck, 11 Cormorants, 130+ Common Gulls and small groups of Fieldfares moving through.

Also today a Red Kite was seen flying northwest over Crossgates at 10.50 and then one was seen heading north over The Flask on the A171 at 12.30.

Kittiwake back on ledge - Spa Bridge - Stuart Baines

Tuesday 20th March 2018

On Cayton Carr this morning a Ruff and 76 Lapwing; at Potter Brompton Carr 9 Pintail, 3 Shoveler and 80+ Lapwings and at Wykeham South Lake 8 Great Crested Grebes, 58 Wigeon and a ♂ Goldeneye.

Around town there was a Great Crested Grebe and a displaying pair of Greater Black-backed Gulls in the Harbour and on the sea opposite the Grand Hotel a flock of 65 Kittiwakes.

Cormorant - The Harbour - Joe Bamfield

Peregrines - Castle Cliffs - Stuart Baines

Monday 19th March 2018

All the action today came from Long Nab where observers were present for most of the day from 07.45 – 16.45. The highlights of the day were the first March record of Sooty Shearwater which went south at 10.08, a 1^st winter Glaucous Gull feeding in the surf about 200 metres north of the Obs and present for about 50 minutes before moving off and 3 Little Gulls (2 heading south one of which lingered for over an hour and 1 N). Also from here during the morning a blue phase Fulmar went north and an Eider, 2 Common Scoter, 42 Shags, 352 Kittiwakes  and a Puffin all moved south.

The only other news today came from Scalby Lodge Pond where there were 71 Wigeon, a Shelduck and a Dunlin.

Glaucous Gull - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Sunday 18th March 2018

Five Eiders flew south past Long Nab this morning and at Johnson’s Marsh there were 15 Wigeon, 29 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, an Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe and 29 Curlew. Nearby at Scalby Mills 4 Ringed Plovers, 22 Common Gulls and 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and then in North Bay tideline corpses included a Razorbill, 2 Guillemots, a Common Gull, a Fulmar and a Gannet.

In Peasholm Park today a Redshank and a Common Gull; there was a Pochard at the far end of Burton Riggs and roosting in and around the Harbour this evening were 32 Purple Sandpipers, 59 Turnstone, 3 Mediterranean Gulls (a 1^st winter, a 2^nd winter and an adult), 120 Black-headed Gulls with 1200 Starlings coming in to Old Town.

At Wykeham South Lake 8 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Egyptian Geese, a Goldeneye, a Goosander and 5 Oystercatchers whilst out at Ellerburn there were 2 Goldeneye, a Goshawk, 5 Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and c60 Siskins.

Saturday 17th March 2018

No news received today, but we did get a couple of nice photos on the Facebook page.

Long-tailed Tit - Forge Valley - Chris Bell

Red-legged Partridge - Wykeham - Rose Habbersley

Friday 16th March 2018

A Red Kite was seen over the A170 west of Wykeham at 8.28 this morning; at Johnson’s Marsh 13 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel (the first of the Spring) and 5 Tufted Ducks and on Scalby Lodge Pond 75 Wigeon and 7 Curlews.

Thursday 15th March 2018

The Avocet seen on Folkton Carr earlier in the week was relocated on Potter Brompton Carr today along with 11 Shoveler, 90+ Teal, 120+ Wigeon, 210+ Lapwing, 2 Curlew and 2 Oystercatchers.

This afternoon a brief look at Harwood Dale Lake produced an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Mandarin Duck and 16 Meadow Pipits.

Wednesday 14th March 2018

The day started with 23 Pink-footed Geese flying north at Long Nab at 07.00 and at Folkton Carr there were 24 Dunlin, a Ruff and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull but unfortunately no sign of the Avocet seen yesterday. Also at Long Nab a littoralis Rock Pipit in the field north of the Obs and 2 Eiders and a Tufted Duck flew south.

On Wykeham South Lake this morning 6 Whooper Swans, 2 Goldeneye, 9 Oystercatchers, a Stock Dove, a Barn Owl and a Little Owl and at Scalby Lodge Pond 76 Wigeon and 6 Teal.

Mid afternoon there were 10 Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck Car Park (7 adults, 2 x 2^nd winter and a 1^st winter), a ♂ Pochard was on The Mere and on Flotmanby Carr 4 Grey Herons, a Woodcock and 150 Fieldfares.

Bramblings in flight - Wilton Heights - John Harwood

Peregrines - Castle Cliffs - Joe Bamfield

Brambling - Wilton Heights - John Harwood

Tuesday 13th March 2018

The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Avocet on Folkton Carr which remained in the area for the rest of the day along with a Peregrine, 25 Dunlin and 48 Wigeon also around Cayton Carr were 600 Lapwing and 4500 Starlings.

The Great White Egret was on Potter Brompton Carr, where there was also a Pintail, this afternoon but flew towards Wykeham South Lake at 13.50 and was seen at the latter location at 14.30.

Also today there was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Scalby Mills and 3 flew north off Long Nab where a Marsh Tit was also seen, a scarce species at this site.

Great White Egret - Potter Brompton Carr - Nick Addey

Avocet (vert distant) - Folkton Carr - Nick Addey

Monday 12th March 2018

No news was received today.

Sunday 11th March 2018

First thing this morning the over wintering Whimbrel was in the field south of Crook Ness and was accompanied by 15 Curlews; at Long Nab a Red-necked Grebe flew north at 08.36 plus 7 Goosanders north during the morning, 2 Eider (1 N, 1 S), a Golden Plover (S), 210 Lapwing (190 S), 46 Skylarks (39 S, 5 E and 2 N) and at Scalby Mills a Long-tailed Duck flew north at 09.08. Also at Scalby Mills 2♂ and a ♀ Goosanders flew north and there were 72 Redshanks, a Dunlin, 2 Purple Sandpipers and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

At Wykeham South Lake we had 10 Great Crested Grebes, a Goldeneye, 4 Oystercatchers and 3 Egyptian Geese flew over and landed in the fields to the east of the River Derwent. In the Seamer area a Short-eared Owl was west of the Tip Pool and 11 Redshanks to the south, on Starr Carr scrape 2 Shoveler and 3 Gadwall.

Also today the Great White Egret remained on Potter Brompton Carr; in Cornelian Bay there were a Great Crested Grebe, 5 Red-throated Divers and a Black-throated Diver (that drifted round into Cayton Bay and was seen there later) and a Hawfinch was in Ellerburn churchyard.

Saturday 10th March 2018

The Great White Egret was seen again today but this time it was found on Potter Brompton Carr.

7 Mediterranean Gulls were around Holbeck Car Park this morning (5 adults, a 1^st winter and a 2^nd winter) and three were seen at The Mere (an adult and 2 x 1^st winter).

With no reports for a few days now it was nice to hear that 5 Hawfinches were seen at the churchyard in Brompton-by-Sawdon again today.

Also today we had a report of large flocks of Starlings, Redwings and Fieldfares around the pylons at Wykeham South Lake. Finally a Goshawk was seen along Great Moor Road at Hutton Buscel.

Goshawk on a Partridge - Hutton Buscel - Alan M Hunt

Friday 9th March 2018

At Wykeham South Lake this morning the wide ranging Great White Egret put in another appearance and was showing well at times with a supporting cast that included a Shelduck, 5 Goldeneye, 17 Tufted Duck and a Barn Owl; whilst at Wykeham Raptor View Point 4+ Goshawks were seen between 10 and 11am.

In Thornton-le-Dale 2 Hawfinches were seen in the churchyard and another 2 were back in the private garden after an absence of two weeks.

Local raptors were performing well this morning with 4 Buzzards together over Burniston and the Castle headland Peregrines were putting on a fine display.

This afternoon there were 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls on the rocks in the South Bay.

Turnstone - Harbour - Emma Telford

Barn Owl - Wykeham South Lake - Terry Hobson

Rabbits photobombed by Hawfinch - Thornton-le-Dale - Graham Sigsworth

Thursday 8th March 2018

At Long Nab 3 Goosanders went past south at 07.00 and at Potter Brompton Carr this morning 13 Shoveler, a Pintail, a Shelduck, 2 Curlew (first returning breeding birds), an Oystercatcher, a Redshank and 2 Snipe.

The Finch/Bunting flock at Nabgate/Wilton Heights Quarry now numbers over 600 birds with about 300 of these being Bramblings.

At Scalby Mills today there were 325 Wigeon, a Dipper, a Bar-tailed Godwit (departed in the direction of Jackson’s Bay) and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull; nearby on Johnson’s Marsh 104 Wigeon and 2 Curlews and in the field to the south of Seamer Tip Pool there were 206 Fieldfare, 41 Redwings and 58 Redshanks.

A little further afield there were Barn Owl and Little Owl on Thornton Carrs and in the Sand Dale/Ellerburn area 5 Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Goshawk and a Green Woodpecker.

Wednesday 7th March 2018

The over wintering Whimbrel was seen again today at Crook Ness; in Barmoor Close, Scalby a ♀ Blackcap was in a private garden; in the Dalby Forest there were 4 Goshawks and 12 Crossbills between Crosscliff and Jerry Noddle and at Haygate c35 Crossbills, 2 Lesser Redpolls and c100 Siskins.

Up at Ravenscar a Willow Tit was on the feeders behind the National Trust building and a Green Woodpecker was on the golf course; at Wykeham South Lake we had 12 Great Crested Grebes and a Barn Owl and on Thornton Carrs there was also a Barn Owl.

Around town today the sightings included a ♂ and 4♀ Goosanders on The Mere and 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls at the Holbeck Car Park.

Tuesday 6th March 2018

Today Potter Brompton Carr produced 4 Shoveler, a ♂ Pintail, c300 Wigeon, 120+ Teal, a Pink-footed Goose, a Redshank, 91 Lapwing (including two displaying), 3 Water Rails and a Willow Tit while at Harwood Dale Lake there were 2 Whooper Swans, 10 Wigeon, 48 Teal, 2 Oystercatchers and a Barn Owl then finally on Seamer Road Mere we had 14 Goosanders.

Rock Pipit - The Harbour - Emma Telford

Siskins - Nicky Wearmouth

Monday 5th March 2018

The highlight of the day was a Red-necked Grebe that flew south past Long Nab at 09.21 but also today there were 4 Siskins at Burton Riggs; a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Bullfinches at Seamer Tip Pool and at Wykeham South Lake we had 12 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Teal, 6 Goldeneye, Barn Owl, Little Owl and about 30 Fieldfares.

Sunday 4th March 2018

At Long Nab today moving south before 12.30 were 8100+ Guillemots, 3+ Razorbills, 704 Gannets and 102 Fulmars plus 4 Kittiwakes and 7 Red-throated Divers. In the Harbour today a Great Crested Grebe and 2 Dunlin, plus 2 Guillemots off the East Pier and a Chiffchaff was at the Folkton Water Treatment Works.

Just out of area there were 6 Hawfinches today in the churchyard at Pickering.

Treecreeper - The Mere - John Hepples

Saturday 3rd March 2018

At Thornton-le-Dale the number of Hawfinches in the churchyard had increased again to 9 and there was a Jack Snipe on the village football field.

The ♂ Blackcap was still along Valley Road and there was also a Woodcock seen nearby; on Folkton Carr there were 35 Curlew, a ♀ Stonechat and a Barn Owl and along the riverbank at Wrench Green 5 Mandarin Duck, 2 Snipe, 2 Woodcock, 2 Dippers, a Marsh Tit and a couple of Treecreepers.

This afternoon three Little Gulls were discovered at Scalby Mills feeding where the beck comes into the bay, 2 adults and a 1^st winter which showed well until dark and in town 51 Purple Sandpipers roosted on the Lighthouse steps at high tide (including the green flagged Spitzbergen bird); the gull roost in South Bay included 13 Mediterranean Gulls (2 x 1^st winter, 4 x 2^nd winter and 7 adults), 3 Common Gulls and 260 Black-headed Gulls and there was also a Guillemot in the Bay plus 900 Starlings roosted in Old Town.

Also today there were 3 Hawfinches in Pickering churchyard but officially this location is about 100 metres outside of our recording area.

1st W Little Gull - Scalby Mills - Nick Addey

adult Little Gull - Scalby Mills - Nick Addey

female Stonechat - Folkton Carr - Stuart Baines

Friday 2nd March 2018

The elusive 1^st winter Iceland Gull was seen again today over Seamer Tip and there were also 4 Woodcocks in the area and the 2^nd winter Mediterranean Gull was still visiting Peasholm Park and also the harbour this afternoon.

A nice new discovery was an adult Little Gull feeding in North Bay opposite the former Royal Albert Drive Café but soon after its discovery the area was closed to traffic because of a high tide warning. Also in Scarborough today a Waxwing was seen by B&Q on Seamer Road where a Woodcock flew towards Oliver’s Mount.

Out at Thornton-le-Dale the village was full of Redwings and Song Thrushes and there were still 6 Hawfinches in the churchyard.

Fieldfare - Hayley Richardson

Thursday 1st March 2018

The main news for most people in our area today was the arrival of many Fieldfares and a few Redwings into private gardens, presumably birds displaced from the local countryside in search of a food source. In Sawdon a couple of Bramblings visited a private garden and in Thornton-le-Dale there were 4 Hawfinches in the churchyard today.

The 2^nd winter Mediterranean Gull was again in Peasholm Park where a Common Snipe flew over and finally this afternoon a group of 5 Waxwings flew over the small park at the northern end of the Sea View estate inland of Cornelian Bay also 2 Snipe, 50+ Fieldfates and a few Redwings were present.

Fieldfare - Pauline Dent

Fieldfare - Steve Race

Wednesday 28th February 2018

At Wykeham South Lake this morning 4 Goldeneye, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Oystercatchers and a flock of 28 Yellowhammers with 220+ Starlings and 24 Fieldfares moving west over the area. The 2^nd winter Mediterranean Gull was still in Peasholm Park today along with a couple of Redwings and the ♂ Blackcap was still present today in a private garden on Valley Road.

At Long Nab this afternoon a Golden Plover, 44 Lapwings and 11 Snipe were present and 25 Redwings flew south; there were at least 2 Hawfinches in the churchyard at Thornton-le-Dale and a Woodcock was feeding just outside a private garden in Cayton.

Tuesday 27th February 2018

Not many reports today as the bad weather continued but a Buzzard flew high to the south over Valley Road late morning, 8 Fieldfares were heading west and a male Blackcap was seen visiting feeders where there were a dozen Fieldfares as well.

4 Hawfinches were in the churchyard at Thornton-le-Dale.