Thursday 28th February

No news in today!

Turnstone with lots of rings, and sadly a swollen toe - Rose Habberley

Wednesday 27th February

The Great Grey Shrike was seen again in the clearing off Housedale Lane, Dalby Forest (grid ref: SE868887). At Potter Brompton Carr there were 14 Snipe, 2 Shoveler, 60+ Wigeon and 20 Teal. A Hummingbird Hawk moth was present in a garden in Crossgates.

Siskin - Judi Kent Pyrah

Tuesday 26th February

The Whimbrel was once again feeding with Curlews in the field behind the observation hut. A pair of Peregrines were seen mating on the castle cliff. 3 or 4 Goshawks, 3 Sparrowhawks and 6 Buzzards were seen this morning from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, plus 35 Pink-footed Geese flying north. A Comma butterfly was spotted in the car park there.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190226

Little Owl - Judi Kent Pyrah

Barn Owl - Judi Kent Pyrah

Monday 25th February

A Water Rail was seen this morning on the Open Air Theatre island, and another was seen at Seamer Road Mere, where there were also 5 Teal, 33 Tufted Duck, a drake Goosander and a Chiffchaff. 89 Wigeon, 5 Teal, a Shelduck and 45 Fieldfare were at Potter Brompton Carr, and a Raven was seen flying over Harwood Dale. In Dalby Forest: there was a Little Egret and 2 Grey Wagtails at the Ellerburn Paper Mill lake, and 3 Marsh Tits and 2 Willow Tits at Pexton Lake. A Great Egret was seen at Wykeham fishing lakes.

Water Rail at the Open Air Theatre - Stuart Baines

Sunday 24th February

Once again the Whimbrel was feeding with Curlew in the field behind the observation hut, while in the field to the north of the hut was a Snow Bunting. There was a Shoveler at Johnson's Marsh and a pair of Goldeneye at Seamer Road Mere. 10 Mandarin, a Kingfisher, 2-3 Willow/Marsh Tits and a pale Buzzard were seen in Wrench Green. In Dalby Forest, in the Low Staindale/ Staindale Lodge area were 2 Dippers, 8 Marsh Tits, 3 Nuthatches, 2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Buzzards.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190224

Yellowhammer - Paul Malton

Snow Bunting - Christopher Bell

Saturday 23rd February

A Great Northern Diver flew south past Long Nab early morning, and 280+ Pink-footed Geese flew north. A third calendar year Mediterranean Gull was on Peasholm Park lake and another was on the rock armour off Marine Drive. 42 Fulmar and a Peregrine were on the castle headland, and a Water Rail was showing well at the Open Air Theatre. 3 Shoveler were at Scalby Mills, a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail were seen on Scalby Beck, and 450 Woodpigeons were to the north of the beck.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190223

Dunlin - Steven Wignill

Friday 22nd February

The Great Grey Shrike was again seen, both morning and afternoon, in the clearing at the top of Housedale, Dalby Forest, where there was also a Tawny Owl calling and about 10 Crossbills. An estimated 790+ Pink-footed Geese, in 7 flocks, were seen heading north over Long Nab during a 20 minute period this morning. 23 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Dunlin were roosting at high tide this evening on East Pier.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190222

Crossbill - Paul Malton

Thursday 21st February

The Whimbrel was again feeding with Curlews in the field by Crook Ness car park this morning. 7 Mandarins, 2 Shelduck and 8+ Teal were on the pool below North Stile, Wrench Green, while a Barn Owl hunted nearby. The Great Grey Shrike was still at Derwent Head, Langdale Forest this afternoon (grid ref: SE885974), while at the Housedale site of previous shrike sightings there were 4 Hawfinches.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190221

Sparrowhawk - Melanie Pearl

Wednesday 20th February

A very quiet day for birding news. The Great Grey Shrike was seen again in the clearing at the top of Housedale in Dalby Forest, but there was no sign of the bird at Derwent Head. 6 Goldeneye, 500+ Black-headed Gulls and a Barn Owl were at Wykeham South Lake early this morning.

Herring Gulls - Chris Dalton

Tuesday 19th February

At Johnson's Marsh this morning there were 24 Teal, a drake Gadwall, a Shelduck and 11 Wigeon. A Red Kite, 6 Goshawks, a Peregrine and several Buzzards were seen in Troutsdale, while between Givendale and Troutsdale Moor the birds spotted included 3 Goshawks, 3 Willow Tits, about 40 Crossbills and 6 Jays. There were a pair of Willow Tits also near Haygate. 16 Crossbills were also seen in Harwood Dale Forest, while at Harwood Dale Lake there were 4 Mandarins and a Goosander. The Whimbrel was once again at Crook Ness, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Scalby Mills. A pair of Dippers were observed mating at Scalby Beck.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190219

Peregrine - Joe Bamfield

Monday 18th February

A Great Northern Diver flew north past Long Nab this morning. There was a Mediterranean Gull at Peasholm Park and 48 Mute Swans at Seamer Road Mere. 30+ Corn Buntings were seen again opposite White House Farm, Low Marishes, and the Great Grey Shrike was seen again at Derwent Head in Langdale Forest. At Harwood Dale Lake there were 3 Shelduck, 7 Goosanders, Wigeon, Teal, Common Gull, Greylag and Canada Geese. At Wykeham South Lake there were 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Pochard, 4 Goldeneye, a Mediterranean Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, about 1200+ Common Gulls, about 400+ Black-headed Gulls and 250+ Herring Gulls. 3 or possibly 4 Goshawks were seen from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, plus 30+ Crossbills. 2 Barn Owls were hunting near Wrench Green, and a Peregrine flew across the valley south of there towards the sea-cut.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190218

Redshanks - Andy Brown

Peregrine - Stuart Baines

Sunday 17th February

Highlights from Long Nab this morning included 5 Goosanders flying south, a male Stonechat by the 'scrape', and the Whimbrel still at Crook Ness. 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls were present on the rooftops at Holbeck mid-morning, rising to 7 adults and 2 third calendar year birds later in the afternoon. 28 Purple Sandpipers were roosting on East Pier, and a male Mealy Redpoll was photographed in a garden in Hutton Buscel (below). A male Northern Goshawk was displaying this morning over a wooded area at Hazelhead Moor, and this evening 8 Tawny Owls could be heard calling within 1km of Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, where there was also a Woodcock.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190217

Mealy Redpoll - Allan Hunt/Judi Kent Pyrah

Female Mandarin at Seamer Road Mere - Iain Leadley

MEETING CANCELLED

Due to unforeseen circumstances the Scarborough Birders February meeting is cancelled.
Back as normal next month.

Saturday 16th February

The Whimbrel was again feeding with 13 Curlews in the field between the observatory and Crook Ness car park. A Red Kite was seen 1 mile east of Rillington, and another was also seen in Troutsdale, probably the same bird as was seen 5 minutes earlier from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint. Also seen from the viewpoint were 5+ Goshawks and 8 Common Buzzards. A Water Rail was spotted at Selley Bridge Farm, and a Great Grey Shrike was seen at Derwent Head, Langdale Forest. At Harwood Dale lake there were 6 Goosanders, a Shelduck and 260 Common Gulls. At Wykeham South Lake there were 7 Oystercatchers, a Redshank, a Great Crested Grebe, 8 Goldeneye, a drake Pochard and an Egyptian Goose, plus a flock of about 200 Lapwings nearby. In the Wilton Heights, Nabgate and Sandale area this afternoon were 6 Common Buzzards, a Goshawk, 45 Yellowhammers, 12 Tree Sparrows, 12 Bramblings, a Woodcock and 4 Marsh Tits. A drake Gadwall, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 582 Wigeon were present at Scalby Mills, and there were 6 Mediterranean Gulls (5 adults and one third calendar year bird) at Holbeck car park.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190216

Redwing in Hutton Buscel - Rose Habberley

Great Northern Diver in the harbour - Steve Race

Friday 15th February

There were 6 Goosanders at Harwood Dale Lake this morning, while at Wykeham South Lake there were 8 Goldeneye, 2 Gadwall, 2 Egyptian Geese, 6 Oystercatchers and a Barn Owl. A Great Grey Shrike was seen at Derwent Head in Langdale Forest, plus 4 Common Buzzards and a Kestrel in the area. 80 Pink-footed Geese flew over Seamer Mead. At Scalby Mills in the late afternoon there were 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 33 Common Gulls and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190215

Crossbill - Rose Habberley

Thursday 14th February

This morning at Wykeham South Lake there were 12 Wigeon, a Pochard, a Great White Egret, 26 Tufted Duck, a Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 10 Reed Buntings and a 2 Common Partridge. The Whimbrel was again seen - this time feeding in the field by the Crook Ness car park with a group of Curlews. There were 2 Great Crested Grebes at Burton Riggs, and an Egyptian Goose briefy at Seamer Tip Pool. 20 Linnets were seen at Seamer Mead and 100 Pink-footed Geese flew south over Seamer. A Dipper and 2 Purple Sandpipers were spotted at Scalby Mills, and a Treecreeper, a pair of Bullfinches and a Grey Wagtail at the Open Air Theatre. A Dipper was also seen at Boggle Hole on the stream just behind the youth hostel this afternoon.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190214

Barn Owl - Melanie Pearl

Wednesday 13th February

A Whimbrel left its roost in Burniston Bay this morning and flew to the field west of Fields Farm. A Great White Egret and a Barn Owl were seen at Wykeham South Lake, and a Great Northern Diver was seen just off the harbour. A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was spotted flying west over Cayton Carr late morning. There were a pair of Stonechats on the cliffs at the south end of Jackson's Bay this afternoon, and 12 Curlew were in the fields at Cromer Point. 6 Reed Buntings, 3 Yellowhammers, and a Common Snipe were seen in the Scalby Lodge area, and at Scalby Mills the red ringed Mediterranean Gull that has wintered each year in Scarborough since being ringed in Poland in 2013.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190213

The ringed Mediterranean Gull - Steven Wignill

Tuesday 12th February

A Red-throated Diver was in the harbour this morning, and a Barn Owl was hunting near Wykeham South Lake. An Oystercatcher, a Marsh Tit, a Goldcrest, a Redwing, a Goosander and a Great Crested Grebe were seen at Burton Riggs. 180 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Seamer Tip, while 4 more were seen present in the area. At Johnson's Marsh there were 11 Wigeon, 44 Teal and 15 Redshank. Highlights from Long Nab included 3 Shelduck and 4 Common Scoter passing. At Potter Brompton Carr there were 120+ Fieldfare and 6 Redwing. 150+ Brambling were spotted in a field north-west of Malton Cote Farm, while 170 Chaffinch and 20 Linnets were seen near Givendale Head Farm. 30+ Crossbills were seen in Dalby Forest, but there was no sign today of the Great Grey Shrike. The Great Northern Diver was again at Wykeham South Lake, also 4 Pintail, 5 Gadwall, 12 Goldeneye, 3 Grey Herons and a Barn Owl.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190212

Rock Pipit at the harbour - David Caulfield

Monday 11th February

At Wykeham South Lake this morning there were 2 Great White Egrets, 9 Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Egyptian Geese and a Barn Owl; plus 300+ Golden Plover and 500+ Lapwing in the fields. There were 2 Willow Tits on the riverbank near Wrench Green, and 3 Redshank and 2 Tufted Duck at Johnson's Marsh. Highlights from Long Nab included 2 Velvet Scoters, a Lapwing, an Eider flying south and 8 Skylarks flying north. On Cayton Carrs this afternoon there were 170 Lapwing, 102 Curlew, 3 Common Buzzards and a Snipe.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190211

Redshank - Mavis Smith

...and more Redshank - Stuart Baines

Sunday 10th February

There were 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck Car Park this morning, and 436 Wigeon plus 5 Purple Sandpipers at Scalby MiIlls. The Great Grey Shrike was again seen in the clearing at the top of Housedale in Dalby Forest, plus 3 Goshawks and 20+ Crossbills. A Goosander was at Burton Riggs and a Green Sandpiper at the pond to the north side of Seamer Tip. 3 Great White Egrets and a Great Northern Diver were at Wykeham South Lake, and another Great Northern Diver and 12 Common Scoters in Cornelian Bay. At least one Tundra Bean Goose was present among other geese on Flotmanby Carr.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190210

Kingfisher behind Open Air Theatre - Stuart Baines

Saturday 9th February

A second calendar year Iceland Gull was seen briefly at Scalby Mills at 10.40am before drifting north. A drake Pintail (with a yellow ring) was at Johnson's Marsh and a tame drake on Peasholm Park in the afternoon was presumably the same bird. A Water Rail was seen at the cut reedbed at the Open Air Theatre. A "Bridled" Guillemot was in the harbour (second day).

An increase in gulls moving at Long Nab today: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190209

"Bridled" Guillemot in the harbour - Keven Groocock

Pintail Johnson's Marsh - Chris Bell

 

Friday 8th February

A Yellow-legged Gull was at Scalby Mills today, also an adult Lbb Gull seen there. The Great Egret and Great Northern Diver were again at Wykeham South Lake. A Green Sandpiper was at the pond north of Seamer tip, 45 Jackdaws just east of the tip pool. A Great Crested Grebe at Burton Riggs. A single Whooper Swan was with the Mute herd at Foulbridge Lane. At the Open Air Theatre a Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. Thornton Carrs held a Green Sandpiper and 4 Mute Swans. 10 Corn Buntings in the field opposite White House Farm, Low Marishes.

A quiet seawatch at Long Nab: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190208



Yellow-legged Gull Scalby Mills - Nick Addey

 

Thursday 7th February

Highlights from Long Nab this morning included 18 Red-throated Divers feeding offshore. A Little Egret was seen in Brompton Beck, and the Great Grey Shrike was showing well again in the clearing at the top of Housedale, Dalby Forest. There were 32 Mute Swans below Snainton on Foulbridge Lane, and 3 Grey Plovers in Cornelian Bay. 4 Pink-footed Geese were spotted in a mixed goose flock below Seamer Tip Pool.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190207

Great Grey Shrike in Dalby Forest - Graham Sigsworth

Wednesday 6th February

The Great Grey Skrike was again present in the clearing near the top of Housedale in Dalby Forest this morning, though there was no sign of it there in the early afternoon. One was seen, however, a bit over a kilometre north-west of there, and another was sighted in Cropton Forest. There was a Chiffchaff near the Long Nab observatory in the early morning. 3 Goshawks, 7+ Buzzards, a Peregrine and 2 Ravens were seen from the Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, and a Great White Egret was still present at Wykeham Lakes. There were 5 Grey Plovers in Cornelian Bay.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190206

Reed Bunting at Seamer Tip Pool - Paul Tozer

Tuesday 5th February

An adult Iceland Gull flew south-east past Long Nab this morning, and (the same one?) was seen an hour and a half later flying over Scalby Mills towards Peasholm. Later a Mediterranean Gull was seen at Peasholm but not the Iceland Gull. There was a Curlew on Flixton Carr where a Great White Egret flew overhead southwards. At Seamer Tip Pool there was a Great White Egret in the morning and 3 Pink-footed Geese among Greylag Geese in the afternoon. A Green Woodpecker was at Hilla Green and 3 Mandarin Ducks were on Hackness Lake.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190205

Great White Egret -Joe Bamfield

Black-headed Gull - Paul Malton

Monday 4th February

Early this morning the Whimbrel flew from its roost in Burniston Bay to the field by Fields Farm. At Potter Brompton Carr there was a Water Rail, 36 Lapwing and 7 Snipe. A Great Grey Shrike was again seen in Dalby Forest, this time in a clearing at the top of Housedale. Also in the area were about 30 Crossbills and a Woodcock. There was a Great Northern Diver in the harbour mouth and 231 Wigeon at Scalby Mills. At Wykeham South Lake there were 41 Teal, 2 Gadwall, a Goosander (red-headed), 4 Goldeneye, 3 Little Grebes and 9 Great Crested Grebes, while at Johnson's Marsh there were 62 Teal. A Goshawk and 7 Buzzards were seen from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190204

Long-tailed Tit -Stuart Baines

Sunday 3rd February

No reports of the Bittern today, but a Water Rail was seen at Seamer Tip Pool. Highlights from Long Nab included 16 Golden Plover in the observatory field and another 35 flying south, 42+ Skylarks, and 10 Red-throated Divers feeding offshore. In Cornelian Bay there were 5 Grey Plover, a Shelduck, 2 Mallards, and a Common Scoter, while a Great Crested Grebe was in the harbour. On Thornton Carrs there were 4 Green Sandpipers, a Snipe and 5 Common Buzzards.

Full count from Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190203

Lesser Redpoll - Judi Kent Pyrah

Greylag - Chris Bell

Saturday 2nd February

The Great Northern Diver remained at Wykeham South Lake this morning, and there was another, together with 5 Red-throated Divers in Cornelian Bay. A Great Northern Diver was also seen in the harbour in the early afternoon, plus 2 Guillemots. In the morning a Bittern was seen flying then landing back in the reeds at Seamer Tip Pool, where a Pink-footed Goose was also seen later in the day. 7 Waxwings were again present in Church Lane, Thornton Dale.

Blackbird making quite a splash - Chris Dalton

Bittern at Seamer Tip Pool - Iain Leadley

Friday 1st February

A Great Northern Diver was again at Wykeham South Lake this morning, while 5 Whooper Swans and 2 Mute Swans were in a field beside the approach road, and up to 100 Golden Plover were with a flock of Lapwings in another field. About 200 Brambling were seen with a big mixed finch flock on Wykeham causeway, plus 300+ Fieldfare nearby. At Long Nab there were 132 Golden Plover in the observatory field, while 2 drake Eiders flew south. 7 Waxwings were reported back in Thornton Dale in the early afternoon. At the harbour there was a Great Northern Diver, and at Holbeck car park there were 8 Mediterranean Gulls (6 adults and 2 second winter birds).

Full count fro Long Nab here: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1074/20190201

Rock Pipit off Marine Drive - Rose Habberley

Golden Plover - Nick Addey