Sunday 24th March

A Little Grebe, Coot, 4 Teal, a female Goosander, 22 Tufted Duck and 5 singing Chiffchaffs were at Seamer Road Mere, while at Wykeham South Lake there were 13 Whooper Swans, Gadwall, Shelduck, a drake Pintail, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Cormorants and a Sand Martin. The Great Grey Shrike was still in the clearing at the top of Housedale and a male Wheatear was in a field just west of Malton Cote Farm. Another Wheatear was at Cloughton Wyke, and a Little Owl was seen in a broken wall by the road down to the wyke. 6 Chiffchaffs and several Willow Tits were located round Givendale and Hawdale Riggs. A Red Kite, 2 Willow Tits, 2 Marsh Tits, 6 Buzzards, a Grey Wagtail and a Brambling were in Ellerburn. At least 12 singing Chiffchaffs were heard between Scalby Mills and Hayburn Wyke, and a White Wagtail was seen at Cromer Point. At the harbour this evening there were 24 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the east pier, and 59 Turnstones in the west pier car park. A male Hen Harrier and 2 Red Kites were seen at Hutton Buscel. A female Marsh Harrier was spotted going west along Troutsdale.

Sparrowhawk - Judi Kent Pyrah