Friday 26th February

The first Chiffchaff of spring was on the North Side of Castle Hill (several arrived in Yorkshire today). A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Peasholm Glen this morning. The Slavonian Grebe was feeding close inshore in Cayton Bay again, where there was also a Dunlin. A Greenshank was in Gristhorpe Bay again, and about 132 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Hutton Buscel. A Brimstone butterfly was out in Falsgrave. A Great Egret was seen along the Hertford between Staxton and Ganton, while 3 Buzzards were circling over Burton Riggs and 5 flew west together over Gristhorpe. 2 Corn Buntings (and an escaped Harris's Hawk) flew south past Long Nab, a first winter Russian White-fronted Goose flew east over Seamer Tip pools. At Gristhorpe Bay there were 154 Redshank, a Greenshank, 10 Purple Sandpipers, 14 Turnstones, 55 Oystercatchers and 3 Grey Plovers. 2 pairs of Stonechats were on the cliff path between Gristhorpe Bay and Cayton Bay.