Saturday 17th July

Early this morning adult and juvenile Tawny Owls were seen being mobbed by Blackbirds. A juvenile Green Woodpecker was spotted at the old alum quarry in Ravenscar, and a Little Egret and a Hobby were at Seamer Tip pool. A Bar-tailed Godwit flew north past Long Nab, 2 Shelduck were at Johnson's Marsh, a Wigeon and 8 Mandarins were at Harwood Dale Lake, and a Turtle Dove was singing at Pits Wood, Harwood Dale. A big feeding flock of 60+ Swifts was over the Hovingham Drive area in the late afternoon, and about 30 were screaming over Stepney. About 25 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 10 Herring Gulls were seen catching flying ants over Newby and others over Barmoor Lane included 3 Mediterranean Gulls, one a juvenile from this year.