Saturday 23rd October

Lots of Pink-footed Geese on the move again: 400+ west over Cayton/Cayton Bay, 970 north and 178 south at Long Nab, about 100 west over Forge Valley, and 139 south-east over Thornton Dale. A Dipper was seen at the bridge by the Youth Hostel and a Sparrowhawk at Scalby Mills. A Little Auk was on the sea off Marine Drive and 2 Red-throated Divers were again in the harbour. 20+ Redwings flew north-west over East Ayton and a Cormorant north. At Cayton Bay/Lebberston Cliffs a Long-tailed Duck flew south, a Little Egret flew north, 7 Red-throated Divers were on the sea, and a Lapland Bunting was with a Skylark flock in the sheep field. 13 Whooper Swans flew south over Long Nab and Cornelian Bay. A Red Kite flew north over Burniston, and a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew south-west over Jugger Howe Moor, where 4 Snow Buntings were seen feeding. At Long Nab 2 Lapland Buntings were in the stubble field, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Pomarine Skua flew past north, and a Jay, 28 Rock Pipits, 1453 Siskins and 32 Reed Buntings flew south. At Wykeham Lakes there were 16 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Goldeneye, 42 Mallards, 24 Wigeon, 16 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 19 Cormorants, 36 Teal and 15 Gadwall, while about 60 Jackdaws flew west. 2 young Goshawks were seen from Long Causeway at Wykeham Lakes, and there was a possible sighting of a Snow Bunting on the cliffs near Scalby Mills.