Sunday 22nd January

 A second consecutive severe overnight ground frost augmented the already limited open water space on still waters today and birds were constantly moving. A skein of approximately 40 Pink-footed Geese flew north over the south east edge of Wykeham Forest where 19 Lesser Redpoll, 18 Fieldfare and a Redwing were in an adjacent field. 10 Common Snipe were on the scrape at Long Nab. Seven Golden Plover, one Peregrine Falcon and a Stonechat were at Seamer Mead this morning whilst five Golden Plover were at Flixton Carr with a further six Golden Plover flying over. 10 Lapwing, 20 Teal, two Little Grebe, two Grey heron and a Barn Owl were noted there late afternoon. Two Fieldfare flew over the Archery Range at Osgoodby. At Seamer Tip Pools there were 19 Coot, 250 Canada Geese and 220 Greylag Geese and six Mandarin were at Hackness Lake. 36 Purple Sandpiper were on the outer harbour this afternoon. Most of the North Yorkshire Water Park Lakes were completely ice bound, except for a small section of open water at the East Lake and about 35% of the Water Sports Lake where displaced wildfowl was packed in. The highlights of the monthly BTO WeBS Core Count at the complex were one drake Pintail, four Shoveler, four Pochard, 21 Goldeneye, five Whooper Swan, 21 Mute Swan,  two Pink-footed Geese, 121 Mallard, 54 Gadwall, 93 Wigeon, 78 Teal, 88 Tufted Duck, one drake Goosander, seven Great crested Grebe, 10 Little Grebe, 78 Coot, 64 Moorhen, 255 Greylag Geese, one Water Rail and two adult Mediterranean Gulls. Disturbance was subsequently caused mid morning by a motorboat being used to break surface ice to allow boats to sail, thus causing considerable disruption to resting birds which were moving all the time in search of alternative open water.

Purple Sandpiper at the outer harbour, Scarborough by Christopher Bell.