Tuesday 11th April

 Not unsurprisingly for the time of year was the sighting of a WHITE STORK flying SE over Gristhorpe at 1302hrs. It was then seen over Marine Drive at 13.20 hrs, and then over North Bay as viewed from Peasholm at 1412hrs before circling high to the north and subsequently lost from view at 1417hrs. A Red Kite flew south at Long Nab at 0948hrs and a second Red Kite flew SW at Long Nab at 1033hrs and probably the same bird was seen flying SW over Scarborough Hospital at 1045hrs. The first Common Whitethroat of spring was seen on the north side of Castle Hill and a Ringed Plover was in North Bay. Northern Wheatears were seen by the shelters on the south side of Peasholm Gap (1) and at Long Nab by the Observatory (2). Two Common Eider and a Wigeon remained at Scalby Mills with a Barn Swallow and Sand Martin and single Barn Swallows were at Wrench Green and Troutsdale. Two Sand Martins were at Jackson's Bay and one was at Burton Riggs. A Green Woodpecker was at Ganton Golf Course and the first Yellow Wagtail of the spring was at Potter Brompton Carr along with a Pink-footed Goose, four Shelduck, five Gadwall, 29 Teal, four Shoveler, one Little Egret and a Peregrine Falcon. A Brambling and two Siskins visited a Heron Lane garden at Crossgates and three Grey Heron and a Mallard were at Johnson's Marsh. Single Pochard and Shoveler were at Wykeham Lakes (North Yorkshire Water Park) along with four Goldeneye, 80 Sand Martins, five House Martins and 20+ Barn Swallows.

White Stork over Gristhorpe by John Harwood.

White Stork over Marine Drive by Paul Bentley.