Sunday 31st December

 The Great Northern Diver in the harbour was today joined by a drake Red-breasted Merganser. Three Little Egrets, 2 Dippers, 125 Chaffinches were at Thornton Carrs, 70 Pink-footed Geese flew west over Thornton le Dale. 11 Pink-footed Geese flew south over Scalby Lodge, 36 Skylarks in stubble fields there. 350 Wigeon and 60 Redshank at Scalby Mills. At Seamer Road Mere; 3 Goldeneyes, and a Goosander. A Short-eared Owl flew NW over Taylor Way (Scarborough Business Park), and 60 Teal over Deepdale Carr. A Little Grebe in New Dyke, Seamer Tip. A walk along the River Hertford (Staxton to Potter Brompton Carr) produced a Merlin, 200 Teal, 1000 Lapwing, 17 Golden Plover, Dunlin, 150 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 6 Brambling. A Whooper Swan, ad Mediterranean Gull, Pink-footed Goose, 8 Wigeon, Barn Owl Cayton Carr. Two Short-eared Owls Seamer Carr.

Red-breasted Merganser in the harbour - Chris Bell

Saturday 30th December

 15 Crossbills at the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. Three Whooper Swans still on the Water Sports lake, NY Water Park. At Seamer Road Mere; 2 redhead Goosanders, 9 Goldeneye. The juvenile Great Northern Diver was in the harbour, 13 Fulmars and a Peregrine around Castle Cliffs and 5 Shags offshore. A pair of Stonechats Marine Drive. A Dipper in Peasholm Glen, plus 3 at Thornton le Dale beck.

Treecreeper Throxenby - Martin Moseley. 

Friday 29th December

 Five Waxwings were in Allerston today. Seven Ringed Plover at Scalby Mills. A Red Kite flew north over Gristhorpe Cliff. A Jay at Seamer tip. 

Gadwall over Seamer tip pool - Mark Hepples. 

Thursday 28th December

 The juvenile Great Northern Diver was showing well in the harbour. 30 Redshank at Scalby Mills. 58 Crossbills, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 100 Yeloowhammers, 200 Chaffinches, 3 Marsh Tits at Haygate, Dalby Forest. Eleven Mediterranean Gulls (6 2cy, 5 adults) at Eastway playing fields, Eastfield. 19 Siskins, 4 Marsh Tits Forge Valley. Two Dippers in Peasholm Glen. 

Great Northern Diver harbour - Kevin Groocock.

Wednesday 27th December

 An awful day of wind and rain! Just one report. Four Mediterranean Gulls (2 ads, 2 2cy) at Eastway playing field, Eastfield.

Black-headed Gull Throxenby Mere - Martin Moseley.

Tuesday 26th December

Scalby Mills/Scalby Ness area had 440 Wigeon, a Little Grebe (scarce here), 16 Ringed Plovers, 37 Curlews, Woodcock, 6 Song Thrush, 4 Stonechats, plus Kingfisher and Dipper at the mouth of the beck. 13 Red-throated Divers, 150 Linnets, 3 Stonechats at Long Nab. Potter Brompton Carr held 504 Lapwing, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, 2 Shelduck, 8 Teal. In the nearby cover crop at Bogg Hall; 12 Brambling, 60 Linnets, 45 Greenfinches, 70 Chaffinch, 8 Bullfinch, 25 Tree Sparrows. North Yorkshire Water Park had 5 Whooper Swans, 14 Mute Swans, and 46 Pink-footed Geese. Good numbers of Pink-footed Geese still around Low Marishes with 1100 estimated today. A Short-eared Owl at Seamer tip.

Short-eared Owl (undisclosed site) - Simon Temlett.

Monday 25th December

 A flock of 11 Snow Buntings flew south over Holbeck. 30 Redwings at Burton Riggs. The juvenile Great Northern Diver still in the main harbour. Seven Fulmars back on Castle Cliffs. 49 Crossbills, 8 Redwing at Bridestones, Dalby Forest. 425 Wigeon at Scalby Mills, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 58 Redshank roosting at nearby Scalby Ness. A covey of 11 Red-legged Partridge near Scalby Manor. Tawny Owl Burniston.

Robin - Stephen Beaver.

Sunday 24th December

 A single Waxwing flew north over Allerston early morning. Two Lapwings, 16 Ringed Plovers Scalby Mills. 70 Pink-footed Geese flew low west over Gristhorpe. Great Northern Diver, and Red-throated Diver in the harbour. Little Egret and Dipper Thornton beck. 102 Wigeon Scalby Mills, 72 Redshank Jackson's Bay. The South Bay gull roost held 17 Mediterranean Gull (11 adults, 5 2cy, 1 1cy). Five Grey Wagtails and 5 Rock Pipits at the Headland, Chiffchaff Castle Hill.

                                          MERRY CHRISTMAS from Scarborough Birders

Saturday 23rd December

 40+ Crossbills, and c100 Fieldfare at Wykeham Forest. 27 Curlew in fields above Cayton Bay. The juvenile Great Northern Diver in the harbour. 7 Bullfinches around Predator Lake, NY Water Park. 29 House Sparrows in a Burniston garden was a record count there. Three Whooper Swans at NY Water Park.

Common Buzzard Wykeham Forest - Stephen Beaver.

Friday 22nd December

 A Snow Bunting in the field north of Long Nab Bird Observatory this afternoon. Three Goldeneye, 3 Goosanders, Kingfisher Seamer Road Mere. At Harwood Dale Lake: 101 Canada Geese, 11 Teal, 40 Wigeon, Mandarin, 51 Lapwing. 450 Wigeon at Scalby Mills. Shag and Red-throated Diver in the harbour, juvenile Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers in South Bay, where the gull roost held 21 Mediterranean Gulls (14 ads, 5 2cy, 2 1cy), 290 Black-headed Gulls, 16 Common Gulls, 14 Gbb Gulls, 3 Lbb Gulls (ad, 2cy, 1cy). 

Grey Heron Stain Dale Lake, Dalby - David Hutchinson

Thursday 21st December

 A Little Gull flew NNW over Middle Deepdale with Black-headed Gulls this afternoon. 11 Mediterranean Gulls roosting in South Bay (6 adults, 3 2cy, 2 1cy) with 340 Black-headed Gulls, also a first-winter Kittiwake, and adult Lbb Gull. A Great Crested Grebe in South Bay, and at the harbour 5 Purple Sandpipers, and a juvenile Great Northern Diver, plus 3 Rock Pipits. 26 Curlews at Scalby Lodge and 34 at Long Nab. 

Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls roosting in South Bay - Ben Ward.

Wednesday 20th December

 A Whooper Swan flew south over Gristhorpe. Five Crossbills flew over East Lake, NY Water Park. 47 Teal, 9 Curlews at Johnson's Marsh. A Drake Goosander, 6 Mandarin, 51 Wigeon, 19 Teal, 38 Mallard Harwood Dale Lake.

Wren at Raincliffe Woods - Stephen Beaver.

Tuesday 19th December

19 Waxwings flew south over Castle Road, then left westwards this afternoon. Woodcock, 2 Siskin, 27 Goldfinches and Chiffchaff at Castle Hill, plus a Fieldfare flew south. 36 Pink-footed Geese headed west over Allerston, plus 80 south over Scalby Mills. c100 Crossbills in Langdale Forest. The juvenile Great Northern Diver  in the harbour. 98 Mallard, 3 Teal, Goldeneye, 5 Great Crested Grebes on East Lake, NY Water Park. At Seamer Road Mere; 8 Little Grebes, 102 Mallard, 34 Tufted Duck, 11 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, 71 Moorhen, Water Rail. 100 Brambling at Little Dale, Dalby Forest, also 30+ Coal Tits, and 30+ Great Tits, Green Woodpecker, 15 Crossbills, and 40 Siskins. 

Redwing Wykeham Forest - Stephen Beaver.

Monday 18th December

 200+ Brambling at Adderstone Field, Dalby Forest. At North Yorkshire Water Park; a second-winter Little Gull at East Lake, and the juvenile Red-throated Diver was still on the Water Sports Lake. Also there were 28 Gadwall, 65 Teal, 94 Mallard, 17 Goldeneye, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Little Grebes, 4 Water Rails, 18 Coot, 4 Snipe, 80 Siskin. 

Gbb Gull at the harbour - Simon Temlett.

Sunday 17th December

 Two Pink-footed Geese north over Taylor Way, a Woodcock nearby, 4 Gadwall Burton Riggs. 270 Greylag, 150 Canada Geese, 24 Gadwall Seamer tip pool, also 3 Redwing flew west. Two Siskins at Castle Hill, ad Mediterranean Gull, Red-throated Diver South Bay. The adult and juvenile Great Northern Divers in the harbour still. 30 Crossbills in Wykeham Forest. At Potter Brompton Carr: 195 Teal, 3 Little Egrets, a Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Willow Tit, 65 Tree Sparrows, 7 Bramblings, 52 Greenfinch, 2 Crossbills. Moving past Long Nab; Blue Fulmar, 611 Fulmars, adult Lbb Gull, first-winter Caspian Gull. The Dipper was still in Peasholm Glen, 81 Mallard, 15 Moorhens Peasholm Park. In the North Yorkshire Water Park area; Pink-footed Goose, 6 Goldeneye, 17 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 7 Mute Swans, 3 Little Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes, Snipe, Willow Tit, 33 Fieldfare, Redwing, 310 Starling, 800 Jackdaw, 300 Carrion Crows.

Male Crossbill Wykeham Forest - Stephen Beaver

Saturday 16th December

 Both Great Northern Divers again in the harbour. Five redhead Goosanders at Seamer Road Mere. A Cetti's Warbler was heard near the hide at East Lake, NY Water Park, also 94 Mallard there. Nine Waxwings at Seamer Road retail park late morning. 60+ Fieldfare in Wykeham Forest. At Potter Brompton Carr: 17 Pink-footed Geese, Marsh Harrier, 1080 Lapwing, 9 Dunlin, Redshank, 600 Starlings, and a Chiffchaff. 350+ Golden Plover at Binnington Carr.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Raincliffe Woods - Stephen Beaver.

Friday 15th December

 Eight Waxwings were at Seamer Road retail park, brief visits to gardens; one in Allerston, and six in Burniston. 16 Ringed Plovers at Scalby Mills. Three Red-throated Divers, and two Great Northern Divers at the harbour. A Chiffchaff at Seamer tip pool. Six great Crested Grebes, 2 Goldeneye, 52 Mallard at East Lake, NY Water Park. 

Turnstones at the harbour - Terry Hobson. 

Thursday 14th December

 Two Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew south past Long Nab and were seen later at Scalby Mills, also 18 Ringed Plover at the latter site. A Merlin flew SW over Castle Hill, where a Chiffchaff, 30 Blackbirds, and a redpoll sp flew over. Still a juvenile Great Northern Diver in the harbour, 34 Gbb Gulls and 490 Herring Gulls around the Headland. At Seamer Road Mere; 2 redhead Goosanders, and 2 Goldeneye. 14 Waxwing were at Seamer Rd retail park, near B&Q. Seven Waxwings were at Station Road, Cayton @ 15.30 hrs opposite the cricket club. A Pintail, 2 Willow Tits were at Pexton Lake in Dalby Forest. A Mediterranean Gull at Scalby Lodge pond. 15 Crossbills, 100+ Chaffinches, 60 Yellowhammers in the Thornton le Dale/Wilton Heights/Sand Dale area.

Goosander Seamer Road Mere - Phil Bennett.

Wednesday 13th December

 Up to 32 Waxwings at Seamer Road retail park today, outside B&Q. The Dipper is still at Peasholm Glen. At NY Water Park; 9 Goldeneye, 3 Little Grebes, and an Egyptian Goose. At Low Marishes; 12 Gadwall, 54 Wigeon, 158 Teal, 58 Tufted Ducks, 1040 Lapwing, 3 Dunlin, a Great White Egret, 4 Herons, 37 Fieldfare. 

Waxwing at B&Q - Stephen Beaver. 

Tuesday 12th December

 The juvenile Red-throated Diver was still on the Water Sports Lake, at NY Water Park, also 11 Goldeneyes. 34 Waxwings at Seamer Road retail park, near Dunelm. 15 Waxwings along the entrance road to Flower of May holiday park (between Jet Garage and entrance). The juvenile Great Northern Diver was still in the harbour. 

Red-throated Diver NY Water Park - Paul Stephenson. 

Monday 11th December

 10 Waxwings over Cayton village early morning, c40 still at Seamer Road Retail Park, plus 35 in Crossgates at Sandpiper Close. Two Blue Fulmars, Eider, 105 Kittiwakes, and a Brambling north past Long Nab. At Harwood Dale Lake: 22 Mandarin, 32 Wigeon, 18 Teal. In the Starr Carr area; 5 Pink-footed Geese, 200 Golden Plover, 300 Lapwing, 35 Snipe, a Stonechat, and 7 Reed Buntings. Two Goshawks (male displaying) at Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint, also 6 Common Buzzards, 29 Crossbill, 19 Siskin, 4 Lesser Redpoll, Marsh Tit, and a Mistle Thrush. A juvenile Red-throated Diver at North Yorkshire Water Park, also 48 Pink-footed Geese (circling fields), Egyptian Goose, 15 Goldeneye, 27 Cormorants, and 12 Great Crested Grebes. Both Great Northern Divers were still in the harbour, 5 Red-throated Divers, 8 Shags, 2 Peregrines Marine Drive. A Woodcock, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, and 6 Goldcrests Castle Hill, 3 Tawny Owls there this evening. Three Eiders Scalby Mills.

Goldeneye at North Yorkshire Water Park - Beverley Senturk. 

Sunday 10th December

 Both Great Northern Divers were in the harbour again. 74 Waxwings at Greenfinch Close, Crossgates later moving to Curlew Drive, plus up to 51 at B&Q car park. 450 Starlings at Burniston.  60+ Yellowhammers, 5 Marsh Tits, 12 Crossbills at Givendale, Dalby Forest. North Yorkshire Water Park had an Egyptian Goose, 7 Whooper Swans, a Shoveler, 9 Goldeneye, and 60 Siskin. 17 Mandarins at Harwood Dale Lake, plus 11 at Hackness Lake. 

Waxwings at B&Q car park - Mark Hepples. 

Saturday 9th December

 Up to 77 Waxwings at Seamer Road retail park today, often outside B&Q. 77 Redshank, 4 Turnstone were roosting on sea defence rocks in North Bay. Four Stonechats near the toilet block there. Four Little Egrets in flooded fields south of Ebberston. Potter Brompton Carr held 2 cc Marsh Harriers, 2 Peregrines, Barn Owl, 2 Little Egrets, and 130 Lapwing. Both Great Northern Divers in the harbour. A Jack Snipe, Peregrine, and 2 Red-throated Divers at Cloughton Wyke. 

Waxwing at B&Q today - Simon Temlett.

Friday 8th December

 Waxwings were again at the retail park on Seamer Road, 50+ early morning, and up to 39 outide B&Q in the afternoon. Also 7 Waxwings at the entrance of Cayton Cricket Club today, and heard over the town centre. A "ringtail" Hen Harrier flew south over North Bay mid-afternoon. The Dipper was again in Peasholm Glen. 6+ Mandarin in Troutsdale, by Hilla Green bridge. 452 Wigeon in North Bay, 71 Redshank Scalby Ness, 6 Ringed Plover Scalby Mills. 7 Mistle Thrush Cloughton Newlands. At NY Water Park; 26 Gadwall, and 9 Goldeneyes. 49 Red-thoated Divers at Long Nab, 18 feeding off shore and 31 past. Two Woodcocks at Castle Hill, plus a male and female Peregrine and 6 Fulmars back on the cliffs. A Great Crested Grebe at Burton Riggs, 3 Shovelers flew west. A Great Northern Diver around the harbour mouth.

Coal Tit with black belly High Staindale, Dalby Forest - David Hutchinson.

Thursday 7th December

 Both Great Northern Divers still in the harbour. Around the floods at Low Marishes; 284 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 300 Greylag Geese, 35 Canada Geese, 1000 Pink-footed Geese, 130 Golden Plover, and 12 Dunlin. 54 Waxwings at B&Q carpark, Seamer Road this afternoon. 34 Crossbills in Wykeham Forest, above Wrench Green.

Bullfinch Stepney garden - Terry Hobson.

Wednesday 6th December

 Ten Waxwings were near the Crematorium late morning, one at Curlew Drive, Crossgates at midday, one briefly at Allerston, and three in a garden at Wrench Green. A Raven also over Wrench Green. An Egyptian Goose at Burton Riggs, nearby a dead Water Rail at Seamer Industrial Estate. Good numbers of birds around the floods at Low Marishes; 1100 Pink-footed Geese, 223 Teal, 32 Wigeon, 44 Mallard, a Grey Plover, 120 Golden Plover, 1400 Lapwing, and 109 Dunlin. 900 Golden Plover, 20 Dunlin, 300 Lapwing at Binnington Carr. Brompton Ponds held 22 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, and 2 Kingfishers. Three Goosanders, 25 Tufted Duck Seamer Road Mere. Both Great Northern Divers still in the harbour. A Snow Bunting flew north at Long Nab. A Pink-footed Goose, and 13 Mandarins at Harwood Dale Lake. In Dalby Forest; 26 Brambling, 3 Marsh Tits, 8 Crossbills at Adderstone Rigg. 18 Crossbills at Haygate, and 200 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing between Ebberston and Givendale. Cayton Carrs held 300 Lapwing, 25 Golden Plover, 3 Redshank, 2 Snipe, and 8 Little Egrets. A Little Egret and 143 Wigeon at Scalby Mills. 80 Goldfinches roosting in a Cayton garden. 

Crossbill Wykeham Forest - Stephen Beaver. 

Tuesday 5th December

 A fresh arrival of Blackbirds at Castle Hill; 65 grounded, 7 in off the sea, and 5 flew west. A Waxwing was heard flying over there, also a Siskin present. A Great Northern Diver and 10 Shags on the sea off Marine Drive, where 8 Kittiwakes flew south, plus both Great Northern Divers still in the harbour. A Grey Plover at Cayton Carrs. A Hawfinch in the Haygate area of Dalby Forest, also in that area 350 Chaffinches, 100 Yellowhammers, 8 Lesser Redpolls, and 3 Crossbills. Potter Brompton Carr held 300 Teal, 3 Great White Egrets, 3 Little Egrets, 600 Lapwing, 350+ Golden Plover, Woodcock, 1000 Starlings, 60 Brambling, Barn Owl,  and 2 Merlins (blue male + a fem/imm). Dipper at Thornton le Dale, 4 Marsh Tits in Sand Dale, Dalby. 1,100 Pink-footed Geese feeding between Yedingham and Allerston, plus 460 at Low Marishes. The latter area also held 1820 Lapwing, 420 Greylag Geese, 180 Canada Geese, 33 Wigeon, 64 Teal, Grey Plover, and 96 Dunlin. 

Treecreeper Raincliffe Woods - Stephen Beaver. 

Monday 4th December

 Eight Whooper Swans (5 juvs) briefly at Potter Brompton Carr this afternoon. 46 Pink-footed geese flew south over Pickering. A Green Sandpiper and Little Egret at Thornton Carrs. At North Yorkshire Water Park: 30 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 85 Mallard, 35 Tufted Ducks, 22 Goldeneye, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 18 Cormorants. Two Redshank, Curlew at Scalby Lodge Pond.

Jay Raincliffe Woods - Stephen beaver. 

Sunday 3rd December

 A big arrival of Blackbirds along the coast today; 450+ at the Castle Headland and 85+ at Long Nab. Also at the Castle Headland; 42 Song Thrushes, 16 Redwing, 700 Starlings, Chiffchaff, Fieldfare, and a Siskin. A first-winter Mediterranean Gull flew south at Long Nab. A Great Northern Diver was at the harbour. Female Eider at Scalby Mills. Four Waxwings in Allerston early morning, flew off east towards Ebberston. A Jack Snipe, and Water Rail at Newlands Dale pond. Waders in North Bay included 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, and 7 Redshank. A Teal and 109 Mallard at Peasholm Park Lake. Two Little Egrets flew south past Marine Drive. 34 Crossbills in the Bickley Gate area of Dalby Forest. 22 House Sparrows in a graden at The Dene, Peasholm was a large number for that area, all feeding in a cotoneaster tree.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver at the harbour - Joshua Grbutt. 

Saturday 2nd December

 Six Waxwings at Gristhorpe village mid-morning then flew north. 2+ Waxwings heard over The Dene, Peasholm c08.45am but not seen. Both Great Northern Divers still at the harbour plus another and 19 Red-throated divers between Cornelian Bay and South Bay. A Bar-tailed Godwit at Black Rocks still. An Eider and 10 Mallard in Cornelian Bay. Eleven Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck. A Little Egret on rocks below the Observatory at Long Nab, 42 Golden Plover in the obs field. Cold weather wader movements observed included (mostly flying north) 79 Lapwings, 16 Golden Plovers, 3 Redshank, and 13 Snipe. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls flew south. Five Willow Tits, Brambling, 30 Crossbills, 4 Lesser Redpolls and 2 Goshawks seen in Dalby Forest. Waders around Cromer Point included 120 Lapwing, 45 Golden Plovers, Jack Snipe, and 2 Common Snipe. Potter Brompton Carr had 327 Pink-footed Geese, Goosander, Green Sandpiper, 134 Reed Buntings, 540 Linnet, 90 Greenfinch, 110 Chaffinches, 28 Brambling, 80 Tree Sparrows, and a Willow Tit. 

Little Grebe Seamer Road Mere - Phil Bennett. 

Friday 1st December

 The adult Great Northern Diver still in the harbour. Eight Goosanders, 53 Tufted Duck, 5 Goldeneye, 6 Little Grebes, 32 Coot, and Kingfisher Seamer Road Mere. Fields at Long Nab had 52 Skylarks, and 48 Yellowhammers. 14 Eiders flew north, and 10 Snipe flew south. Ten Waxwings flew SE over Burniston mid-morning, plus 9 still by Allerston Methodist Church. At Cayton Carrs (NW of Folkton Water Treatment); 200 Golden Plovers, and 7 Dunlin. 19 Wigeon, 17 Goldeneye, 123 Mallard, 120 Siskin at North Yorkshire Water Park. 

Dipper in Peasholm Glen - Martin Moseley.