Tuesday 30th December

 A Purple Sandpiper and 17 Turnstones in Jackson's Bay. At Potter Brompton Carr: 7 Tundra Bean Geese (flew NE), 120 Teal, Shoveler, 17 Grey Partridge, 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, 30 Tree Sparrows. At Cayton Carrs: 7 Tundra Bean Geese, 12+ Russian White-fronted Geese, 430 Pink-footed Geese, The Red-necked Grebe was still on the Water Sports Lake, Wykeham Lakes. Also there were 4 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Little Grebes, 17 Goldeneye, and 5 Coot.  Two Egyptian Geese at Low Marishes. The Great Northern Diver still in the harbour. The Barnacle Goose, and 3 Russian White-fronted Geese still in the Cloughton area. A single Goldeneye and Eider flew north at Long Nab. 

Kingfisher Seamer Road Mere - Martin Moseley.

Monday 29th December

 At Seamer Road mere: 6 Goosanders, 59 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, Kingfisher. The Tundra Bean Goose, 3 Russian White-fronted, and one Barnacle Goose still in the Cloughton area. Three Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, 3 Razorbills in South Bay. Great Northern Diver again in the harbour. A Siberian Chiffchaff and 3 Common Chiffchaffs at Seamer Water Treatment.

Great Northern Diver at the harbour - Phil Bennett.

Sunday 28th December

 A good selection of geese at Town Farm Pond, Cloughton: one Tundra Bean, 3 Russian White-fronted and a Barnacle Goose. The Great Grey Shrike was seen again in Harwood Dale Forest but remained elusive to many visiting birders. Two Great Northern Divers around the harbour. Twelve Russian White-fronted Geese with 300 Pink-footed Geese at Cayton Carrs. Also there single Great White and Little Egrets, and 500+ Lapwing. 

Tundra Bean Goose Cloughton - Chris Bell.

Saturday 27th December

 Four Tundra Bean Geese and 15 Russian White-fronted Geese were with 350 Pink-footed Geese at Cayton Carrs, also 900+ Lapwing, 62 Curlews, 6 Redshank. The Red-necked Grebe was still at the Water Sports Lake, Wykeham Lakes, a Cetti's Warbler heard by the Zip Line Tower, and 2 Great White Egrets in fields to the south. 350+ Linnets at a cover crop in Silpho. Eight Mediterranean Gulls in South Bay. At Low Marishes: 350 Wigeon, 750 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets, Merlin, 400 Lapwings, 80 Fieldfares. The Great Grey Shrike still at Harwood Dale Forest, 60 Pink-footed Geese flew north there. Two Goshawks in Troutsdale and one near Hackness village. At Seamer tip pool: 13 Shoveler, 15 Gadwall. A pair of Ravens around the mast at the top of Raincliffe Woods/Irton Moor. Three Russian White-fronted Geese at Station Lane, Cloughton. The Great Northern Diver at the harbour. 

Russian White-fronted Geese Cloughton - Nick Addey.

Friday 26th December

 Six Tundra Bean Geese were with 340+ Pink-footed Geese at Cayton Carrs. A drake Goosander flew SW over Burton Riggs. At Seamer Tip Pools: 10 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 2 Gadwall, Wigeon, 7 Mute Swans. A Little Egret at Ruston Carr bridge. Kingfisher Throxenby Mere. Three Goosanders at Seamer Road Mere. Two Russian White-fronted Geese and two Tundra Bean Geese at Low Marishes, also 800 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese.  A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Cayton Carrs.

Guillemot in the harbour - Mark Hepples.

Thursday 25th December

 Nine Russian White-fronted Geese and three Tundra Bean Geese with c280 Pink-footed Geese at Loder's Carr/Cayton Carr. No reports of the Great Grey Shrike today. 20 Goldfinches in a Stepney garden. Eleven Greenfinches in a Cayton garden. Five Bullfinches still at Lady Edith's Drive (still no Northerns!).

Wednesday 24th December

 The Great Grey Shrike was still in Harwood Dale Forest, a male Merlin flew over in the afternoon. At Seamer Road mere: 8 Goosanders, Goldeneye and 7 Little Grebes. Two Willow Tits at the Newclose Rigg area of Dalby Forest. A Pink-footed Goose with Greylag Geese at Saltpans Cloughton. Kingfisher again at the Open Air Theatre. Ten Siskins at Burton Riggs. The Great Northern Diver at the harbour still. Past Long Nab: Arctic Skua, 20 Teal, 4 Eiders, 19 Common Scoters, 9 Lapwings (at sea), 24 Kittiwakes. 

Curlew at Scalby Mills - Jan & Gary Powell.

Tuesday 23rd December

 A Great Grey Shrike in Harwood Dale Forest. A single Eider south past Long Nab. Green Woodpecker at Ellerburn. Seven White-fronted Geese at Cayton Carrs with c200 Pink-footed Geese, also in that area were 8 Little Egrets, 46 Lapwing, Curlew, 27 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, Redpoll and c100 Linnets. 

Great Grey Shrike Harwood Dale Forest - Nick Addey

Monday 22nd December

 Highlights past Long Nab included 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Wigeon, 4 Eiders, 17 Common Scoters, Great Northern Diver. 220 Wigeon, 40 Gbb Gulls at Scalby Mills. Seven Goosanders and a Goldeneye at Seamer Road Mere. Two Woodcocks and 100+ Siskins at Low North Park. A flock of 17 Cormorants over Harland Wood. At Potter Brompton Carr: 2 Whooper Swans, Willow Tit, Cetti's Warbler, 390 Linnets, 2 Corn Buntings.

Goldeneye Seamer Road Mere - Paul Tozer.

Sunday 21st December

 Three Willow Tits, 2 Marsh Tits, Green Woodpecker Dalby Haygate/Ellerburn Bank area. Goosander Throxenby Mere. Chiffchaff in a Stepney garden. A Red Kite over Allerston. 

Still no sign of the reported Northern Bullfinches at Lady Edith's Drive.

Goldcrest Peasholm Glen - Paul Malton.

Saturday 20th December

 The Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Diver again in the harbour. The Red-necked Grebe was still on the Water Sports Lake at Wykeham Lakes. Three Goosanders at Seamer Road Mere. In the Haygate/Ellerburn Bank area: Green Woodpecker, 2 Willow Tits, Brambling, 12 Lesser Redpolls, Siskin. Kingfisher at the Open Air Theatre. At Silpho village: 2 Brambling, 60 Chaffinches, 50 Goldfinches, 70 Linnets. 80 Goldfinches at Harwood Dale. Two Mandarins at Hackness Lake. 18 Ringed Plovers, Kingfisher at Scalby Mills. A Black-throated Diver was feeding off Scalby Ness.

Reports of up to four Northern Bullfinches at Lady Edith's Drive remain unconfirmed.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Seamer Road Mere - Paul Malton.

Friday 19th December

 15 Ringed Plovers and a Purple Sandpiper at Jackson's Bay. The male Bullfinch showing characters of "Northern Bullfinch" again at Throxenby Lane. A drake Goosander at Peasholm Park. Great Northern Diver again at the harbour. A female Marsh Harrier west over Crossgates late morning. Great White Egret near Ruston Carr bridge. 40 Pink-footed Geese in off the sea at Marine Drive plus 45 south at Long Nab. 

Goosander Peasholm Park - Chris Bell

Thursday 18th December

A bullfinch showing characters of "Northern" Bullfinch along Throxenby Lane. Three Razorbills in North Bay. 17 Fulmars on Castle Cliffs. Great Northern Diver in the harbour again. Little Egret at Thornton Carrs. 

Robin Throxenby Lane - Martin Moseley.

Wednesday 17th December

 The Red-necked Grebe remains at Wykeham Lakes, also there were 11 Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebe, Shelduck, Marsh Harrier, 110 Stock Doves, plus 3 Great White Egrets and a Merlin in fields to the south. In the North Street/Flixton Carrs area: Woodcock, 110 Lapwing, 2 Curlews, 2 Fieldfares, 30 Blackbirds. 450 Lapwing and a Golden Plover at Binnington Carr. The Dipper was still in Peasholm Glen.

Bullfinch Lady Edith's Drive showing some features of "Northern" Bullfinch - Martin Moseley.

Tuesday 16th December

 The Red-necked Grebe remains on the Water Sports Lake, Wykeham Lakes. 11 Ringed Plovers, 11 Gbb Gulls at Scalby Mills. Great Northern and Red-throated Divers in South Bay. Highlights past Long Nab included a Great Northern Diver, 28 Red-throated Divers, 3 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 21 Common Scoters. Two Water Rails at the "scrape".

Grey Wagtail at the Sea Cut - Martin Moseley.

Monday 15th December

 The only news received was the Dipper again in Peasholm Glen.

Nuthatch in Forge Valley - Paul Malton

Sunday 14th December

 The Barnacle Goose again in the Cloughton area. The Great Northern Diver in the harbour, and sadly a second individual found dead. The redhead Goosander still at Seamer Road Mere. 

Goosander Seamer Road Mere - Paul Tozer.

Saturday 13th December

 Two Red-necked Grebes along the coast. One off Long Nab left north plus another was found in North Bay, later moving south off Marine Drive. Great Northern Divers were present at the harbour and North Bay. Three Red-breasted Mergansers flew south at Marine Drive. In the Flixton/Folkton Carr area; Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Barnacle Goose, 59 Pink-footed Geese, 110 Teal, 280 Lapwing, 26 Curlew, 7 Little Egrets, 41 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff.  c20 Pink-footed Geese flew south over Seamer Road Mere, a Goosander still at the mere. 

Red-necked Grebe Marine Drive - Andy Messenger.

Friday 12th December

 The Barnacle Goose was again at Cloughton Pond. The Great Northern Diver around the harbour plus 7 Turnstones.

Good numbers of Fieldfares in The Carrs this winter, these at Long Causeway Rd, Wykeham - Paul Tozer.

Thursday 11th December

 The Bar-tailed Godwit was still in Jackson's Bay. The Barnacle Goose still with Greylag Geese in the Cloughton Pond/Station Lane area. Nine Shoveler at Seamer Tip pool. The juvenile Great Northern Diver remains around the harbour. 40 Golden Plover flew SW at Long Nab, 13 Red-throated Divers feeding offshore. Six Turnstones at the harbour. 50 Redwing and a few Fieldfare at Long Causeway, Wykeham Lakes. At Potter Brompton Carr: Green Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Chiffchaff, 320 Fieldfare, 340 Linnets, 45 Tree Sparrows. 

Great Northern Diver at the harbour - Chris Bell.

Wednesday 10th December

 A Slavonian Grebe was in South Bay, also a Common Scoter and 12 Mediterranean Gulls. Five Whooper Swans still at Cayton Carrs. At Long Nab a Great Northern Diver flew north and 60 Pink-footed Geese flew south, 27 Kittiwakes past. Nine Red-throated Divers feeding off the Observatory. The Red-necked Grebe was still at Wykeham Lakes, also 50 Redpolls, 60 Siskins, 2 Jays. At Seamer Road Mere: Goosander, 106 Mallard, 56 Tufted Ducks, 6 Little Grebes, Water Rail, 106 Coot, 86 Moorhen, Kingfisher, Blackcap, 40 Goldfinches, 17 Long-tailed Tits, Marsh Tit, Redpoll. 70 Pink-footed Geese south over Newby. A Barnacle Goose at Cloughton Pond. Red Kite at Thornton le Dale.

 

Redwing Long Causeway, Wykeham Lakes - Paul Tozer.

Annotated List of the Birds of Scarborough (2025 update)

 The updated list including all 335 species recorded up to the end of 2024 can be found above.

Tuesday 9th December

 A very wet unpleasant day with not alot of birding taking place.

A redhead Goosander at Cloughton Pond. 80+ Starlings over Falsgrave. Two Dunlin, 520 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers Potter Brompton Carr.

Black-headed Gull North Bay - Phil Bennett

Monday 8th December

 The male Green-winged Teal was with c250 Teal in a private area of Wykeham Lakes. Also at the lakes complex were the Red-necked Grebe, 11 Goldeneye, 9 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, Kingfisher and 5 Redpolls. Six Ringed Plovers and a Bar-tailed Godwit in Jackson's Bay. At Potter Brompton Carr: 440 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plovers, Dunlin, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Brambling. A first-winter Caspian Gull roosting in South Bay. Five Whooper Swans on the sea at Scalby Mills, plus four in Cayton Bay (previously south past Scalby Ness). The Yellow-browed Warbler, and Chiffchaff still at Long Nab in Crook Ness gully. Kingfisher and grey Wagtail in Peasholm Glen.  A ringtail Hen Harrier flew over Troutsdale.

Green-winged Teal at Wykeham Lakes - Nick Addey.

Sunday 7th December

 The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in Crook Ness gully, Long Nab. Also a Chiffchaff there and a Snow Bunting flew north. A Chiffchaff at Burton Riggs. 200 Pink-footed Geese south over Cayton Bay. Two Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck. At Wykeham Lakes: Red-necked Grebe, 8 Little & 3 Great Crested Grebes, 59 Gadwall, 260 Teal, 15 Goldeneye, 40 Siskins, 2 Redpolls. 110 Pink-footed Geese south & 20 north at Long Nab.

Yellow-browed Warbler Crook Ness - Andrew Malley.

Saturday 6th December

 A late Yellow-browed Warbler in Crook Ness gully, Long Nab.  A Green Sandpiper, 2 Dippers at Thornton Carrs.  The Great Northern Diver and a Purple Sandpiper at the harbour. 20+ Redpolls at Wykeham Lakes. Six Redpolls at Burton Riggs. At Dalby Haygate: Willow Tit, 4 Marsh Tits, 3 Jays. 60+ Siskin in Ellerburn valley. Eight Whooper Swans at Allerston/Wilton Carrs. A Bar-tailed Godwit in Jackson's Bay. 

Yellow-browed Warbler Crook Ness - Nick Addey

Friday 5th December

 The Red-necked Grebe was still at the Water Sports Lake, Wykeham Lakes. Also a Pintail, 18 Wigeon. and 2 Crossbills in the pines.The Dipper again in Peasholm Glen. A large mixed finch flock at Spikers Hill Farm included a few Brambling. A Woodcock, 3 Willow Tits, 5 Marsh Tits in forest edge above Cockrah Foot, Wrench Green. 150 Pink-footed Geese south over Burniston then Cayton. Both Great Northern and Red-throated Divers in the harbour. A Woodcock at Long Nab. The Little Owl again at Station Lane, Cloughton. 35 Pink-footed Geese at Saltpans Road, Cloughton.

Nuthatch Dalby Forest - David Hutchinson.

Thursday 4th December

 A Red-necked Grebe at Wykeham Lakes, on the Water Sports Lake. Also there were 4 Pochard and 13 Goldeneye. 14 Ringed Plovers and 25 Teal at Scalby Mills. Two Eiders flew north past Long Nab. A Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Purple Sandpipers in Jackson's Bay.

Marsh Tit High Staindale, Dalby Forest - David Hutchinson.

Wednesday 3rd December

 Five Whooper Swans at Cayton Carr, six also flew in off the sea at Cloughton Wyke and continued south-west. 37 Carrion Crows by The Spa in South Bay. At Scalby Mills: 45 Pink-footed Geese flew west, 282 Wigeon, 10 Teal, and a first-winter Caspian Gull. At Wykeham Lakes: a male Goosander at East Lake, Tawny Owl by Trout Lake and 30 Pink-footed Geese flew over. A Great White Egret, Little Egret and 7 Little Grebes at Ellerburn. Another Great White Egret flew east over the Sea Cut by Ox Pasture. A Red-throated Diver at the harbour.  In Cornelian Bay: Common Scoter, 31 Redshank, 11 Turnstone, 5 Purple Sandpipers.

Blackbird Stepney - Terry Hobson

Tuesday 2nd December

 The female Black Redstart was again at St Mary's Church. The Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Diver in the harbour. A male Goosander at Peasholm Park. At Scalby Mills: 260 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 9 Ringed Plovers. A Little Owl in Cloughton. Three Snow Buntings at Scalby Lodge. Three Whooper Swans, 770 Lapwing, 2 Marsh Harriers at Potter Brompton Carr. 

Great Northern Diver Scarborough harbour - Phil Bennett

Monday 1st December

 A male Goosander at Peasholm Park. Great Northern Diver off the harbour and Red-throated Diver in South Bay. A Red Kite at West Heslerton.

Goosander Peasholm Park - Jan and Gary Powell.

Sunday 30th November 2025

 The female type Black Redstart was again in St. Mary's Churchyard and a Kingfisher was at the Open Air Theatre. Single 1st winter Caspian Gulls were at Potter Brompton Carr and around West Pier at the harbour. A Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, a Great Black backed Gull, two Turnstone, one Purple Sandpiper and a Guillemot were in the harbour.  Two Common Buzzards over Oliver's Mount. One Willow Tit, four Marsh Tit, four Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Jay and three Bullfinch were in an otherwise quiet Wykeham Forest. Eight Rock Pipits at Jackson's Bay. A Whooper Swan, Shelduck, 220 Teal, 200 Golden Plover (over), 720 Lapwing, 646 Common Gulls, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Red Kites, 33 Tree Sparrows at Potter Brompton Carr. A Great White Egret at Willerby Carr.

Goldcrest in Raincliffe Woods by Michael Jackson.