Saturday 21st June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest, one Honey Buzzard reported from the Raptor Viewpoint. Good numbers of finches were observed moving south at Ravenscar early morning: 165 Crossbills, 619 Siskins, 47 Chaffinches, 36 Goldfinches, plus a Cuckoo and Raven present. Two Wood Sandpipers,  a Green Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plovers were at Harwood Dale Lake. Four Green Sandpipers at Potter Brompton Carr, also there 2 Curlews, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Little Egrets, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite and Cetti's Warbler. Two Turtle Doves at The Mill Inn, Harwood Dale. A Red Kite flew south over Burniston. A juvenile Dipper at Low Staindale, Dalby Forest and Kingfisher at Staindale Lake. Two Cuckoo near RAF Fylingdales, also a Wheatear at Eller Beck. 

A typical view of the elusive Ortolan Bunting - Andy Hood.

Friday 20th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest. NB. The area is cordoned off to avoid excessive disturbance, it is paired with a male Yellowhammer. Good views are still being achieved.

The Sand Martin colony at Cayton Bay (20 holes) has many juvenile fledged birds around. Thirty Swifts over Westover Club plus 16 over Burniston. 39 Crossbills, 24 Siskin moved through Ravenscar early morning, a Cuckoo present there. Five Mandarin, Shelduck and 2 Little Ringed Plovers at Harwood Dale Lake. One Honey Buzzard reported from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. A Tawny Owl at Wrea Head Hotel. At Wykeham East Lake: 55 Mallard, 2 Little Ringed Plovers (+ 2 chicks), Curlew, Oystercatcher, 2 Great Crested Grebes (+ 3 chicks), 2 Little Egrets. A redstart at Dargate Slack, Dalby Forest.

Reed Bunting Seamer tip pool - Paul Tozer.

Thursday 19th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham Forest, one Honey Buzzard reported from the Raptor Viewpoint. Two Ravens at Ravenscar, 24 Crossbills flew south there, plus a Curlew flew high north. The pair of Little Ringed Plovers with 2 chicks at Wykeham East Lake, also a pair of Yellow Wagtails, and the Great Crested Grebe pair with 3 chicks. At Folkton Carr: Short-eared Owl, Hobby and a male Marsh Harrier. A reeling Grasshopper Warbler still at Scalby Beck. 

Grey Partridge at Snainton - Chris Bell.

Wednesday 18th June

 The Ortolan Bunting remains at Wykeham forest. One Honey Buzzard reported from the nearby Raptor Viewpoint. A Little Owl near Scalby Cricket Club. At Harwood Dale Lake: Wood Sandpiper, Mandarin, and Little Ringed Plover. 27 Crossbills moved through Ravenscar early morning (12 south, 15 north). 

Razorbill - Becca-Marie Sealife Safari.

Tuesday 17th June

 The Ortolan Bunting continued to entertain many visitors at Wykeham forest. 36 Crossbills flew south at Ravenscar early morning. A Mandarin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Common Gull at Harwood Dale Lake. A Turtle Dove at the Mill Inn. The Little Ringed Plovers at Wykeham East Lake have two chicks. A Little Egret, two pairs of Coots building new nests at Brompton Ponds. Two broods of Tufted Ducks at Seamer Rd Mere. A Quail called briefly at Malton Cote. At least seven breeding pairs of Redstarts in the Scar/Castlebeck Wood area plus two pairs along helwath Beck.

Ortolan Bunting Wykeham Forest - Jo Symon.

Monday 16th June

 The Ortolan Bunting at Wykeham Forest attracted good numbers of birders today. One Honey Buzzard was reported from the nearby Raptor Viewpoint, also a Nightjar was located roosting on a log near the benches. Five Whinchat territories were located at Eller Beck/RAF Fylingdales area. Surprisingly no Wheatears present. Single Great White and Little Egrets at Wykeham East Lake. 33 Crossbills flew south-west at Ravenscar early morning. Two Little Ringed Plovers still at Harwood Dale Lake.

Nightjar Wykeham Forest - Andy Hood.

Sunday 15th June

 The Ortolan Bunting was relocated mid-morning by the wood piles 200m west of the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint car park. It showed briefly several times up to early evening around the wood piles and in the nearby gorse. 

A Nightjar was heard in daylight near the Raptor Viewpoint. 53 Swifts and 4 Sandwich Terns flew south at Long Nab. Two Spoonbills flew south over South Bay @ 07.13am, also 76 Crossbills flew south early morning. 

Ortolan Bunting Wykeham Forest - Dean Brookes.

Saturday 14th June

 Little Owl along Salt Pans Road Cloughton. Cuckoo and Turtle Dove in Langdale Forest. Two Kingfishers and a Little Egret at Brompton Ponds. A Red Kite heading south over Burniston. The pale male Honey Buzzard from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. At Potter Brompton Carr: 3 Egyptian Geese, 5 Shoveler, 80 Lapwing, 11 Little Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, Marsh Harrier, and Cetti's Warbler.

Sedge Warbler Cayton Carrs - Paul Tozer.

Friday 13th June

 A Honey Buzzard reported from Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint, also 200 Crossbills, Hobby, and good Goshawk activity.  A Red Kite over Givendale, Dalby Forest. Little Egret and Kingfisher at Brompton Ponds. Nine Crossbills flew south over Whin Bank, Scarborough.

Kingfisher Brompton Ponds - Martin Moseley.

Thursday 12th June

 No sign of the Ortolan Bunting in the morning. An Osprey was seen by several observers today, firstly over Scalby village mid-morning, then over Burniston early afternoon before leaving westwards. A new brood of Coots at seamer Road Mere.

Kestrel Castle Headland - Andy Messenger.

Wednesday 11th June

 An ORTOLAN BUNTING was photographed in Wykeham Forest near the raptor viewpoint car park in the evening (6th record for the Scarborough area). At Potter Brompton Carr: 3 Egyptian Geese, 8 Teal, Quail, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Hobby. Four Turtle Doves by the Mill Inn, Harwood Dale. A watch at Jerry Noddle, Dalby Forest produced 4 Goshawks, an escaped Harris's Hawk, 10 Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, and Peregrine. At least 20 juvenile Long-tailed Tits at Burton Riggs. A Lesser Whitethroat at Lightfoot's Lane.

Ortolan Bunting Wykeham Forest - Phil Harrison.

Tuesday 10th June

 Two Kingfishers at Brompton Ponds. Lesser Whitethroat at Scalby Mills. Four Yellow Wagtails at Malton Cote. Stonechat Marine Drive, 60+ Gannets offshore. Four Nightjars, 3 Woodcocks, Tawny Owl Harwood Dale Forest.  25 Crossbills in Sneaton Forest.

Coot family Brompton Ponds - Chris Bell.

Monday 9th June

 At Potter Brompton Carr: Whooper Swan, Egyptian Goose, 2 Teal, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Little Ringed Plover, Hobby, 2 Marsh Harriers, 8 Little Egrets, Great White Egret, Cetti's Warbler. Little grebes + 1 young, Coots + 4 young at Brompton Ponds. Two Egyptian Geese, pair of Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret, 6 Lbb Gulls at Wykeham Lakes. 

Whitethroat Dalby Forest - David Hutchinson.

Sunday 8th June

 A Mandarin with a brood of five on the River Derwent at Ruston Carr Bridge. Four Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Snipe, Barn Owl, Kingfisher at Potter Brompton Carr. A Turtle Dove in flight over Harwood Dale Forest, also 2 singing Redstarts and Spotted Flycatcher. An Osprey flew west at Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint, 20+ Crossbills there. Hobby over the cliffs at Cayton Bay, plus another over Gristhorpe village.

Mandarins on the River Derwent - Mike Day.

Saturday 7th June

The pair of Garganey were still at Potter Brompton Carr, also 2 Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Great White Egret, and Marsh Harrier. 19 Crossbills flew south at Ravenscar early morning. Also a Cuckoo present and Barn Owl by the golf course. A Little Ringed Plover at Harwood Dale Lake. Little Egret at Johnson's Marsh. Successful breeding of Grey Wagtail at Valley Road was confirmed. At Wykeham East Lake: Great White and Little Egrets plus a Common Sandpiper. One Honey Buzzard reported from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint.

Jay at Forge Valley - Beverley Senturk.

Friday 6th June

 An early morning watch at Ravenscar saw 17 Crossbills and 15 Siskins move south. A Raven and Cuckoo were present. At Potter Brompton Carr: Great White Egret, 3 Little Egrets, 20 Lapwings, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier. Wykeham East Lake held 3 Pochard, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Curlew, Little Egret, 45 Swifts, Kingfisher. Four Mandarins, 2 Oystercatchers (copulating) were at Harwood Dale Lake. A Gbb Gull at Scalby Mills. Curlew at Long Nab. Barn Owl Burniston. The west side of Harwood Dale Forest had 4 Nightjars and 3 Woodcock.

Chiffchaff Jugger Howe Moor - Stephen Beaver.

Thursday 5th June

 At Potter Brompton Carr: Whooper Swan, 7 Teal, 2 Garganey (pair), 4 Little Egrets, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 18 Stock Doves. The pale male Honey Buzzard was seen from the Raptor Viewpoint, also a White-tailed Eagle flew north. 33 Manx Shearwaters moved past Long Nab. 5 drake Mandarins at Harwood Dale Lake. At Wykeham East Lake: 2 Little Ringed Plovers, the Great Crested Grebes have one chick, Yellow Wagtail. 

Whitethroat at Burniston - Martin Moseley.

Wednesday 4th June

 Two Quail were in the Foulsike Farm area plus a further two calling in the Staxton / Willerby Carr area. The White Stork was relocated in a freshly sown field between Thornton le Dale and Marishes. Single Spoonbills flew west at Cayton Bay at 9am, and south over Saltpans Road, Cloughton at 8.45pm. A Wood Sandpiper was at Harwood Dale Lake. Sixteen Tree Sparrows (6ads, 10 juvs), 13 Yellowhammers near East Knapton. At Wykeham East Lake: 240 Greylag Geese and a Cetti's Warbler. A Snipe on moorland near Foulsike Farm. 

Swallow Harwood Dale - Mike Michael.

Tuesday 3rd June

 The Spoonbill was seen early morning at Potter Brompton Carr, also a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Great White Egrets, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh harriers.  An adult Mediterranean Gull, Pink-footed Goose and Marsh Harrier flew north at Long Nab. A Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler at Northstile, nr Wrench Green, 30 Swifts feeding. Two Spotted Flycatchers at the west end of Troutsdale. Grey Wagtail and a brood of Moorhen chicks at Valley Rd pond. Good Woodcock activity reported at Raincliffe Woods at dusk. A pair of Rock Pipits feeding young at the harbour.

Rock Pipit at the harbour - Chris Bell

Monday 2nd June

 The Spoonbill still at Potter Brompton Carr. The male Honey Buzzard was seen (photo) from the Raptor Viewpoint early morning, also Hobby over, several Goshawks and around 200 Crossbills lingering. Dipper, Spotted Flycatcher, and a family party of Nuthatch at Hilla Green. Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatchers at Harwood Dale Lake. 

Lesser Whitethroat Long Nab - Nick Addey

Sunday 1st June

 A Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, 3 Teal, 2 Barn Owls, Marsh Tit at Potter Brompton Carr. Corn Bunting and 6 Tree Sparrows at Malton Cote, Ebberston. Honey Buzzard, Hobby and Red Kite at The Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. Two Egyptian Geese at Wykeham East Lake. Two Sanderling flew north past Long Nab, south past were 78 Swifts, 48 Swallows, 61 House Martins. A Grey Partridge there was the first at that locality since November 2022! A singing Reed Warbler at Cliff Top House. Two juv Marsh Tits, 2 juv Nuthatches at Burniston.  Corn Bunting at Muston Carr.

Corn Bunting at Malton Cote - Steve Hey.

Saturday 31st May

 A White Stork was seen circling over Hutton Buscel at 09.55am . The male Honey Buzzard again at the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. The Cattle Egret again at Potter Brompton Carr, also there a Spoonbill, 2 Great White Egrets, 5 Little Egrets, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Hobby, 3 Marsh Harriers. An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen circling Cayton Bay. A Gbb Gull in the harbour. Lesser Whitethroat in Troutsdale. A Little Egret flew SW over Burniston. 

White Stork over Hutton Buscel - Lucy Hobkinson.

Friday 30th May

 Singing Quails near Ebberston and at Potter Brompton Carr. A White Stork flew west over Brompton late morning, then south-west from Ellerburn towards Marishes at 3pm. A Marsh Harrier, 4 Red-throated Divers flew south at Long Nab, Dunlin and Curlew north. A singing Reed Warbler at Crook Ness. Four pairs of Golden Plovers on Fylingdales Moor. Also at Potter Brompton Carr: 2 Great White Egrets, 5 Little Egrets, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hobby.  At least one Honey Buzzard from the Raptor Viewpoint, also Red Kite and 11 Crossbills. An Osprey was seen over Low Dalby in the morning, and Ellerburn in the evening, plus another Osprey flew south over Scalby Mills and town at 9pm. Two Little Ringed Plovers at Harwood Dale Lake. At Wykeham East Lake: 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Little Ringed Plovers. At nearby Long Causeway Road; Hobby, 2 Nightjars, 2 Woodcock, Curlew, 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Tree Sparrows. Up to seven Nightjars in Cloughton Woods, plus four in the Hawdale/Givendale areas of Dalby Forest. Six Woodcocks there too. 

Garden Warbler Wykeham Forest - Malcolm Gladman.

Thursday 29th May

 An adult Cattle Egret was at Potter Brompton Carr, also there Great White Egret, 6 Little Egrets, 2 Teal, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Egyptian Geese, Ringed Plover. A Little Egret at Johnson's Marsh. 12 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Puffins, Redshank, Red-throated Diver past Long Nab. A male Marsh Harrier flew NW over Star Carr. Goosander Wrench Green.

Cattle Egret Potter Brompton Carr - Steve Hey.

Wednesday 28th May

 Two Honey Buzzards again from the Wykeham forest Raptor Viewpoint, also 5 Ravens. At Potter Brompton Carr: 2 Egyptian Geese, Teal, 2 Ringed Plovers, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, 5 Little Egrets, and a Hobby. Three Nightjars in Harwood Dale Forest, also Tawny Owl, Cuckoo, and Oystercatcher over.

Bullfinch Scalby Road - Jan & Gary Powell.

Tuesday 27th May

 Five Cuckoos in the Harwood Dale Forest/Helwath Beck area. A Little Egret at Johnson's Marsh. Two Little Ringed Plovers at Harwood Dale Lake, plus 3 at Wykeham East Lake. Also at the latter site were 2 Gbb Gulls and a Kingfisher. A Turtle Dove at the Mill Inn, Harwood Dale. Good numbers of Swifts over the town today. A Red Kite at Ellerburn. The pale male Honey Buzzard from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint.

Meadow Pipits - Beverley Senturk.

Monday 26th May

 Three Honey Buzzards from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint. Two Ringed Plovers flew north at Long Nab. Lesser Whitethroat still at the north side of Castle Hill. A Red Kite over Seamer Moor Lane. 

Turtle Dove at The Mill Inn - Mark Coates.

Sunday 25th May

 A Reed Warbler at Scalby Lodge, singing in "Trough Gully". A singing Corn Bunting on wires at Long Nab. Two Little Ringed Plovers at Wykeham East Lake. Three Honey Buzzards continue to be seen from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint (male + 2 females). A Hobby over the Mill Inn, Harwood Dale. Two churring Nightjars in Wykeham Forest plus several Woodcock. An Osprey was seen over Ellerburn fish farm in the evening. A pair of Whinchats on Fylingdales Moor at Tim Wash Slack.

Tree Pipit at the raptor viewpoint - Andy Hood.

Saturday 24th May

 Three Honey Buzzards (male + 2 females) at the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint, also Red Kite.  At Wykeham Lakes: male Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, 2 Dunlin and a Cetti's Warbler near the park entrance. A Cetti's Warbler , Yellow Wagtail, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, Little Grebe, 4 Gadwall Seamer tip pools. Turtle Dove at the Mill Inn.

Honey Buzzard at the raptor viewpoint - Simon Temlett.

Friday 23rd May

 The pair of Honey Buzzrds again from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint (an unconfirmed report of a second male). At Wykeham East Lake: 2 Shelducks, 333 Herring Gulls, 6 Lbb Gulls, Gbb Gull and a Common Gull, a Little Owl by the entrance.  A Red Kite north of Wykeham village. A Cuckoo and 2 pairs of Stonechats at Saltergate. A singing Stonechat in North Bay. Three Nightjars in Wykeham Forest.

Stonechats 2025

The group are trying to locate Stonechat territories in our recording area (map @ 21st May). Please email locations, preferably grid reference, of any apparent territories to nickaddey@dsl.pipex.com.

THANK YOU

Thursday 22nd May

    The Honey Buzzard pair were again seen regularly from the Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint, a Spotted Flycatcher by the car park. A Blue Fulmar flew north past Long Nab. A Willow Tit, 4 Tree Pipits, 5 Crossbills in the Dalby/Newclose Rigg area. Two Little Ringed Plovers Harwood Dale Lake. A cream crown Marsh Harrier flew west at Low Marishes. A Kingfisher, Cuckoo, and two Reed Warbler territories at Selley Bridge Farm. At Potter Brompton Carr: 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Wigeon, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Great White Egrets, 4 Little Egrets, 25 Swifts. Plenty of observers out searching for Nightjars; Harwood Dale Forest (3), Cloughton Woods (1), Wykeham Forest (2), Broxa Forest (3). Also Cuckoos in Harwood Dale Forest and Broxa Forest.

Mallard duckling flycatching Seamer Rd Mere - Phil Bennett.