Monday 5th January 2026
The weather continues to be wintery and cold with travel difficult
Highlights
Burniston Road Garden - 3 Redpoll
Scalby Road Garden - 11 Greenfinches
Throxenby Mere - 1 Goosander (briefly)
Peasholm Glen - Dipper
Scarborough Mere - 3 Little Grebe
Ox Pasture - 2 Black Redstarts
Allerston - 1 Little Egret (ebird)
Highlights:
Cayton Carrs: 7 Tundra Bean Geese with the Pink-footed Geese flock, plus an increase of Curlews there, a total of 110+.
Scalby Mills: Adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Ringed Plovers.
Jackson's Bay/Scalby Ness: 60 Oystercatchers, 51 Redshank, 3 Golden Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Ringed Plovers, Purple Sandpiper, 3 Rock Pipits, Kingfisher. Plus 35 Meadow Pipits in the fields.
Peasholm Park: A Barnacle Goose with the Canadas, 151 Mallard.
Low Marishes: c500 Pink-footed Geese, 11 Snipe, Little Egret.
Thornton le Dale: 2 Dippers, 2 Grey Wagtails.
Seamer Road Mere: 2 Goosanders.
Potter brompton Carr: 4 Whooper Swans, 2 Water Rails, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, 2 Willow Tits, Cetti's Warbler.
Overnight/morning snow gave a covering of 5+ inches, making for tricky driving!
Highlights:
Harbour: A Little Auk showed well in the harbour mouth. Red-throated Diver and Guillemot in the inner harbour.
South Bay: Great Northern Diver, Mediterranean Gull.
Cloughton: The Barnacle Goose was still with the feral geese at Town Farm Pond.
Peasholm Glen: Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails.
Long Nab: 3 Snipe, 29 Meadow Pipits, 11 Skylarks in the fields. 11 Kittiwakes flew north.
Seamer Tip Pools: 2 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, Pink-footed Goose.
Throxenby Mere: Kingfisher.
Highlights:
Jackson's Bay: 25 Redshank, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 30 Turnstone, 40 Oystercatchers.
Potter Brompton Carr: 180 Stock Doves, Water Rail, 1,100 Common Gulls, Little Egret, 7 Great White Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Willow Tits, Cetti's Warbler, Corn Bunting, 2 Crossbills.
Cayton Carrs: 6 Russian White-fronted Geese, 2 Tundra Bean Geese.
Woodlands Ravine: Crossbill.
Wykeham Lakes: 7 Whooper Swans, 43 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck, 24 Goldeneye, Goosander, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Great White Egrets.
Long Causeway Road: Willow Tit near Ings Farm.
Dalby Forest (Sand Dale / Ellerburn): Goshawk, 2 Willow Tits, 30 Siskins, 2 Jays.
Cloughton (Town Farm Pond / Salt Pans Road): 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Barnacle Goose, Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechats.
Harbour: Red-throated Diver, Guillemot.
Harwood Dale Forest: No sign of the shrike, Goshawk, 2 Crossbills.
Spiker's Hill: 45 Yellowhammers, 15 Skylarks.
Lots of year listers out in Scarborough today!
Highlights
Town Farm Pond, Cloughton: Tundra Bean Goose, Barnacle Goose, single Crossbill (left north).
Potter Brompton Carr: 3 Marsh Harriers, 3 Little Egrets, Water Rail, 96 Tree Sparrows (roost movement).
Harbour/South Bay: Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers.
Holbeck car park: 2 Mediterranean Gulls.
Wykeham Lakes: 7 Whooper Swans,
Hackness Lake: 5 Mandarins.
Cayton Carrs: 6 Tundra Bean geese, 7 Russian White-fronted Geese.
Harwood Dale Forest: Great Grey Shrike.
Ruston Carr: Great White Egret.
Cayton: Male Blackcap in a garden.
A Siberian Chiffchaff (third day), and 5 Common Chiffchaffs plus 2 Little Egrets, 200 Linnets at Seamer Water Treatment Plant. A Great White Egret by Ayton castle. 12 Grey Partridge Marishes Lane. At Cayton Carrs: 6 Tundra Bean Geese, 4 Russian White-fronted Geese. A Great White Egret near Ruston Carr bridge. Seven Whooper Swans in a field NW of Wykeham Lakes. The Red-necked Grebe was still at the Water Sports Lake, also 11 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Goldeneye, 2 Goosanders, Water Rail, 18 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpolls. Two Kingfishers Throxenby Mere.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
The only news received was the Dipper again in Peasholm Glen.
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.
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.
The Barnacle Goose was again at Cloughton Pond. The Great Northern Diver around the harbour plus 7 Turnstones.
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.
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.
The updated list including all 335 species recorded up to the end of 2024 can be found above.
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.
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.
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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.
