Saturday 13th May 2017

Regrettably it was negative news today on the Hoopoe at Long Nab which was looked for off and on from 05.30 until 19.00 but in that time it never put in an appearance.

The main bird of the day today was a Common Crane seen flying southeast over Burton Riggs at 09.45, unfortunately by just one lucky observer.

At Ravenscar the 2cy Glaucous Gull was still present today on the rocks.

Other records today included 2 Cuckoos at Sneaton Low Moor and at Castlebeck Wood a Cuckoo, a Green Woodpecker and a singing ♂ Redstart.

Yellowhammer - Long Nab - Tony Clarke

Friday 12th May 2017

Despite original reports of no sign of the Hoopoe on Long Nab at 05.30 it reappeared in the horse field at about 08.30 where it remained for the rest of the day but frequently was out of view in the dips in the field. For anyone thinking about visiting tomorrow the bird will be looked for early and if present we advise parking at the beginning of Station Lane in Cloughton by the houses and walking to view the bird. This is a single track road and can be busy with large farm machinery so we hope to avoid any confrontation whilst the bird is present. Also refrain from entering any of the fields and avoid any damage to the hedgerow.

Also at Long Nab a Reed Warbler was trapped at the ringing site and 4 Common Terns and a Whimbrel flew south.

Elsewhere today we had a Common Sandpiper at Johnson’s Marsh with another at Wykeham South Lake, 4♂ Redstarts holding territory at Bridestones and a Fieldfare was seen at Bickley Heights.

Hoopoe - Long Nab - Dave Mansell

Hoopoe - Long Nab - Dave Mansell

Thursday 11th May 2017

One of the nicest birds of the year so far was a Hoopoe discovered at Long Nab by the White House. Originally found on the approach road, Station Lane, by Chris Bradshaw at 10.25 the bird spent most of the day in the horse field but did disappear to the south on one occasion and could be out of view for long periods in the dips in the field. It was still present in the evening but disappeared when the horses were being fed. This is the fourteenth record for the Scarborough area and the first since 2014. Also today in the Long Nab area were a Whinchat, a White Wagtail, 6 Wheatears and movement south included a ♂ Pochard, 62 Sand Martins, 1142 Swallows and 40 House Martins.

Early this morning the breeding bird survey on Potter Brompton Carr produced a Cuckoo, 22 singing Sedge Warblers, 9 singing Reed Warblers and 3 Garden Warblers unfortunately a dead Curlew was also found on site.

On Low Moor this morning there was a Cuckoo and Red Grouse could be seen from within your car from the small layby just off the A171.

In the Seamer area today there were 2 singing Reed Warblers and 2 ‘Greenland’ Wheatears by the east side of the tip and in the Star Carr to Seamer Mead area at least 10 singing Sedge Warblers.

Also today a pair of Stonechats carrying food on South Cliff and a Red Kite was seen over Crossgates at 13.45.

Hoopoe - Long Nab - Chris Bell

Hoopoe - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Hoopoe - Long Nab - Terry Hobson

Wednesday 10th May 2017

New discoveries today included a 2cy Glaucous Gull at Scalby Mills this afternoon and a female Pied Flycatcher near the bird boxes at Star Carr this morning. Also on Star Carr today a Little Ringed Plover, 2 singing Corn Buntings and a Little Egret whilst nearby on the east side of Seamer Tip there were a couple of ‘Greenland’ Wheatears.

At Long Nab today 555 Swallows, 35 Sand Martin, 37 House Martins, 9 Swift, 4 Yellow Wagtails and a Siskin all moving south and in Jackson’s Bay Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and a Turnstone.

This evening about 60 Swifts passed northwest over Falsgrave.

A bit further afield there was a Whinchat and a House Martin about a mile north of Sawdon, 2 Turtle Doves were singing in Dalby Forest, a Mandarin Duck was in the Forge Valley, Harwood Dale lake had a White Wagtail and a Tree Pipit and in the Ravenscar mast field a White Wagtail and a couple of Whimbrel.

Sedge Warbler - Star Carr - Mick Francis

Tuesday 9th May 2017

A female Pied Flycatcher on Castle Hill was a nice new discovery this morning, also at this location a Garden Warbler and a Fieldfare.

Seamer Tip pool was still hanging on to 2 Pink-footed Geese and there were also a pair of Gadwall and at least 7 species of warbler present – Sedge, Reed, Grasshopper, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

The 2 Wheatears were still in evidence inside the wall on Marine Drive, in the harbour area still at least 11 Turnstones and at Burton Riggs a Little Egret and 2 Common Sandpipers.

West of Thornton Le Dale at Wray House Farm there were a couple of Yellow Wagtails.

The 10 Shore Larks were still in the field north of the Obs at Long Nab and during the afternoon 670+ Swallows were counted moving south between 14.00 and 19.25.

Harwood Dale Lake played host to a Whinchat, a Yellow Wagtail and a Coot.

Pied Flycatcher - Castle Hill - Tony Clarke

Monday 8th May 2017

27 Whimbrel were seen on Flixton Carr this morning.

The 10 Shore Larks continued their long stay by another day at Long Nab and this evening there were 5 Wheatears as well. 2 Wheatears were behind the wall at Marine Drive and a Manx Shearwater was recorded flying north.

Finally today a Common/Arctic Tern flew north over Peasholm at 17.40 this evening.

Whimbrel - Flixton Carr - Ian Glaves

Sunday 7th May 2017

At Wykeham South Lake today a female Marsh Harrier flew north at 10.40, the Dark-bellied Brent Goose from Burton Riggs has now moved here, a pair of Shoveler, a Shelduck, a Little Ringed Plover, 16 Whimbrel, a Green Woodpecker and about 30 Swifts, Nearby on the River Derwent by Straits Lane there were 3 Reed Warblers and 2 Sedge Warblers.

10 Shore Larks remained in the first field north of the Obs at Long Nab where there were also 3 Wheatears, 5 Whimbrel on Star Carr today and a Turtle Dove was seen in Langdale Forest.

An interesting report concerns a heard only Wood Warbler at North Moor this evening near to the houses, surely worth checking out by anyone in the vicinity.

Reed Warbler - Straits Lane - Chris Bell

Saturday 6th May 2017

Reports came in today from various localities of Swifts including 8 over Old Town in the morning.

At Long Nab the Shore Larks were present for another day but only 10 could be located in the first field north of the Obs. Unfortunately the analysis of photographs of the reported Hooded Crow gave irrefutable evidence that the bird was in fact a hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crow but an interesting record none the less. Also in the Long Nab area today were 4 Wheatears and 2 Lesser Whitethroats whilst on the sea 2♂ Eider.

There were also 2 Wheatears on Castle Hill today; 4 Purple Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and 3 Whimbrel at Cornelian Bay and this evening a Whimbrel flew over Peasholm calling.

Hooded x Carrion Crow - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Shore Lark (horns up) - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Friday 5th May 2017

Well they’re back, the first Swifts for our area returned today with birds being seen over Old Town, Harwood Dale Lake and Crossgates, also the first Whinchats for the year were reported from Long Nab (the horse field) and Harwood Dale Lake. Also at Long Nab today were 11 Shore Larks in the first field north of the Obs and a Grasshopper Warbler was still present as well.

A Hobby was seen at Rushton Carr bridge, on Star Carr a Green Sandpiper and a Corn Bunting and by New Dyke, Seamer tip we had a couple of Willow Tits.

On the coast at Jackson’s Bay there were 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Sedge Warbler is still in the Stile Scrub area.

Finally at Burton Riggs there was a Common Sandpiper and the Great Crested Grebes with 2 chicks.

pair of Peregrines - Joe Bamfield

Whinchat - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Thursday 4th May 2017

Although rather quiet today the highlight was the first Hobby for the year flying east by the level crossing at Willerby and there were also 2 Corn Buntings in the village, one of which was singing.

Elsewhere a Turtle Dove was seen on roadside wires at Staintondale, there were 2 Little Ringed Plovers at Wykeham South Lake and a couple of Wheatears on Castle Hill.

female Tufted Duck - Deb Schild

Wednesday 3rd May 2017

The trickle of Arctic Terns through Wykeham South Lake continued with another 3 being seen today plus 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 4 Egyptian Geese and a Wheatear.

A Bar-tailed Godwit and 26 Whimbrel were on the Star Carr side of Seamer Tip, Seamer Tip pool had 2 Pink-footed Geese and the Grasshopper Warbler by the mound again and nearby on Flixton Carr a flock of 37 Whimbrel.

A Common Sandpiper was on Johnson’s Marsh and on Scalby Ness Sands we had 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and Stonechat parents feeding three young.

Whimbrel - Star Carr - Mike Randall

Willow Warbler - Cockmor Hall - Chris Bell

Tuesday 2nd May 2017

The first news today concerned an early morning record of a Cuckoo at 06.20 at Foulsyke Farm near Scalby village pond.

At Long Nab today a Velvet Scoter and 2♂ Goosander went north, there were 11 Shore Larks in the first field north of the Obs and also in the area a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. At Cromer Point there was another reeling Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Wigeon on the pond and nearby at Stile Scrub a pair of Grasshopper Warblers were seen carrying nest material.

During the afternoon 5+, rather late, Waxwings were seen near the Duck Pond on Valley Road.

2♂ Goosanders flew east over Seamer Tip and on Star Carr we had a Corn Bunting and a Wheatear with an additional 26 Whimbrel seen in the afternoon.

Finally a Turtle Dove was seen at Malton Cote.

Great Crested Grebe - Burton Riggs - Paul Tymon

Monday 1st May 2017

The Long Nab area was certainly the most productive today with movements including 3 Grey Plover, a Dunlin, a Sanderling, a Whimbrel, 22 Sandwich Terns, 3 Arctic Terns, 26 Sand Martins, 188 Swallows and 2 House Martins all heading south; a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Ringed Plover went north and 24 Arctic Terns flew out east. 10 Shore Larks still present today two fields north of the Obs and also in the area were a Sedge Warbler, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 14 Whitethroats, a Redstart, 7 Wheatears, a White Wagtail and a Grasshopper Warbler. There was a Grey Plover in Burniston Bay, 3 juvenile Stonechats and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits in Jackson’s Bay and very early this morning.in North Bay 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin and a Whimbrel.

At Wykeham South Lake today 3 Arctic Terns passed through, a female Redstart sp was seen briefly by the viewpoint, and there were also a Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Wheatears and a Lesser Whitethroat. Potter Brompton Carr hosted a cream crown Marsh Harrier which was also viewable distantly from Rushton Carr Bridge, a Greenshank, 2 Snipe and a Lesser Whitethroat.

On Star Carr 54 Whimbrel were counted this afternoon plus a Barnacle Goose, 5 Sedge Warblers and three species of Sylvia Warblers, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. The Grasshopper Warbler on the mound by Seamer Tip pool was reported again today and nearby at Burton Riggs there was a Common Sandpiper.

Reports from other areas today included a Common Sandpiper at Harwood Dale Lake and 3 Lesser Whitethroats at Stoupe Beck/Boggle Hole Cliffs.

Lesser Whitethroat - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Whitethroat - Wykeham South Lake - Chris Bell

Sunday 30th April 2017

Today was a great day with large numbers of waders and terns on the move off Long Nab and at Wykeham South Lake.

An indication of what was to come later was the early morning discovery of 9 Bar-tailed Godwits at 05.25 in North Bay with a couple of Sanderlings for company. Later in the day Jackson’s Bay had 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Grey Plover

On Johnson’s Marsh early morning there were 2 Barnacle Geese but they departed north at 05.50 then later in the morning a Green Sandpiper and a pair of Shovelers were discovered.

Long Nab was well watched today with passage totals of 58 Common Scoter, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, an astonishing 69 Grey Plovers, 31 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Whimbrel, 29 Knot, 11 Dunlin, 149 Sandwich Terns and 9 Arctic Terns all moving south. Also in the area today were just a single Shore Lark, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Wheatears.

At Wykeham South Lakes today a total of 41 Arctic Terns were counted passing through along with a single Common Tern and the stars of the show 2 Black Terns, also seen in the area today were 3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears and a Corn Bunting. Another group of 8 Common and 4 Arctic Terns was seen flying east over Crossgates at 09.45

A late morning report of 25 Waxwings flying north along Ramsey Street from Woodlands Ravine is quite a late record for this species.

Also today a Turtle Dove was reported from the Givendale area and at Bridestones 3 Redstarts were noted.

Arctic Terns - Wykeham South Lake - Chris Bradshaw

2 Black & 1 Common Tern - Wykeham South Lake - Chris Bradshaw

Saturday 29th April 2017

The biggest surprise of the day was an almost suicidal Hawfinch that flew within inches of a car windscreen on the A171 heading into Scarborough on the southern edge of Stony Marl Moor just before the tree plantation. Also in the north of our recording area on Low Moor, Fylingdales there were a couple of Red Grouse, a Wheatear and 47 Golden Plover.

In the Ravenscar area today there was a ♂ Ring Ouzel, 4 Wheatears, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Brambling.

Long Nab seawatching produced 7 Eider (south), 64 Common Scoter (north) and 6 (south), ♂ Goosander (south), 5 Bar-tailed Godwits (south) and 1 (north), 2 Arctic Terns (north) and on land there were 16 Shore Larks in the 2^nd field north of the Obs, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the field behind the Obs, a Fieldfare, a White Wagtail, a Tree Pipit and 8 Wheatears. Further south another Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Cromer Point and another two in Stile Scrub.

Elsewhere in the area we had a flock of 100+ Redpolls in Wykeham Forest East, 4 Wheatears on Castle Hill, a Little Owl to the west of West Ayton, a Redstart in Castlebeck Wood and Tree Pipit in Dalby Forest.

Shore Larks - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Friday 28th April 2017

This morning in the Wykeham South Lake area 4 Egyptian Geese, Little Ringed Plover, 4 House Martins, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 6 Corn Buntings, and at Potter Brompton Carr 6 Wigeon, 3 Snipe, singing Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Reed Warblers.
 

At Long Nab today the highlight was a Blue Fulmar which went north at 08.45 and there were also 4 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Divers, 4 Sandwich Terns and a Sand Martin flying north. Further south in Trough Gully there was a Grasshopper Warbler singing.

In the Seamer area today a Short-eared Owl and a Sedge Warbler were seen at Taylor Way, 2 Lesser Whitethroats by Seamer Tip pool, Garden Warbler by the 3 ponds and a Little Ringed Plover on the almost dry pool by the railway bridge on the way to the recycling centre.

Finally in Dalby Forest a singing Turtle Dove was seen at Staindale, grid reference SE905914, the first for the year.

Marsh Tit - nr Wykeham South Lake - Terry Hobson

Thursday 27th April 2017

More Waxwings today, this time 8 were seen in trees opposite the Premier shop on Dean Road but soon after discovery they departed low to the east at 16.55.

At Long Nab today there were 2 Shore Larks in the field to the north of the Obs and moving north were 3 Shelduck and 7 Sandwich Terns. Between Crook Ness and Scalby Beck there were 6 Whitethroats, a Kingfisher was on the Beck, at Scalby Mills the colour ringed Common Sandpiper was still present and there was a Red-throated Diver was in North Bay.

Late afternoon off Marine Drive 5 Eiders including a ♂ flew north at 17.30.

Swallow - Seamer Road Mere - Mark Hepples

Wednesday 26th April 2017

This was another relatively quiet day with the cold northerly airstream.

On Star Carr today 16 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew and 2 Wheatears and on the Motocross track at Seamer there was a Little Ringed Plover, then presumably the same bird was seen over the Seamer Tip pool. There was also a Little Ringed Plover on Potter Brompton Carr plus 5 Snipe, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Sedge Warblers and a Little Egret on Flixton Carr.

At Long Nab there was quite a movement north today with a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Sandwich Terns, 537 Fulmars, 279 Gannets and 536 Kittiwakes in 3½ hours observation. Down the coast at Scalby Mills there was a Common Sandpier, Whitethroat and 3 House Martins, later analysis of photographs showed the Sandpiper to be colour ringed. Nearby Johnson’s Marsh had a White Wagtail.

Wykeham South Lake had 19 Whimbrels early this evening, further afield today a Cuckoo was seen over the A171 at The Flask at 08.25 flying in the direction of Boggle Hole and on Low Moor using the layby by the A171 on the B1416 it is possible to see Red Grouse within our area. I mention this as the ones on the moor by the radio mast at Stoupe Brow are proving difficult this year.

Kestrel - Alec Scott

Tuesday 25th April 2017

Not a very nice day with a mixture of strong wind and wintery showers making observations difficult.

26 Whimbrels were in a field on the side of Seamer Tip by Star Carr, a Willow Tit was to the east of the Tip, 3 Corn Buntings flew north over Seamer Tip pool and in the area of the Motocross track there was a Wheatear and a Lesser Whitethroat

Harwood Dale Lake today had 20 Swallows, 6 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins, 3 Wheatears and a Whitethroat;

Finally an evening stroll around Long Nab produced 13 Shore Larks (which are now the latest ever and the longest stayers), 2 White Wagtails and a Wheatear. There were two Manx Shearwaters going north from here this morning.

The following photo explains why some people think birders are slightly insane in the things they do for their hobby.

Our Chairman - Long Nab Blizzard - Selfie

Monday 24th April 2017

A reasonable number of Wheatears were seen at various locations today with 8 at Long Nab, 3 at Malton Cote near Ebberston, 2 inside Marine Drive and a single in the Givendale Farm area.

Potter Brompton Carr held a White Wagtail, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, 6 Wigeon, 2 Teal and 2 Lapwing chicks, and Wykeham South Lake had 3 Common Sandpipers.

Other records today included a pair of Willow Tits on feeders in a garden on Yedmandale Road, West Ayton; 2 Ring Ouzels in a paddock next to Stony Marl Moor and a ♂ Redstart near to the Dalby visitors centre.

Dipper - Troutsdale - Alec Scott

Sunday 23rd April 2017

A good arrival of Ring Ouzels into the area today with 3 seen early morning, 05.45, by Seamer Tip pool that arrived from the east, 2♂2♀ in the fields below the Radio Mast at Ravenscar, another was by the Cleveland Way at Ravenscar and a final ♂ was seen by the railway line from Salt Pans Road, Cloughton. Nearby in Newlands Dale a Water Rail was seen on a small pond.

At Long Nab today a cream crown Marsh Harrier flew south at 10.05 and in the area there were also 2 Shore Larks, 3 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, 5 White Wagtails and a Short-eared Owl, a record breaking 166 Carrion Crows flew north as did a single Whimbrel.

The first Cuckoo of the Spring was both seen and heard in Castlebeck Woods, Harwood Dale today and at Harwood Dale Lake there was a Yellow Wagtail.

The Grasshopper Warbler at Seamer Tip pool remained for its second day but was moving about a bit more today although it made itself visible at times it was easier to hear its distinctive, reeling, insect-like song.

An evening stroll down Troutsdale produced 2 Kingfishers, a Dipper, a Water Rail and a Swallow, also 2 Mandarin Ducks near Hackness.

Grasshopper Warbler - Seamer Tip Pool - Chris Bell

Yellow Wagtail - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Saturday 22nd April 2017

At Long Nab today, between 05.55 and 11.55, we had 11 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Divers, 7 Sand Martins and 4 Swallows all heading north along with a 2cy Iceland Gull at 06.20, a breeding plumage Great Northern Diver, a Short-eared Owl and a Whimbrel. The Shore Larks were seen again to the north of the Obs and today 18 birds were present. Moving south along the coast there was a Wheatear near the now dry Scalby Lodge Pond and 5 Teal on the small pond, and at Scalby Nab there was a Lesser Whitethroat. Nearby on Johnson’s Marsh we had 2 Snipe, 3 Teal and a Yellow Wagtail.

At Wykeham South Lake today there were 6 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats, 6 House Martins and small numbers of both Swallows and Sand Martins

Seamer Meads had 3 Corn Buntings, a Wheatear and 9 Whimbrel and 3 Curlew flew over to the north, nearby to the north of Seamer Tip pool the first Grasshopper Warbler of the year was discovered in the afternoon. It was rather elusive but was seen a few times when it broke cover to sing from exposed perches before it got too dark to see well in the gloom of dusk.

Grasshopper Warbler - Seamer Tip Pool - Dave Mansell

Friday 21st April 2017

The highlight of the day was a female Montagu’s Harrier that was tracked from Hunmanby Gap at 07.00 and then seen heading west from Gristhorpe Bay at 07.40 was chased down in our area at Folkton/Flixton Carr at 08.07 heading towards Seamer Tip. Whilst searching the Seamer area for the harrier a singing Corn Bunting was found on Taylor Way.

Wheatears were well represented today with 5 at Scalby Lodge, 2 at Long Nab and 4 at Stoupe Brow; Green Sandpiper and Snipe on Johnson’s Marsh and at Reasty Hill Top 4 Crossbills came to drink in a small puddle.

Crossbill - Reasty Hill Top - Steve Wignill