Tuesday 2nd January 2018

The number of Hawfinches today in Thornton-le-Dale had increased to seven birds in the vicinity of Rectory Lane and Dog Kennel Lane late morning and a Red Kite flew over the same location during the afternoon. Nearby at Ellerburn a single Hawfinch was seen in the Churchyard at 14.15.

The only other news today was a Little Egret on Manor Garth marsh, Seamer village and the 2^nd winter Mediterranean Gull was seen again today on Peasholm Park Lake.

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull - Peasholm Park Lake - Keith Wimbush

Monday 1st January 2018

The beginning of a new year and despite a lack of scarce species the efforts of our members over a large area today resulted in a few interesting records.

The first news of the year concerned a second winter Mediterranean Gull on Peasholm Park Lake, closely followed by notification of the continued presence of at least one Hawfinch at Thornton-le-Dale. It transpired that there were at least three birds still present and although very mobile one of the best places to look is at the junction of Dog Kennel Lane and Rectory Lane.

Around Scarborough itself we had reports of a Redshank, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 2 Marsh Tits and 2 Bullfinches at the Open Air Theatre; Scalby Mills had 8 Red-throated Divers and 13 Purple Sandpipers; in Cornelian Bay 9 Red-throated Divers, a Common Scoter, 6 Grey Plovers and 5 Ringed Plovers and finally at Holbeck Car Park we had at least 9 Mediterranean Gulls (6 adults, 2 2^nd winters and a 1^st winter).

Further afield on the Haygate Circuit (Dalby Forest) at least 60 Common Crossbills with many singing (but unfortunately no Parrots), 6 Lesser Redpolls, c40 Siskins, 5 Mistle Thrushes, c80 Redwings and 2 Fieldfares. On Folkton Carr a Grey Plover, 210 Golden Plovers, 1,200 Lapwings, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Chiffchaff and on the River Hertford were 2 Little Grebes and 51 Teal; along Ellerburn Burn there were 1 maybe 2 Hawfinches, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Grey Wagtails and 23 Grey Herons and finally at Wykeham South Lake an unusual record of a Goshawk plus a Whooper Swan and 4 Goldeneyes and two Peregrines chasing Wood Pigeons at Irton.

Kingfisher - Open Air Theatre - Kevin Groocock

Mediterranean Gull - Holbeck - Kevin Groocock

Sunday 31st December 2017

At Lower Marishes today 260 Lapwings, 30 Golden Plovers, c620 Fieldfares, c160 Redwings and 3 Common Buzzards and on the B1258 between Snainton and Ebberston a couple of Little Egrets flew west.

Otherwise there was a Kingfisher at the Open Air Theatre, 2 Goosanders flew south past Long Nab, 8 Goosanders were on The Mere and 4 Fulmars had returned to the Castle Cliffs.

Saturday 30th December 2017

There was a single female Hawfinch still in the Dog Kennel Lane area of Tornton-le-Dale this afternoon.

At Long Nab today 49 Red-throated Divers (3 S, 14 N, 32 on sea), 7 Goldeneye (3 S, 4 N), a Redwing and a Fieldfare came in off the sea and the stubble field held 180 Skylarks, 45 Meadow Pipits and 16 Rock Pipits, 8 Lesser Redpolls were at Hundale and a Mistle Thrush was at Cliff Top House

Finally in Burniston there were c80 Siskins at Pricky Beck Green.

Hawfinch - Thornton-le-Dale - John Harwood

Friday 29th December 2017

A Little Egret was on the beck next to the Ellerburn campsite and there was a single Common Scoter in the South Bay.

The Gull roost at Wykeham South Lake was somewhat disappointing with just 350+ Common Gulls, 40 Greater Black-backed Gulls, very few Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls, also a single Goldeneye and there was a Barn Owl at Ings Bridge.

Thursday 28th December 2017

There were 2 Hawfinches today on Dog Kennel Lane in Thornton-le-Dale and in Scarborough only 2 Goosanders could be found on the Mere but there were 7 Mediterranean Gulls around the Holbeck Car Park, 5 adults, a 1^st winter and a 2^nd winter.

Wednesday 27th December 2017

The only news today involved a single Hawfinch in Thornton-le-Dale at the junction of Dog Kennel Lane and Rectory Lane plus 7 Goosanders on The Mere, 

Tuesday 26th December 2017

Another fairly quiet day in the Scarborough area with an adult Mediterranean Gull at Scalby Mills at dusk; a Red-throated Diver and 6 Shags were feeding off Marine Drive and around the Holbeck Car Park 7 Mediterranean Gulls (6 adults and a 2^nd winter).

 

Monday 25th December 2017

Not surprisingly there was very little news today in fact the only report concerned a single red-headed Goosander on Throxenby Mere this morning.

Sunday 24th December 2017

A Great White Egret flew west along the river at Ruston Carr bridge at 09.05 this morning and nearby at Potter Brompton Carr there were 14 Whooper Swans, 79 Wigeon and 30 Fieldfares. There was little movement off Long Nab today and the best bird in the area was a Snow Bunting in the stubble field north of the Obs.

The most interesting discovery today were a small number of Hawfinches in Thornton le Dale with one being seen along Dog Kennel Lane and then 3 on Rectory Lane but these kept dropping down from the trees into the gardens where they were not visible, thus making them rather elusive.

Can I take this opportunity to wish everyone reading this blog a very Happy Christmas.

Hawfinch - Thornton-le-Dale - G. Sigsworth

Saturday 23rd December 2017

The most exciting news today was the continued presence of the Hawfinch at Ellerburn which was seen a couple of times in the churchyard today. It was seen early morning and again in the late afternoon but despite observers being present for most of the day these were the only sightings today. Also around Ellerburn today were 2 Kingfishers, 6 Common Buzzards, a Grey Wagtail and 12 Siskins plus Marsh Tit and Bullfinch.

The Starlings were still putting on a good display over Old Town at dusk this evening.

Friday 22nd December 2017

The Green Sandpiper was still present around the farm ditches at Thornton Carr and at Ellerburn a Hawfinch was discovered near the fish farm and then later it was seen in the Church Yard. There was also a Kingfisher on Thornton le Dale Beck.

Also today 6 adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the rocks below the Holbeck Car Park.

Thursday 21st December 3017

At Long Nab today between 11.00 and 12.20 there were 160 Woodpigeons moving southwest and a Golden Plover was in the stubble field.

Wednesday 20th December 2017

Another quiet day with just a Great Crested Grebe in South Bay, an adult Mediterranean Gull at Scalby Mills  and on the Mere an adult Mediterranean Gull, 7 Goosander, 2 Little Grebes and a ♀ Teal.

Male Goosander - The Mere - all Steve Race

adult Mediterranean Gull (2nd right) - The Mere - Steve Race

Tuesday 19th December 2017

The only news received today concerned a flock of 70+ Curlew and three pairs of Stonechats along the clifftop at Redcliff.

 

Monday 18th December 2017

On the Mere today we had 4♂ 3♀ Goosander and a Teal; in South Bay 4 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls and a Common Scoter; a Red-throated Diver off Castle Headland and a Guillemot just off the East Pier.

Sunday 17th December 2017

At Long Nab today going north we had 2 Goldeneye, a male Goosander, 14 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and a Snow Bunting, a Jack Snipe came in from the east and continued west at 10.20 and also in the area the Whimbrel was still present and another Jack Snipe was in the stubble field where the Skylarks had increased to 80+.

At Wykeham South Lake we had a Whooper Swan, 18 Gadwall, 2 Goldeneye, 12 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Little Grebes plus on The Mere at least 2♂ Goosanders.

Saturday 16th December 2017

In a stubble field between Redcliff and Yons Nab there was a nice flock of 60 Snow Buntings while a little way to the north in Cornelian Bay we had 5 Red-throated Divers, a Common Scoter, 4 Grey Plovers and 4 Ringed Plovers plus in South Bay a female Red-breasted Merganser.

A little further afield we had 9 Golden Plovers and a Stonechat by Rudda Road Flash and late afternoon 25 Pink-footed Geese flew south over Hutton Buscel.

Snow Buntings - Redcliff - Chris Bull

Friday 15th December 2017

Wykeham South Lake this morning still had 43 Whooper Swans and 6 Gadwall also 53 Coot, 3 Pochard and a Goldeneye while in a field adjacent to Johnson’s Marsh there were a flock of 19 Curlew.

Around the Harbour we had 48 Turnstones roosting on the West Pier and 2 Great Crested Grebes were in South Bay.

Thursday 14th December 2017

Wykeham South Lake this morning held 43 Whooper Swans, 6 Gadwall, 3 Goldeneye, a Water Rail, a Snipe and a Redshank.

The Little Egret was again at Folkton Bridge; a Great Crested Grebe was in South Bay and this evening the Starling murmuration over Old Town was estimated at 2,200 birds.

Wednesday 13th December 2017

The only news today concerned 60 Pink-footed Geese west over Plaxtons between the Eastfield Industrial Estate and Cayton; a Merlin and a Stonechat on Fylingdales Moor and a Little Egret and a Kingfisher at Folkton Bridge.

 

Tuesday 12th December 2017

The most news today came from Wykeham South Lake where there were 48 Whooper Swans (including 13 juveniles) but 45 of these flew off to the east, a Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 82 Teal, a Goldeneye, 16 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Egyptian Geese, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 73 Coot and a Grey Wagtail.

Also today a Jack Snipe was seen on a ditch bank along the B road about 1 mile north of Yedingham at 10.30, Nick Gibbons reversed back to confirm the identity.

Monday 11th December 2017

At Long Nab today the record breaking Whimbrel was still present and on the sea we had a Pink-footed Goose (N), 3 Common Scoter (N), 22 Red-throated Divers (6 S, 16 N), 2 Great Northern Divers (1 N, 1 S), 20 Fulmars (1 S, 19 N), 61 Gannets (1 S, 60 N) and 66 Kittiwakes (N).

Also today on Johnson’s Marsh there were 23 Teal.

Sunday 10th December 2017

There were 4 Rock Pipits on Marine Drive where 2 Red-throated Divers, a Gannet and a female Common Scoter all flew north; 42 Purple Sandpipers were roosting on the East Pier; a Sparrowhawk was seen flying over town and in North Bay there were 2 Purple Sandpipers and a Stonechat was between the Skate Park and the Oasis Café.

At Wykeham South Lake a waterbird count included 3 Whooper Swans, 15 Pink-footed Geese, 360 Greylag Geese including the leucistic bird, 2 Egyptian Geese, a Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 22 Wigeon, 41 Teal, 8 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye, 7 Great Crested Grebes and 74 Coots.

Saturday 9th December 2017

Two sites contributed the vast majority of records for today. The first was Wykeham South Lake with 3 Whooper Swans, 75 Pink-footed Geese, 130 Mallard, 24 Gadwall, 16 Wigeon, 23 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 80 Teal, 5 Egyptian Geese, 7 Cormorants, 7 Great Crested Grebes, a Snipe and 20+ Skylarks.

The other was Cornelian Bay where the high tide wader count consisted of 2 Grey Plover, 31 Purple Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover, 5 Curlew, 12 Turnstone, 30+ Redshanks and 20 Oystercatchers, there were 3 Red-throated Divers on the sea and a Stonechat at the base of the Ravine.

The only other news today came from Wykeham Forest where 20+ Crossbills were 300 yards east of the Highbrow carpark and down in Old Town where 1660 Starlings came in to roost this evening.

Marsh Tit - Forge Valley - Chris Bell

Friday 8th December 2017

A reappearance by the Cattle Egret today at Wykeham South Lake when it flew west towards the fishing lakes before 09.00, also here were 3 Whooper Swans, 15 Wigeon and 15 Siskins and 53 Pink-footed Geese flew over to the south. 150+ Pink-footed Geese flew south over Stepney at 10.25 and on Johnson’s Marsh today 41 Teal and 38 Curlew.

The gull count from Scalby Mills this afternoon included a 2^nd calendar Mediterranean Gull, 490 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Common Gulls, 45 Greater Black-backrd Gulls and 620 Herring Gulls. In the Harbour today just a couple of Great Crested Grebes in the early afternoon and at Ellerburn today a Little Egret, 17 Grey Herons, 2 Jays, 2 Willow Tits, 6 Bullfinches and 2 Crossbills.

Cattle Egret - Wykeham South Lake - Terry Hobson

Thursday 7th December 2017

The only news received today concerned 2 Great Crested Grebes in the harbour and a Common Scoter and 3 Shags in South Bay.

Great Crested Grebe - Scarborough Harbour - Jan & Gary Powell

Wednesday 6th December 2017

At Crook Ness there were 3 Goldcrests and in ‘Pipe Gully’ 200 metres south of Crook Ness a Chiffchaff and 4 Long-tailed Tits. Cromer Point pond held 11 Snipe, 3 Rock Pipits, 14 Pied Wagtails and a Stonechat, there were also 2 Snipe on the scrape at Long Nab.

The only other news today was a flock of 75 Pink-footed Geese that flew low southwest over Eastfield Industrial Estate at 15.00.

Tuesday 5th December 2017

Along Royal Albert Drive there was a Stonechat on the sea defences opposite where the Café used to be and in Ellerburn there was a Little Egret on the beck to the south of the farm.

Monday 4th December 2017

At Wykeham South Lake today 3 Shoveler, a Pintail, 3 Goldeneye, 32 Teal, 36 Wigeon and nearby 4 Whooper Swans flew east over the Downe Arms; 84 Pink-footed Geese flew west over the Fox and Rabbit at Lockton north of Thornton-le-Dale and at Cloughton there was a report of a Rough-legged Buzzard at TA 012 945 flying southeast at 13.00.

Sunday 3rd December 2017

Up at Long Nab a Black-throated Diver (N), a Great Northern Diver (S), 32 Red-throated Divers (9 S, 23 N), 4 Eider (N), 3 Snow Buntings in the fields north of the Obs and the Whimbrel continues its stay into December being seen today in Burniston Bay.

Scalby Mills had 38 Redshanks, 14 Curlew, 6 Ringed Plovers and 272 Wigeon; the Harbour hosted a Great Crested Grebe and a Guillemot as well as 47 roosting Purple Sandpipers including one green flagged and ringed individual; at Wykeham South Lake a Whooper Swan, 8 Gadwall and 2 Goldeneye and finally in a field at Stoupe Brow 15 Golden Plovers and a Grey Plover.