Tuesday 12th June 2018

A Corn Bunting was on a hedge briefly near Scalby Lodge Pond before flying off to the north; 2 Tree Pipits were at the Wykeham Raptor View Point; a Hobby and 5 Crossbills were at Bridestones and a Great Skua flew north past Long Nab this evening at 19.44.

Monday 11th June 2018

No news received today from anyone.

Sunday 10th June 2018

A cream crowned Marsh Harrier flew south over Long Nab at 10.08 and was last seen at 10.14 about 1km offshore passing Cornelian Bay. Going north past Long Nab today between 04.40 and 11.00 were a Red-throated Diver, 10 Manx Shearwaters, 51 Common Scoters, a Great Skua, a pale phase Arctic Skua, 78 Puffins and 30 Swifts.

At Potter Brompton Carr today 2♂ Wigeon and a pair of Teal and a rough analysis of the Breeding Bird Survey data for the site gives passerine territories as 13 Reed Warblers, 12 Sedge Warblers, 4 Garden Warblers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 11 Willow Warblers, 11 Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 16 Skylarks, 12 Reed Buntings and 10 Linnets. Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler are all down on 2017 (Sedge Warbler almost halved) and Reed Warbler and Linnet are up a little. Also in the area a cream crowned Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the fields between the Potter Brompton Carr turn off and the Ganton car garage this afternoon.

A gull count from Wykeham South Lake included 430+ Herring Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 7 Common Gulls.

Saturday 9th June 2018

In the Langdale Forest area today there were a Hobby, 2 Turtle Doves, 6 Cuckoos, a Whinchat and 2 Crossbills and at Scalby Mills this evening an adult Yellow-legged Gull dropped in briefly when it bathed quickly before departing to the south across North Bay at 17.25.

Friday 8th June 2018

The only report today was a Honey Buzzard seen at Wykeham Raptor View Point at 16.15.

Thursday 7th June 2018

The only news today concerned an Osprey seen flying south low over Hovingham Drive at 08.05 this morning; 2♂Wigeon were on Potter Brompton Carr; at Scalby Mills a 2cy Common Gull, 4 Lesser and 5 Greater Black-backed Gulls and at Harwood Dale Lake a ♂ Teal and a ♂ Mandarin Duck.

Wednesday 6th June 2018

A Rose-coloured Starling was seen today in a private garden in the Newby area but unfortunately no permission of access was given.

At Harwood Dale Lake the Sedge Warbler was still singing and there were 8 Mandarin Ducks including 4 juveniles and this evening 5 Manx Shearwaters flew north past Long Nab in an hour.

Tuesday 5th June 2018

Another quiet day with 2 Mandarin Ducks at Harwood Dale Lake where a Sedge Warbler was singing from the island.

Also today a report of a Honey Buzzard flying north, 3km west of Rillington at 13.50.

Monday 4th June 2018

The only news received today was a Red Kite seen this morning between West Ayton and Hutton Buscel; 2 Gadwall on Newlands Dale marsh and a pair of Coot with one young on Town Farm pond at Cloughton.

Also today the Red-backed Shrike at Roger Trod on Friday was confirmed by the posting of photos on the Scarborough Birders Facebook page.

Sunday 3rd June 2018

Not much news today but a Hobby flew south at Ravenscar at 10.45; a Spotted Flycatcher was at the ringing site at Long Nab and a group of around 40 Swifts were over Barmoor Close.

A Norwegian colour ringed 2cy Common Gull was at Scalby Mills early afternoon along with another Common Gull of the same age plus 450 Herring Gulls, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 15 Greater Black-backed Gulls.

Saturday 2nd June 2018

The first Honey Buzzard for the season at Wykeham Raptor View Point was a male seen today at 11.45. A nice male Red-backed Shrike was at Ravenscar and showed well throughout the day in the area to the south of Ravens Hall Hotel.

The only other news concerned a drake Eider feeding by the sea wall in front of The Spa this morning.

Friday 1st June 2018

The big surprise this morning was an adult Rose-coloured Starling seen briefly on some garden feeders in Londesborough Road at 09.20, incidentally the same garden hosted this same species last year. Perhaps a little more than just coincidence maybe this garden has some particular attraction for Rose-coloured Starlings, i.e. the feeders!!! A drake Teal was on Johnson’s Marsh; a Hobby was seen cruising around Scalby Beck before heading out over North Bay and a Great Skua flew north off Long Nab this evening. A Nightjar was heard churring around Wykeham Forest and was audible from Wrench Green.

A report of a male Red-backed Shrike on Facebook seen between Cloughton Wyke and Heyburn Wyke this afternoon, it was apparently feeding from a pile of brush cuttings by a dry stone wall and was rumoured to have been photographed. So far no further information has been received.

Thursday 31st May 2018

The early news this morning concerned a Wheatear behind the wall on Royal Albert Drive and an apparent Continental Coal Tit along Scalby Beck. Around Cromer Point Pond there were a Wheatear, a Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Shelducks and a pair of Yellow Wagtails and at 13.30 c20 Swifts went high to the north over Barmoor Close. 

Wednesday 30th May 2018

A gathering of 18 Swifts were over the Open Air Theatre and in Wykeham Forest a Nightjar was heard churring rather surprisingly at 16.30 this afternoon, a Tree Pipit was displaying on a nearby clear fell and 5 Crossbills flew over.

Tuesday 29th May 2018

At Potter Brompton Carr today there was a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Turnstones (the first site record for this species) and 2 drake Wigeon.

The most unusual species seen today was a Crane that flew northeast over Pickering and passed into our recording area and on Thornton Carrs this evening there was a good selection of warblers including Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler which is rare at this location.

Monday 28th May 2018

Only a small amount of news today including the continued presence of the Icterine Warbler at Crook Ness but the Eastern Subalpine Warbler was not seen today. A Great Skua flew north at Long Nab and there was a Wheatear behind the Marine Drive Wall.

Sunday 27th May 2018

Not surprisingly observation at Crook Ness started early this morning. The Icterine Warbler showed first at 06.00 then again at 06.30 but it wasn’t until around 07.10 that the Eastern Subalpine Warbler revealed itself for the first time this morning. Both birds showed occasionally for most of the day and the Eastern Subalpine Warbler was even heard singing at times. Other species recorded in the Long Nab area today included a male Redstart around the manure heap at Cliff Top House, a Honey Buzzard flew over to the west at 11.40, this evening a Spotted Flycatcher was at Cliff Top House and the Wheatear was still in the cover crop strip.

Other sightings today included a Jay flying west over Crossgates; a Common Sandpiper on Rudda Road Flash and a Hobby flying north over Cornelian Bay at 13.05.

Last but not least today 4 Nightjars were heard calling near the Falcon Inn late this evening.

Eastern Subalpine Warbler - Crook Ness - Chris Bradshaw

Icterine Warbler - Crook Ness - Nick Addey

Saturday 26th May 2018

The first news today was a Wheatear at Scalby Lodge Pond but then nothing until late afternoon when a double discovery at Crook Ness started the pulses racing. An Icterine Warbler was discovered in the bushes on the seaward end of the gully on the northern side and then whilst watching this bird a male Subalpine Warbler popped into view alongside. The features of the Subalpine would suggest that it is of the eastern race albistriata, the Icterine Warbler showed well on and off until dusk but the Subalpine was only seen by three lucky observers in the first half hour after its discovery.

Eastern? Subalpine Warbler - Crook Ness - Nick Addey

Icterine Warbler - Crook Ness - Nick Addey

Friday 25th May 2018

The only news today came from the Long Nab area with a Great Skua moving south, a Ringed Plover and 79 Swifts flew north but the only grounded migrant after the rain was a Wheatear on the cover crop strip.

Thursday 24th May 2018

The find of the day was a singing 1^st summer male Common Rosefinch at Potter Brompton Carr but unfortunately it was only seen by the finder and was not seen or heard after 06.50 despite much searching. Also seen during wanderings at this location today were 13 singing Reed Warblers, 11 singing Sedge Warblers, a Coot with 4 young, 3 Garden Warblers, a Kingfisher, 3♂Wigeon and a pair of Teal. The Wood Sandpiper at Rudda Road Flash was still present this morning and remained until 16.20 when it flew off into the fog, a Cuckoo was also heard calling nearby this afternoon.

Not much at Wykeham South Lake today but a Barn Owl, 2 Egyptian Geese and a solitary fly over Whimbrel: 3 Mandarin Ducks were on Harwood Dale Lake; there was a Red-throated Diver in Jackson’s Bay with lots of auks, Kittiwakes and Gannets moving north and at Low North Camp today a pair of Mandarin Ducks with 5 ducklings, a Redstart, a Buzzard, a Garden Warbler and a Whitethroat. At Long Nab today 2 Manx Shearwaters went north and further south a Wheatear was in the Scalby Lodge field.

A pair of Turtle Doves - Burniston - Rose Habberley

Wednesday 23rd May 2018

The only thing worth mentioning at Wykeham South Lake this morning were a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls; Potter Brompton Carr had a Ringed Plover, ♂Wigeon, a pair of Teal and a Kingfisher; this evening over Peasholm Park a nice mixture of hirundines with 10 Swallows, 7House Martins and a Sand Martin and at Scalby Mills there were 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 14 Sandwich Terns flew south.

The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Wood Sandpiper at Rudda Road Flash at 17.57 this evening and in Burniston there are now a pair of Turtle Doves.

Wood Sandpiper - Rudda Road Flash - Nick Addey

Tuesday 22nd May 2018

The only news today concerned a Hobby over Thornton-le-Dale this evening; a Tufted Duck and an Oystercatcher north past Marine Drive this morning and the Turtle Dove was still present in Burniston.

Monday 21st May 2018

A Bonxie was seen off Marine Drive this morning, 2 Ringed Plover and 3♂ Wigeon were on Potter Brompton Carr, at Wykeham South Lake a Little Ringed Plover and a Great Crested Grebe plus nearby on Straits Lane a Lapwing with chick and 2 singing Reed Warblers and a Red Kite flew west over Crossgates at 14.05.

In Dalby Forest on New Close Rigg there were Turtle Dove, Nightjar and Tree Pipit, this evening on Stony Marl Moor there was a singing Cuckoo and the Burniston Turtle Dove continued its residency.

Sunday 20th May 2018

The Burniston Turtle Dove was still present today and at Long Nab a Spotted Flycatcher was on the wires by the Obs before leaving to the south; an immature male Marsh Harriers was over the fields near Hundale at 07.45 while a second bird went south past the Obs at 08.20 and a Red Kite was seen over The Falcon public house. On Potter Brompton Carr today we had a Dunlin, 2 Curlew, the first Lapwing chicks (2+), 3 broods of Mallard, a brood of Greylag Geese and a pair of Teal were on the Haybridge scrapes. Finally a Wheatear was frequenting the gardens and rooftops on Knipe Point Drive.

Dipper - Hilla Green - Chris Bell

Red Kite - over The Falcon - Rose Habberley

Whitethroat - Ravenscar - Stuart Baines

Saturday 19th May 2018

Early this morning we had a Barn Owl and a Yellow Wagtail at Gristhorpe, then a little later at 07.00 a Little Tern flew north at Long Nab. Also today a Whimbrel flew over Dean Road; male Redstarts were at Scar Wood, also Marsh Tit with 2 fledged young, and Helwath Beck; a Turtle Dove was at an unknown location in Burniston and finally a Little Ringed Plover was below North Stile House at Wrench Green.

Friday 18th May 2018

On the Castle headland today there were a Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, 12 Swifts and 15 Swallows; a Rock Pipit was in The Harbour; a Green Woodpecker was in the vicinity of Lindhead Bridge; a Corn Bunting was on Seamer Tip; two broods of Marsh Tits plus a singing Lesser Whitethroat were on Oliver’s Mount and finally this evening a stunning Short-eared Owl was sat on fence posts near Hundale Point, Long Nab.

Short-eared Owl - Long Nab - Nick Addey

Thursday 17th May 2018

No news received today.

Wednesday 16th May 2018

The only news received today concerned a pale phase Arctic Skua which went north close past Marine Drive at 07.35 and then in the afternoon there was a Little Gull at Scalby Mills at 15.00.

Tuesday 15th May 2018

2 Barnacle Geese were in a field at High Balmer; at Harwood Dale Lake there was a Yellow Wagtail and this evening 5 drake Mandarin Ducks and past Long Nab early evening a Common Tern flew north and 3 Manx Shearwaters went south.

Whitethroat - near Sawdon - Chris Bell

Monday 14th May 2018

This morning at Wykeham South Lake 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Buzzards and 2 Sedge Warblers whilst passing Long Nab to the north we had 2 Ringed Plover, an Arctic Tern and 2 Puffins plus a total of 21 Common Scoter (13 S, 8 N); a Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plovers were on Binnington Carr; a pair of Shoveler and a drake Garganey were in Burniston Bay and to finish the day the first two Nightjars of the year were heard churring near to The Falcon Inn on the A171 at 21.55 this evening.

Garganey and pair of Shoveler - Burniston Bay - Daniel Brown

Sunday 13th May 2018

This morning a Marsh Harrier was seen hunting at Potter Brompton Carr at 10.00, also 2♂ Wigeon, a pair of Shoveler and a “singing” Redshank at the same location and nearby on the Hay Bridge Farm scrapes there were 4 Ringed Plovers before departing off to the east.

The highlights past Long Nab this morning included 2 Gadwall (N), 2 Wigeon (N), 2 Teal (N), 2 Eiders (N), 14 Common Scoter (5 S, 9 N), 9 Manx Shearwater (4 S, 5 N), a Black-tailed Godwit (S at 07.24) and 5 Puffins (2 S, 3 N).

Also today a Spotted Flycatcher was at Low North Camp and a Red-throated Diver and 2 Common Sandpipers were in Cornelian Bay this afternoon.

Reed Bunting - Cayton Carr - Stuart Baines