April update

It’s been a busy few weeks, what with work, birding and putting the finishing touches to the 2015 Scarborough District Report, hopefully it will be online next month – if the proof reading doesn’t flag up too many errors!
I’ve also started this new blog to concentrate on my own birding within Scarborough, following a few problems with my old one that has been neglected somewhat.

The website has been enjoyable too during the last two weeks or so, at least it was until this grim mid-winter weather put a stop to the advancing spring.
Since the first Osprey in the District that I had heading north over Seamer Road Mere early in the month there have been four more.

Osprey heading north over Seamer Road Mere.

A few enjoyable vis-mig days have been had, mainly at Long Nab but heading over the Flat within 40 minutes early morning one day mid-month included over 100 Meadow Pipit with small numbers of Finches. A female Black Redstart feeding on the roof was a welcome Flat tick.

Female Black Redstart on the Flat - a nice surprise early morning.

Many summer migrants have arrived albeit it small numbers, the bulk of most things are still to arrive.
Chris dropped on an excellent find last week, in rather unexpected circumstances and less than idea weather conditions, a Short-toed Lark at Long Nab, only the second for the District. Unfortunately it fell on a Monday, the only day of the week I am at work early, starting between 4.30 and 5am!
I did eventually make it up there but not before the Lark had done one, the crops now just too high making it easy for it to creep away!
Five flyover Whimbrel were scant compensation but were my first of the year.
A few pictures as well as Chris’s account of that morning can be found here.

Later that week, I along with Chris, set up a few nets in our coastal ringing plantation.
Sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday were predictably slow, most sessions here area as there are only a handful of breeding species using the plantation, if ever we catch more than 15 – 20 birds its during good conditions in autumn with migrants arriving.
Although low on numbers it was still very rewarding, particularly the second session.
Pleasant weather also made for an enjoyable few days out.
Among the catch were the sites third ever Willow Tit, a fine male Redstart, a ringed Lesser Whitethroat that turned out to be one of our birds (it was in fact the 5^th bird I ever ringed in Scarborough on my first session ringing in 2013 in Hundale after moving here, we controlled it again in 2014 but not in 2015, however it was presumably the male of the pair that raised three young last year), and a Chiffchaff that we presumed was one of the local breeders back on territory, it was however controlled in Skelton, Cleveland a few days later!

Willow Tit.

1st year male Redstart.

The returning Lesser Whitethroat - aren't birds amazing!

A pair of Raven that have taken up residence at Ravenscar were finally checked off, my first in Scarborough and my third area tick of the year following American Wigeon and Bittern, a good start to the year.

Raven at Ravenscar!

The pair together heading to Brow Moor to feed.

The weather is still poor out there, actually hailing now whilst I type, although I have just had word of two Common Crane heading this way from Flamborough, I suppose I better get on the Flat roof ready!