I was hoping that Tuesday 17th was going to be a decent day at Long Nab for passage so bright and early I met Steve outside the pub and we headed off up the coast, arriving at Crook Ness for about 06.35.
With the winds slightly lighter than I thought they would be, although still from the desired south-westerly direction, passage wasn’t exactly in full swing.
In fact it was very slow, the odd Hirundine now and again was about it!
The sea was, as expected, quiet, a Ringed Plover came in and flew south, a Whimbrel was heard heading north and a few Sandwich Tern were logged moving in both directions.
Over land southbound Swallows reached 154 by the time we finished at just gone 11.20, also south were 8 House Martin and a single Sand Martin.
The walk south along the cliffs wasn’t exactly amazing either, a single Wheatear was in the field just north of Scalby Lodge Pond was one of only two new in migrants noted, the other being a second singing male Sedge Warbler in the Style Scrub area, the first has been around a while now and is showing no signs of giving up on trying to attract a female.
Scalby Lodge Pond itself was poor with a single Redshank on offer!
A Slow Worm was seen crossing the Cleveland Way near Scalby Lodge Pond.
Work on the Tuesday night meant once again I had little sleep before the alarm got me up and about on 18th. I was again bound for Long Nab where I met up with Chris for what proved to be another quiet session.
On the move south were a few Swallows, totalling 59 by the end of the watch at 13.20, along with single Sand Martin and 8 House Martin.
Interest at sea was provided with 2 Puffin north and a steady stream of Sandwich Tern heading south, 186 by 13.20.
With the winds slightly lighter than I thought they would be, although still from the desired south-westerly direction, passage wasn’t exactly in full swing.
In fact it was very slow, the odd Hirundine now and again was about it!
The sea was, as expected, quiet, a Ringed Plover came in and flew south, a Whimbrel was heard heading north and a few Sandwich Tern were logged moving in both directions.
Over land southbound Swallows reached 154 by the time we finished at just gone 11.20, also south were 8 House Martin and a single Sand Martin.
The walk south along the cliffs wasn’t exactly amazing either, a single Wheatear was in the field just north of Scalby Lodge Pond was one of only two new in migrants noted, the other being a second singing male Sedge Warbler in the Style Scrub area, the first has been around a while now and is showing no signs of giving up on trying to attract a female.
Scalby Lodge Pond itself was poor with a single Redshank on offer!
A Slow Worm was seen crossing the Cleveland Way near Scalby Lodge Pond.
Work on the Tuesday night meant once again I had little sleep before the alarm got me up and about on 18th. I was again bound for Long Nab where I met up with Chris for what proved to be another quiet session.
On the move south were a few Swallows, totalling 59 by the end of the watch at 13.20, along with single Sand Martin and 8 House Martin.
Interest at sea was provided with 2 Puffin north and a steady stream of Sandwich Tern heading south, 186 by 13.20.
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| Sandwich Terns heading south |
Again the walk back was quiet, a third singing Sedge Warbler had joined the two other territorial males along the cliffs north of Scalby Lodge Pond while a Willow Warbler arrived in at Trough Gully and quickly moved off inland.
The final leg of the walk was just as uneventful though I did stumble on another Slow Worm, this one not so active as yesterday’s in the colder conditions so a few more pictures could be taken.
The pair of Stonechat were again on Scalby Nab, unfortunately though no sign of young yet.
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| Stonechats on Scalby Nab |
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| Slow Worm on Scalby Nab, my second in as many days |
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| Up close and personal |
A pint in the Old Scalby Mills Pub was a fitting way to end another day in the field.
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