Birding Scarborough: January caught up...

Since the Glauc fest on the 14^th things haven’t slowed down much, the brilliant birding this January has continued.

It didn’t take long for the next goodie to pop up either, just a day in fact, late morning on the 15^th I found myself at Long Nab enjoying the 16 strong flock of Shorelark despite the grim weather.
Almost certainly the same flock present last year, last being seen in early December – presumably having spent the last month or so in fields further inland and not accessible.

Shorelarks at Long Nab.

Another addition to my PWC effort later that day was a Black-throated Diver out in North Bay.

The Stonechat and one Black Redstart were still preforming well in North Bay and the 2 Great Northern Diver and a Black-necked Grebe were in the Harbour.

The 18^th didn’t disappoint either, with eight species added to PWC. Collared Dove and Barn Owl eventually fell while a few others were a little more noteworthy.
Three Pink-footed Geese were present at Long Nab early on before leaving north, 2 Brent Geese and 8 Shelduck flew north at sea, a Lapland Bunting was with Skylark in the stubble field as well as a Tundra Bean Goose that left to the south. Two north bound Great Northern Diver were also noteworthy along with 35 Red-throated Diver heading north, at least 11 Red-throated Diver were present there on the sea with several regularly calling.

Pink-footed Geese at Long Nab.

A Whooper Swan at Scalby Lodge pond was a welcome addition on the 19^th – it stayed put until at least early February.

The 25^th at Long Nab produced at least 15 Brambling in our ringing plantation as well as 50 Reed Bunting and 25 Yellowhammer in the cover crop – a good 20 minutes searching there failed to produce the hoped for Pine Bunting!
Later that day I connected with the fine drake Red-breasted Merganser in the Harbour.

The following day saw the Red-breasted Merganser and a Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour as well as 3 Shoveler south offshore along with small numbers of Wigeon and Teal.

Drake Red-breasted Merganser in the Harbour.

A Tawny Owl heard at Peasholm Park at 01.00am after work on the 29^th took me to 97 species – touching distance of my target of 100 for January.

Later on the 29^th, as dawn broke, I made my way to Long Nab, it was to be my last day in the field this month due to work.
Species number 98 came along rather quickly, a single White-fronted Goose south with 6 Greylag Geese shortly followed by another 16 White-fronts south over the sea.
A Little Egret south there was a rather unusual but welcome record for January and species number 99.

Grey Partridge became the milestone species with a few calling away by the stubble field.
Heading south highlights included a Tundra Bean Goose with 3 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Greylag Geese in flight over Cromer Point, having earlier being seen by Crook Ness, and 20 Golden Plover north. Number 101.

What was probably my 14^th attempt of the year at Scalby Beck for Dipper finally resulted in success, species number 102 for January!

I finished my day around the Harbour, the 2 Black-necked Grebe were showing nicely in the Harbour mouth while South Bay was pretty active, 2 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoter, 2 Long-tailed Duck, a Mute Swan and a scattering of Guillemot and Razorbill.