Mid April

As April progressed the seeming early start to spring was halted when the wind veered to the north-north west and remained there, almost unchanged, for a fair few days.
Things changed ever so slightly eventually and gave me all the inspiration I needed to get out, well at least for an hour or two on Castle on the 8^th in the hope of mopping up any migrants that had battled north during the small window of opportunity. Realistically I was hoping for a Willow Warbler at best – failed on that one, but I did head home surprised. A migrant I wasn’t entirely sure I would even come across in my PWC area, even in the peak times in June etc, never mind in April!
Whilst stood on the south side, overlooking the area behind the water treatment centre along Marine Drive a Quail flew towards me up the bank side, over the top of me and then dropped back in!
Whether this bird had been flushed (maybe by a Fox?) or had just arrived in off is a mystery.

Other than that the first 10 days or so of the month produced more expected additions, Yellow Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Whimbrel etc while Goosander (a female) finally made an appearance for me.

The Shorelark flock remained at Long Nab – appearing after another few day’s absence.
Over the sea on the 12^th Manx Shearwater and 2 Puffin were additions for the year while 16 Sandwich Tern was the largest number of 2017 to date.
Later that day, whilst at Scalby Mills a 2cy Glaucous Gull flew south at sea and continued past Marine Drive. A quick message to Steve, comfortably in his ‘obs’ in South Bay overlooking the Harbour meant he soon picked the beast up coming in and dropping into the Harbour. I couldn’t resist a better look, unfortunately picture opportunities weren’t great in a cold wintry shower.

Male Stonechat on the end of Long Nab.

A fresh in male Wheatear on the end of Long Nab.

Glaucous Gull in the Harbour.

Late March - early April

By 29^th March another typically early migrant made landfall at Long Nab and was added to the growing year list, a Wheatear in fields just north of the hut, soon followed by a further two just a little further north at Hundale Point.
At least nine Shorelark remained also.
Another year tick came in the form of some real #patchgold – a Red-legged Partridge on the entrance road just near Clifftop House.
Other than that things remained rather quiet, as they did the next day, the only real difference being two White Wagtail by the Cover Crop.

April began well up at Long Nab with that real feel of spring about it. Starting out early the first two hours proved interesting with a push of passerines south along the cliffs before the wind dropped a little and all but killed the action, still the mornings highlights came out at 53 Meadow Pipit, 1 Greenfinch, 115 Linnet, 22 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin south.
The sea was, as expected, quiet although 11 Whooper Swan north early doors were a nice surprise.
A good walk around didn’t result in much, at least 13 Brambling were still in the ringing site, a ‘few’ Shorelark were scattered around the fields and Chiffchaff numbers had increased slightly.

Deciding to leave Long Nab and head south a final check of the inland ridge revealed a Red Kite heading north.
Cromer Point pond held a drake Garganey – one of the Johnson’s Marsh birds out on a wander, while close by a Bar-tailed Godwit was with a few Curlew and a Swallow passed south in the company of a Sand Martin.

Further south still at least 15 – 20 Sand Martin were now in the Scalby Nab – Jackson’s Bay area and two Sandwich Tern were feeding of Scalby Nab

Wheatear, Meadow Pipit and Chaffinch at Hundale Point.

Chaffinch at Scalby Mills

Early to mid-March

Typically March has been slow to get going.

Signs of spring were slowly developing – Skylarks now singing everywhere, clear outs of various Buntings and Finches, regular waves of Snipe staging along the cliffs before leaving as well as increases in Pipits, Wagtails and Finches moving which brought with them my first Siskin of the year.

Early in the month a Great Crested Grebe in North Bay was an addition to PWC – strangely having missed them up until now.
Small numbers of Goldcrest and Chiffchaff began to appear along the coast and the Shorelark flock remained at Long Nab with a maximum count of 17, although numbers began to drop during mid-month.

The small flock of Brambling in the ringing plantation began to dwindle in number while a Water Rail was seen in the ditch there on the 1^st.
Things really did start to get going during the middle of the month with spring now in touching distance.

Its always a pleasure to see that first real summer migrant, and it was no different when on the 14^th a Sand Martin shot into view, hawking up and down over the Cromer Point colony.
In the fields behind me were three littoralis Rock Pipits looking rather nice. Movement along the coast also began to pick up with Meadow Pipits and Alba Wagtails predominantly moving north with Finches, mainly Linnet heading south with the occasional Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Siskin mixed in.

Not to miss out on the recently reported large scale Redwing exodus I had a few flocks heading east after work early morning on the 15^th.
Late that morning, a quick check of Johnson’s Marsh on route to Long Nab was very successful and produced four ugly Egyptian Geese.

Egyptian Geese on Johnson's Marsh.

Up at Long Nab it was a generally quiet day, a trickle of Meadow Pipit and Linnet were headlined by 2 Siskin!
At least 8 Brambling and 3 Goldcrest were in the ringing plantation and 5 Shorelark remained by Crook Ness.

Shorelark at Long Nab.

Johnson’s Marsh delivered the goods yet again on the 22^nd with not one but two cracking drake Garganey providing a very pleasant surprise on my way up to what became a very quiet outing at Long Nab – again!

Drake Garganey on Johnson's Marsh.

February

All in all February was a decent month, 14 species added to PWC as well as my first bit of birding outside of Scarborough – to Spurn.
Once my old stomping ground, embarrassingly this was my first trip here since the major breach along the peninsula, a good few years ago.
A short but great trip was enjoyed during the middle of the month, catching up with a few familiar faces, seeing some of the many changes, a pint or two in the Crown and Anchor and of course a few birds – highlights being a female Scaup on Beacon Ponds and the Black Brant with Brent Geese along Long Bank.

Brent Geese at Long Bank, Spurn.

Back in Scarborough the months highlight came on the first day, a Leach’s Petrel heading north over a calm sea off Scalby Mills – a rather unexpected record. Only my 4^th in Scarborough with all the other three falling in September.
Most other PWC additions were run of the mill - Mistle Thrush, Gadwall, Lesser Black-backed Gull etc. Goshawk displaying over Raincliffe was a handy year tick as was a Jack Snipe at Long Nab and four Corn Bunting with Yellowhammer near Scalby Lodge Pond.
A drake Goldeneye on Johnson’s Marsh was welcome with possibly the same bird seen the next day flying round at Long Nab.

Wigeon at Scalby Mills.

Dipper at Scalby Mills.

Other highlights included my 2^nd of each Black-throated Diver and Lapland Bunting for the year and the regular appearance of the Shorelark flock at Long Nab.
There were plenty of signs of spring creeping in towards the months end with Pink-footed Geese heading back north as well as Pipits, Alba Wagtails and Finches all starting to move.

Shorelark at Long Nab.

Pink-footed Geese on the move north at Long Nab.