Early May slog...

As of 2^nd May it’s been pretty quiet, the 2^nd itself was kind of interesting, despite being very slow over the sea there were a few highlights, two Red-throated Diver, a Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, two Goosander and a Velvet Scoter flew north.
Migrant wise the Long Nab area was pretty much status quo with 11 Shorelark remaining.

Goosander heading north off Long Nab.

Three of the remaining Shorelark at Long Nab.

The following few days were spent with short jaunts out on to Castle Hill, those northerly winds blocking anything significant happening with migrants on Long Nab being very few and far between, a few Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and up to four Wheatear have been the lot..

A couple of the Wheatear behind the wall.

Swift was finally added to Patchwork on the evening of the 7^th May with three seen feeding over the Harbour whilst out for a meal at Ask Italian.

The 8^th on Castle proved a waste of time however the 9^th was a little different. Numbers of migrants were low but a Pied Flycatcher was a more than welcome find on the south side, my first ever in spring in Scarborough, and only the 3^rd spring record in at least six years in the recording area!
A Garden Warbler that appeared in the same tree as the Flycatcher was just as welcome while a late Fieldfare and two remaining Wheatear behind the wall made up the best of the rest.

Pied Flycatcher on  Castle Hill.

Pied Flycatcher on Castle Hill.

Fieldfare on Castle Hill.

At least 11 Turnstone remained in the Harbour with some of the males looking rather dapper.

Turnstone by the Harbour.

With the end of the northerlies looking imminent the success on Castle Hill is just enough to give encouragement for a crack of dawn start on the 10^th…