The doldrums of June.

The beginning of the month didn’t inspire me too much, with very little turning up elsewhere along the Yorkshire coast my time spent out in the field dropped.

A few hours here and there were fairly routine, much of my time out was spent tracking down Starling flocks in the hope of pulling out a Rosy – no joy.

An Arctic Skua was a welcome year tick off Long Nab on the 15^th with over 600 Swift, a few Common Scoter and a Little Egret through that day adding some extra interest.

Little Egret through Long Nab.

An early sea-watch on the 21^st, starting out at 04.35hrs, was as expected slow, however four Teal, four Curlew and two Oystercatcher gave hints that autumn was approaching.
The first decent Puffin count in Scarborough of 2017 was also noted, 106 south, seven north over a four hour watch.
In the hope of stumbling across a Marsh Warbler, a Rosefinch or something much rarer, I turned my attention to walking the hedges and fields along the cliffs. Unfortunately though the grass pollen had other ideas and I couldn’t take more than an hour or it.

A stop at Johnson’s Marsh on the off chance produced eight Grey Heron and ,to my surprise, a Great Egret, a colour ringed bird too! And although I haven’t heard back on its origins yet, some research points strongly towards this been a French bird.

Great Egret on Johnson's Marsh.

Great Egret at Johnson's Marsh.

That evening was spent passing the time in a way I am not particularly keen on, nor too knowledgeable on but with good company and the promise of a pint or two afterwards I was tempted to look at insects and plants!
Marbled Whites were pleasant enough to see, only the second time I have seen them to my knowledge, as well as three Orchid species – Pyramidal, Common Spotted and Bee.

Marbled White.

Common Spotted Orchid.

Pyramidal Orchid.

Bee Orchid.

June came to an end about as spectacularly as it began. Some southwest winds have tempted me out in the hope of some big Swift days, each time a total failure with barely double figures through in perfect looking conditions!

A Scarborough Birders AGM at the Downe Arms, Wykeham was concluded with a short trip up in to the forest where several Woodcock as well as a couple of Nightjar were year ticked.

Finally the 29^th was a morning spent at Long Nab hoping the BBA would pass by, unfortunately though it seems it did the evening before! Thick fog made for a short unspectacular watch, a few Teal, 14 Manx Shearwater as well as the first returning Redshank, seven north were the highlights!

Showy Eider at Scalby Mills during the end of the month.