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.

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.

Black-necked Grebes in the Harbour

The male Stonechat continued to show well in North Bay.

Both Black Redstarts also remained in North Bay.

Glaucs galore!

The 14^th began slowly for me, I started off by walking north past the Harbour and along Marine Drive, in that time I saw more damage to the seafront than I did birds.

North Bay from Marine Drive.

The extent of the tidal surge in North Bay was evident, so to see that both female Black Redstarts and the male Stonechat had survived was brilliant, all three of which were feeding actively in the usual spot, the sea defence rocks opposite Oasis café.

Black Redstart and Stonechat.

Stonechat.

Stonechat and the Sands.

Rock Pipit.

From there I headed north to Scalby Mills, immediately locating a 1^st winter Iceland Gull – a perfect start.
Unfortunately, due to the wisdom of a certain dog walker, all the Gulls were flushed as he walked right out among the rocks!
A little after Dave joined me the Iceland returned.
Soon after the action really started. I picked up a 1^st winter Glaucous Gull coming in from the east, it landed on the sea briefly before flying off north east out past Scalby Nab.
A small crowd soon assembled and shortly after another Glaucous Gull was picked up, towering high circling round a little before heading off north after a short drift south.
Only minutes later what turned out to be another Glaucous Gull came round Marine Drive and flew north through the Mills!
Not too surprising considering three had flown north past Cornelian Bay in a little over and hour at the same sort of time.

Phonescoped record of the Iceland Gull.

Glaucous Gull.

Glaucous Gull.

A short while later, whilst eating at the Oasis café, after second helpings of the male Stonechat, a 1^st winter Glaucous Gull flew south over our heads, seemingly with some rather different plumage features to the others seen previously.
With the day already going brilliantly (even better with a bacon and sausage sandwich in hand) another Glaucous Gull buzzed over, this time an adult!
Unfortunately it was a little high as it headed north towards Scalby Mills, later being seen passing there and Jackson’s Bay.

Glaucous Gull.

Adult Glaucous Gull.

Fairly gob smacked, I along with Dave headed round to South Bay – the long way round as the Marine Drive was still closed due to the clean-up operation.
Once at the Harbour the two Great Northern Diver were soon located, at least seven Cormorant and five Shag were sheltering in the Harbour too.
In the outer Harbour both Black-necked Grebe were showing while in South Bay a single female Common Scoter was the pick of a small bunch.
Five Purple Sandpiper were already in along east pier despite high tide being 4 hours away, it really was rough!

Great Northern Divers in the Harbour.

Shag - FCZ ringed as pullus on Isle of May on 6th June 2016.

A short sea watch here produced a couple of Red-throated Diver north as well as, yes, another Glaucous Gull!
This time an age day tick, a 2^nd winter bird.
With a day total of six Glaucous and one Iceland, as well as a nice supporting cast, I returned home incredibly happy, and in all fairness, it’s probably hands down the best January days birding I have ever had in Scarborough, and with some great company too.

January update

Now that the first 24 – 48 hour tick fest is over I’ve been working a little harder to squeeze out every PWC tick available, and although things have obviously slowed I’ve added about 20 or so since, leaving me on a respectable 82 as of the close of play on the 14^th. Of course there are some easy ones left, Sparrowhawk and Collared Dove are the first two that spring to mind.

I’ve managed seven days in the field since the 4^th, most of which have been slow sea watches at Long Nab.
There have of course been the odd highlight, best of which was a 1^st winter Iceland Gull south there at 08.54hrs on the 4^th.
A 1^st winter Glaucous Gull flew south there at 09.20hrs on the 10^th, presumably the bird that’s been hanging around at Scalby Mills, which I watched from the comfort of the Pub there on the 4^th.
A couple of drake Eider south on the 10^th were also rather welcome.

Predawn start at Long Nab on the 4th, looking south to Castle Hill.

Castle Hill with an incoming wintry shower on the 4th.

One of two Great Northern Divers in the Harbour.

Other additions have included Snipe, two have been present regularly, one at Long Nab and one at Cromer Point and a couple of Lapwing at Scalby Mills on the 10^th.

The rest have been standard run of the mill species, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Stock Dove etc.
I obviously had a rough target of species I intended to pick up by the end of January, so on the 12^th adding 4 PWC tick, three of which I wasn’t ‘expecting’ was very welcome indeed.

After finally nailing Buzzard, three distantly over Cloughton, I bumped into a Chiffchaff on my walk south, in the Style Scrub – which eventually moved to Trough Gully. Also there was a Grey Plover and 2 Dunlin in Jackson’s Bay.

Looking north at Long Nab on the 12th.

Still, all in all the birding had been pretty typical for January, although things definitely changed.

The 13^th saw some intense northwesterly winds hit us bringing with it some big seas and some serious tidal surges causing plenty of damage along the seafronts of North and South Bays.
This severe weather forced plenty of white wingers south as evident by the reports during the afternoon and evening of the 13^th.
It wasn’t until the 14^th that the number of white wingers about became evident. And the 14^th is a true contender for my best winters day birding in Scarborough.

Seventeen begins well...

Working in the Pub trade, often finishing late at night/early morning a pint of beer or two after is often hard to refuse, neither for me nor the alcoholics I work with.
Well as you can imagine NYE is a night that doesn’t see anyone heading home early.
I finished at 6pm on the final day of 2016 and took the opportunity to head home and relax for a bit rather that hitting the pubs immediately, although some football soon changed that idea.
The New Year always presents me with a problem, NYE celebrations are usually enjoyable and with New Year’s Day also being my birthday (strangely shared with not one but two work colleagues!) I often find myself waking up feeling less than 100%.  This year though, due to many reasons, I was determined to change that, and I did!

Up and out of bed by 08.10hrs I was eager to get out.
From home it takes a little over 15 minutes to reach the Harbour and the beginning of my PWC boundary.
The first patch year tick wasn’t special. Turnstone, Herring Gull or something of the like.
Black-necked Grebe was my fifth addition, after avoiding a rather serious looking Police ‘incident’ on the middle pier!

Joined by Steve shortly after we spent the following hour and a half scanning the incredibly rough South Bay (with a warm up tea break in between) which proved productive.
The rough seas made it rather hard work but with persistence we picked out 3 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Velvet Scoter, 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull and the Great Northern Diver that eventually made its way into the Harbour.

A tough walk north into the brisk wind with occasional hail showers followed as we made our way round Marine Drive, 3 Common Scoter flew south off there.

Reaching Scalby Mills very few Gulls were present and a few scans revealed nothing of any note.
The Open Air Theatre, sheltered from the chilly northerly winds and regular hail showers was our next destination.
Always good value, particularly at the beginning of a year list attempt as its always active, today was no different with Bullfinch, Marsh Tit and Goldcrest highlights among the passerines present.
At least 1 Water Rail showed behind the stage there after only a 5 minute wait.

Back at Scalby Mills the number of Gulls hadn’t increased really but clearly there had been a turn over as seconds into a quick scan a fine 1^st winter Glaucous Gull was picked out!
Found yesterday by Chris off Marine Drive I had obviously hoped to relocate but never expected as much, definitely a bonus.

A celebratory pint (for both a decent mornings birding and my birthday) in the Old Scalby Mills followed before my day in the field pretty much ended. A quick walk around Peasholm Park produced the expected, 2 Mute Swan and a Kingfisher being the highlights.

Black-necked Grebe - one of my first species of 2017 and showing 

Great Northern Diver entering the Harbour during one of the many hail showers that moved through during the day.

Glaucous Gull - a distant record shot.

Tufted Duck on Peasholm lake.

The 2^nd soon came around and a few more species were picked up.
Not an early start but in North Bay a few Gannet were heading south at distance while the two Castle Cliff Peregrines cruised around.
The seas were still pretty rough, I only picked out 2 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver in North Bay.
Further round North Bay where the sea defence rocks finish both the male Stonechat and female Black Redstart were preforming nicely, a search in yesterday’s strong winds proved fruitless.
Scalby Mills was again quiet although a Ringed Plover was a PWC addition.
Gull numbers were still very low but the 1^st winter Glaucous Gull eventually appeared again and showed fairly well in the evening sun.
Before dark another check of Peasholm proved quiet again although I added a few common species to my PWC list, the likes of Long-tailed Tit and Treecreeper etc.

Distant male Stonechat in North Bay.

A slightly better shot of the Stonechat.

Black Redstart in North Bay.

A phone-scoped effort of the Glaucous Gull

2016 farewell.

Well, that wasn't the end to the great autumn of 2016 I had hoped for at all!
My last post was way back on the 13th October! I managed a couple of days in the fields there after but that pretty much marked the end of my birding for 2016. I was pretty much stuck in the house from about the 18th onward due to ill health!

Due to various health issues I stepped down as the recorder and report editor for Scarborough Birders before the end of October, passing the responsibility on to Tony Clarke, this was just one of the many changes I had to make, and indeed still am doing, to recover.

A few weeks off work kind of did the trick and by late November - early December I had managed a few short trips out locally and got involved in the mini Waxwing invasion as well as connecting with a few Jack Snipe and White-fronted Geese, the Great Northern Diver and a few of the other overwintering bits and pieces around Scarborough.

Waxwing outside the Police station in Town. Can't remember the last time I saw Waxwings and the sun on the same day!

Black-necked Grebe catching plenty of small fish in the Harbour.

The very approachable Red-throated Diver on Peasholm Park Lake. Sadly found dead today (Christmas eve!), it never did look too well!

White-fronted Goose, Peasholm Park.

Another one of the Peasholm White-front, probably my favourite of all Geese!

2017 is now fast approaching so I have looked forward to that for inspiration and as previously planned I have taken the plunged into the world of Patch work challenge!
Hopefully this won't prove too stressful!
My area is mapped out, all I have to do is wait, get the festivities out the way, sing Auld Land Syne stay of the Sherry and away we go.

I have basically gone for the coastal strip, starting as far north as Hundale Point, taking in most of the productive hedges and fields southwards past Long Nab to Scalby Lodge Pond. A slight deviation here means Johnson's Marsh is in my area.
Scalby Beck, Scalby Mills (including the Old Scalby Mills PH) and the seafront of North Bay are all included with a kink that encompasses Peasholm Park Lake and surrounding area. Finally Castle Hill and the Harbour make up the southern end. All in just under the threshold of 3km squared by about 6 feet!

2017 PWC area map.

If all goes well, the few wintering species present now within that area stay put, the White-fronted Goose on Peasholm Park Lake would be very handy indeed and the Black Restart currently feeding along the sea defences in North Bay could take a little pressure off early spring.

More east winds…..

Well the easterlies haven’t let up – at all!
I haven’t managed to be out every daylight hour God has sent due to work and feeling a little ill, but I have still been putting plenty of time in.
There has definitely been a clear out of some migrants during the week, I haven’t seen a Yellow-browed Warbler for a while and the small numbers of arriving Goldcrest and Robin haven’t compensated for the many that have cleared off inland with numbers remaining constant or dropping slightly.

Still, Thrushes have been trickling in, mainly Song Thrush and Redwing as well as the odd Blackbird while my first two Fieldfare of the autumn were on Castle Hill on the 13^th.

My first Woodcock of the autumn rocketed in off the sea on the 11^th, narrowly missing my face, while Twite have clearly started to move, a single behind the Marine Drive wall on the 12^th was followed by two on Scalby Nab a little later that day. A slow walk north as far as Cromer Point that day produced very little, a male Brambling, half a dozen Goldcrest, the odd Thrush etc. was about it, until I flushed a rather showy Lapland Bunting near Scalby Nab, and although it showed well, I had to share it with the plague of dog walkers and model plane/drone flyers, so my pictures are no not as good as they would have been if I had of had the bird to myself on a quieter section of the Cleveland Way.

Also on the 13^th on Castle Hill the Pallas’s Warbler was still putting on a show on the south side, Goldcrest numbers increased slightly to about 35 however Chiffchaff numbers were down to 2 and I only dug out 1 Blackcap, although it was a male, the two I had seen the previous day were both female.
With the arrivals along the coast it was surely only a matter of time before Mealy Redpoll turned up, my first two were in Dusky Dell on the north side while a third was in St Marys Church as I walked home.
Two Wheatear and 3 Brambling were about the best of the rest that day. 

Still plenty of continental Robin around with new arrivals each day

Same can be said for Goldcrest

The 'showy' Lapland Bunting hiding from oncoming dogs....

lap Bunt again

The showy Pallas's with more below....

Proregulus at last!

As with every time you take a few weeks off work the inevitable return to the grind one day sneaks up on you, too bad for me it’s during such a gripping time here on the east coast!
Still I didn’t have to be in until 3pm on Friday so I could at least get a few hours in on Castle Hill.
Things were fairly quiet on there although there was an increase in some migrants and the odd Thrush did appear to be arriving in off.

Within the few hours I had on there I had 65 Song Thrush, 30 Redwing, 34 Robin, 1 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 20 Goldcrest and 2 Brambling.

Somewhat a surprise was a Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour, not a common bird in Scarborough in reality, although with up to six spending much time in the Harbour arriving last Autumn with at least two remaining until April this year it feels as though they are fairly regular, will the Harbour become a regular wintering spot?

Black-necked Grebe

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get out on the Saturday due to viewing a house however Sunday 9^th October was my day off – despite only having been back for two days it was a much appreciated day off!
With these promising conditions still persisting I was up as early as possible (considering the fact I didn’t get to sleep until gone 3am) and was meandering my way round the north side of Castle Hill by 08.45.

Things seemed fairly quiet, and bumping into Dave and Jim (who had both been on for some time) confirmed that with very little seen by either of them.
I persisted with the north side for a while before heading to the south side, starting out on the top path.
A quiet start with only a few Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff to show for my efforts eventually gave way to an Owl that I saw staring back at me for a brief second before it flew further along the path and disappeared into the bushes.
A few Magpies hammered it forcing it to leave the cover, a stunning Long-eared Owl, it stared at me as it passed over my head before disappearing south over the trees.
Only a few minutes after the LEO had fled I bumped into Jim again who had also had an Owl, a Short-eared!
Whilst talking and catching up, a wing-barred Phyllosc moved into the Hawthorne close to where we were stood.
Immediately I could see it was no Yellow-browed, a quick look through the bins and it all became clear, that crown strip only belonged to one bird, a PALLAS’S WARBLER!

Not the rarest of birds but one I have wanted to find for too many years now, and why not, what a stunning little bird they are.
The day was always going to happen, and I must admit, with the amount that have turned up along the coast recently (including one in the Scarborough area only a few days ago) I was sat cashing up at work last night and just knew that I would stumble across one!

Well I was over the moon, the little gem performed brilliantly for 10 minutes and the moment was shared with the tall Jim Middleton in glorious October sunshine.

What more can you ask for on a day off work?

Another reason to celebrate was that my Radde's was my 250th species in Scarborough (in under 4 years), making the Pallas's my 251st! Happy days.

Generally speaking, even after another couple of hours round Castle migrant totals were generally low. My totals were 6 Redwing, 25 Song Thrush, 20 Blackbird, 40 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler and a Brambling.

From Castle I just sauntered north checking out North Bay and behind the sea life centre, plenty of Robin as well as about 10 Goldcrest were present but generally things seem quiet still.

Below are a selection of the many shots I fired of at the seven striped sprite, magic....