Scarborough Harbour

After a frustrating fog filled and mostly birdless morning spent in the Langdale Forest Micky and I returned to town and headed for Scarborough Harbour. The Great Northern Diver that has been around for a while now was performing nicely, so I took the opportunity to spent a bit of time with it. 23 Purple Sandpipers were roosting over the high tide period, whilst a flock of 68 Pink-footed Geese headed across the bay. A Guillemot was close inshore of the harbour wall along with a smart drake Eider. All in all a very pleasant hour or so.

After the storm...

With the media full of stories about coastal flooding at various locations along the east coast it seemed likely that the blast of polar air and resultant high seas ought to produce some interest at sea. So, Micky and I headed for the Long Nab hut optimistic about the prospects of some movement with perhaps a displacement of Little Auks or something even more exciting amongst our hopes. In the event it was once again rather disappointing with a three hour watch producing little of note. Singles of Velvet Scoter, Goldeneye and Snipe, two Eider, three Common Scoter, a few Red-throated Divers and small numbers of large auks were all we could muster. A Pink-footed Goose headed north at sea, with it or another in the stubble north of the hut. The stubble also hosted 3 Lapland Buntings and 41 Skylarks. A check of Scalby Mills was also without any significant highlights, although it was marvellous just to watch the waves rolling into North Bay.

North Bay viewed from Scalby Mills

Waves rolling in at Scalby Mills

Black-headed Gulls at Scalby Mills