North Yorkshire
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group
5 of us braved the cold north east weather to join Chris, our local expert, for a short break in and around the Scarborough area. Despite the chilly conditions we really enjoyed our stay and experienced some fabulous birding. All in all we as a group managed to find 118 different species and I managed to advance my year list by an impressive 12 species including a "lifer".
- Bird of the trip just had to be the bluethroat that we saw in Hartlepool on Friday. As we arrived we found out that the bird had just flown from the bowling green site where it had been reported earlier - flushed by the noise of the green-keeper's lawnmower. It was some time before we found it again - back at the bowling greens again - and we were finally able to enjoy superb views for an extended period of time.
- News had just reached us of the presence of 2 whiskered terns at nearby Saltholme so we had to leave the bluethroat and head off to see them. They were flying low over the pools by the visitor's centre so we were on to them right away. None of us had ever seen this species before. Apparently we had just missed a roseate tern and several black terns had been seen earlier. We did find the 5 spoonbills however.
- Both of these stops were unscheduled and a huge bonus. Earlier we had made a planned visit to Danby Beacon, the highest point on the North Yorkshire Moors, to see dotterell and red grouse. We managed to find 9 of the reported 10 dotterell without any trouble at all and we were able to observe them from about 50 metres as they went about their business. Almost as a supporting act, there were a couple of red grouse close by. They were to prove the first of many we would see on this trip.
What an incredible first day - no Friday 13th issues here!
- We spent some time looking for the surf scoter from Filey Brigg and only managed to find it on Saturday afternoon just north of the bay by the breakwater. We had concentrated our earlier efforts on the much calmer waters of Filey Bay.
- On our visit to Troutdale, also on Saturday, we managed to find our dipper and a spotted flycatcher. We even managed to throw in a superb view of a goshawk. To cap yet another fine day we "twitched" the red-backed shrike at Ravenscarr before heading off to an Italian restaurant for dinner.
Another superb set of sightings!
- The highlights of our Sunday birding included a ring ouzel sighting in Rosedale and my first whinchat sighting of 2016 on the road from Rosedale to Ebberston. Whereas the latter was fairly easy to locate, the ring ouzel took an awful long time and it was thanks to Lesley that we were able to enjoy good, if somewhat distant, views of the bird high on the ridge in front of us.
Chris had saved our trip to the RSPB Bempton Cliffs reserve till the last morning and boy was it a good decision. In glorious sunshine, we arrived early and virtually had the viewing platforms to ourselves. The place was awash with birds. By the time we left the crowds had arrived and things had got much busier.
- Pride of place went to the puffins which, although in the minority, were showing really well with one pair, in particular, barely 10 metres away near the cliff top. Razorbills, guillemots, kittiakes, fulmars and gannets completed the set.
- As we moved north along the cliff tops in search of corn buntings we had a brief view of an osprey as it flew past us and round the corner into Filey Bay.
- Our final port of call was the Ebberston area where Chris took us to a local hot spot for turtle doves and we waited patiently for one to appear. Eventually Shaun picked up the sound and Chris soon located the bird in a dead tree about 50 metres away. We then spent the next 20 minutes or so enjoying superb views of this lovely migrant bird.
Not long after we joined the train at Seamer and made our way back home to Sussex, satisfied that we had availed ourselves of all the birding opportunities that presented themselves over the period of our stay.
The accommodation at the Southgate Inn in Hunmanby was splendid, as was the deli a few doors away. We dined at a different restaurant each night so the food was excellent with a wide choice of menu.
Chris was a star. As well as being our guide he did all the driving and provided the packed lunches.
Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
dotterell (203)
red grouse (204)
bluethroat (205)
whiskered tern (206)
razorbill (207)
spotted flycatcher (208)
surf scoter (209)
red-backed shrike (210)
whinchat (211)
puffin (212)
turtle dove (213)
Additions to BUBO UK Life List:
whiskered tern (311)
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