A sunny morning with just a light SW wind encouraged me to have a look at Long Nab this morning, hoping for some early signs of spring. Sure enough there were a few Skylarks heading north, whilst Goldfinch and a party of Linnets headed south. Of greater interest was a group of three Bean Geese heading north, whilst out at sea a Whooper Swan flew south.

Before heading home I elected to have a look in Scarborough harbour where the female Goldeneye was still present and the ridiculously confiding Knot was still with the Turnstones. So out with the camera...

A late start for me this morning. I began at Long Nab, but despite the seawatching hut being full there was very little going on, with a trickle of Gannets and a Common Scoter about the only birds on the move. 120 Tree Sparrows were in the game crop. I then headed down to Jackson's Bay where a nice selection of waders included 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper and a few Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Before returning home I decided on a look into Wykeham Lakes. A good move! In the fields to the south of the lake the White-fronted Goose flock numbered 57 and at least 13 Tundra Bean Geese were new.  On the lake itself Goosander, Goldeneye plus small numbers of Pochard, Tufted Duck and Wigeon completed an enjoyable morning.

I spent yesterday morning at Long Nab. A seawatch was pretty slow going, with apart from the Gannets streaming south, just a flock of 9 Goldeneye, 2 Pale-bellied Brents, a Shelduck and single Grey Plover and Golden Plover moving offshore. After two hours a walk was in order and heading off along the cliffs it was not long before I located a Red-necked Grebe not too far offshore. A nice find, as this species is pretty scarce hereabaouts and a poor record shot is below.

Continuing along to my ringing site at Hundale the cold weather had produced a decent influx of Woodcock with 9 present, plus a couple of Goldcrests and Redwings. The game crop at Long Nab has been attracting a decent number of Tree Sparrows for a while, but 75 was noteworthy. However, 53 Reed Buntings in the same area smashed the site record. Great evidence of the benefits these species gain from the HLS scheme.

The first significant snowfall of the winter and a lovely walk in the Forge Valley.

A gloriously sunny day and a fine walk from Scalby Mills to the harbour and back. On arrival at the harbour Steve Race confirmed that the Little Gull was still in residence and showing very well. It was wonderful to spend some time enjoying some of my best ever views of this most attractive of gulls.

Later a visit to Potter Brompton Carr resulting in finding a flock of at least 30 Corn Buntings and 40 Yellowhammers. A pleasing find as the former has been increasingly difficult to locate recently.

Yesterday, I visited a number of local sites. The obliging Short-eared Owl pictured below (shame about the twig in the foreground...) was roosting in the lower part of a hawthorn hedge, first time I have observed such behaviour by this species, although it is fairly well documented in the literature. A ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting over some nearby rough ground.

Later in the day I visited Potter Brompton Carr, where a recently flooded field had attracted over 300 Teal. A few Wigeon, 18 Dunlin, 13 Snipe and 150 Lapwing were also present, whilst an adult male Peregrine clearly thought that Teal would make a nice lunch! Excellent to see such a good concentration of birds in an area that has been very dry this winter.