Scarborough

Red Breasted Merganser

The weather today could be summed up as grey, greyer and even greyer with a bitterly cold blow, chilling the bones through multiple layers! Heather was not feeling 100% so we decided to head out to Scarborough and investigate several sites in order to (hopefully) increase the year list. Starting at the harbour, we were soon onto the impressive Red Breasted Merganser, my first drake for many years. The tide was low and little else was seen (but the Black Necked Grebe was reported later in the day).

Red Breasted Merganser

A quick look around the derelict Alfred Café on North Marine Drive failed to produce the Black Redstart(s) but a single Rock Pipit flitted amongst the rocks. Next stop was Holbeck to get Heather onto the Mediterranean Gulls with several birds obliging us. The ringed bird 3LAN was also present.

Mediterranean Gull

1st Winter Mediterranean Gull

Black Headed Gull

This was followed by pastures new and a drive around The Mere, which we had no idea we could! The usual wildfowl suspects were present. Finally, a look around the retail units on Seamer Road in the hope of Waxwings but again we dipped! We did, however, find two Mistle Thrushes.