Loafing around in the Scarborough Area! - 19th April 2018

Black Throated Diver - Wykeham South Lake

On Thursdays, Heather has a card stall within the indoor Scarborough market and this gives me the opportunity of exploring some of Scarborough's birding spots! Today was an exceptional spring day with blue sky and wall to wall sunshine. Indeed, by the afternoon it was becoming too warm for me! So, with Symphony ginger beast in tow, it was time to start loafing around in the hope of finding something special, and I was not to be disappointed! The day started at Wykeham south lake, where after a while, the Black Throated Diver swam into view. This was rather special as it was a first for me in Yorkshire and my first since 2015! Unfortunately, the bird remained too distant for my 400mm lens.

The antics of a group of four male Gadwall entertained as I'm sure they attempted "one-upmanship" on each other, in the absence of obvious females!

They say that one Swallow doesn't make a summer but I live in hope that this glorious weather lasts a little longer!

Moving on to Seamer tip pool with Willow Warbler (year tick) and Chiffchaff in full song and then on to Burton Riggs. Here, slightly more migrants in the form of Blackcap (m&f), Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler. As I walked the path, I inadvertently flushed a Common Sandpiper (year tick) which I couldn't relocate and on the water, another year tick of Dabchick. Then it was into Scarborough and Marine Drive for the Peregrines which didn't seem to like showing well at all but  luckily managed to get onto the male! Next stop was Scalby Mills with low tide.

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Kittiwakes

Great Black Backed Gull

Moving on, it was pastures new - Scalby Lodge Pools. Very quiet but I did get another year tick of two Sand Martins. When I arrived at the hide/viewing point, I was unsure as to its purpose! Very little could be seen warranting the screens with the only wet areas no bigger than puddles! A larger pond near the buildings did hold two Sleduck.

A look at Johnsons Marsh continued the quiet theme in this area with Grey Heron, Mallard and a few Teal.

With temperatures soaring, it was back to Marine Drive, Scarborough, parking up near the skate park. Earlier this morning, Arctic Terns had been reported. After a while, I managed to locate four which made a Yorkshire tick and my first since 2015!

Overall, a good if quiet day.