The Siberian airflow has brought bone-shaking storm force easterly winds, heavy snow and plummeting temperatures over the last few days, which has encouraged some cold weather movements into the area. Most notably, Fieldfares have arrived and moved through in good numbers, with several hundred per day and many birds in gardens, along roadsides, in
The late winter doldrums continue, with few records of note. The pick of a very quiet sea was a Blue Fulmar north on 22nd, plus a Goldeneye north on 21st and a male Velvet Scoter in the bay since 17th. Otherwise, the Dams is hosting up to three Shovelers, a Shelduck, a male Pochard, up
Typically quiet over recent days. The sea has been extremely poor so far this year, although a belatedly-reported Bottlenose Dolphin north on 13th was notable. A single Pink-footed Goose remains with the ferals at the Dams / East Lea, where up to 85 Wigeon, two Mute Swan and 30 Teal are also present. The pair
It remains quiet locally, with most records of note involving long-stayers. On 1st, 61 Pink-feet and a Chiffchaff at East Lea. On 4th, 65 Pink-feet at the Dams and two Blue Fulmars north off the Brigg. On 5th, a Snow Bunting in the Rocket Pole Field, two Shelduck and the hybrid Shelduck at the Dams,
A fairly quiet end the the month, with winter geese once again providing the highlights. White-fronted Geese have again graced the area, with five around the Dams on 27th, while odd Pink-feet there were joined by a flock of 61 on 31st. Otherwise, the Dams continues to host three Shoveler, three Gadwall, up to 60
A fairly quiet period in the area, although highlights have included: presumably the same flock of Russian White-fronted Geese in the East Lea area (still 19 on 17th, up to 26 on 22nd, 22 on 23rd), with 14 south on 19th; a flock of 25 redpolls, including two Mealies, at Hunmanby Gap (to 18th at
11th – A blue Fulmar north; at least two Great Northern Divers present by the Brigg throughout the period. 12th – 20 Snipe at the Dams. 14th – a single White-fronted Goose with Canadas near the sports club; a single Waxwing west over the town. 15th – 19 White-fronted Geese and three Pink-feet at the Dams. 16th – 19 White-fronted Geese and three Pink-feet at the Dams; also a Scandinavian Herring
6th – a male Velvet Scoter went south and then north, a Manx Shearwater and a Blue Fulmar (among 650 Fulmars) did likewise, and the three Great Northern Divers remained in the Bay Corner. 7th – 30 Snow Buntings west along Carr Naze / North Cliff; three Mute Swans still at the Dams; a Woodcock in Parish Wood;
5th – At Gristhorpe Bay, eight Snow Buntings, 92 Skylarks, three Stonechats, 158 Curlews on the reef. Also 42 Red-throated Divers, which in addition to a count of 178 from Filey Bay, equals 210 in total. A total of 470 Pink-feet north this morning over the area in five flocks, and a single still with
A Very Happy New Year from everyone here at FBOG – it’s been a great 2017 and here’s to an even better 2018! Latest sightings highlights for recent weeks have been fully updated (see below), and will be updated regularly in 2018 – every day during busy periods, every few days in migration periods, and