2005 - Whitby Naturalists

T}IE ORNITHOI-OGICAL RECORDER'S REPORT
Dtrring November and December 2004, iikc other years, there were
many birds passing over and flocking in fields and on the shoreline
between Saltwick ancl Sandsend. Lapwings, Goidcn Plovers, Oystcrcatchers
and other waders were no exception, recordings of as rnany as
three to four hundred were often sighted.
Passing into 2005, on thc 7,r,February, fivc hundred Oystercatchers
were seer] at Saltwick.
All wintcr a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were seen and heard at Sleights;
both thcsc species ncrrnaliy migrate to the South-1West of England for
the rvinter. Alsc unusual Blackheatled Gulls were seen in almost
summer plumagc in eariy February.
@ Many specics were seen on many dates in many places in \Uhitby,
Sleigirts, and Esk valley alreas, which inciuded Blackbirds; Blue tits;
Coal tits; Great tits; Greenfinches; Goldcrcsts; Grouse; Partridgc;
Pheasants; House mzrrtins; Sand martins; Swailows; Thrushes; Kestrel;
Sparrowhawk; Swifts; House sparro\.vs; connorants; lnany spccies of
gulls and waders. I{erons wete often seen on thc wcir ail summcr at
Ruswarp.
o Jftr' h'{arch, eleven Flooper Swans fiyuttg south (the wrong
dire ction for the tin're of vear). A Short-eared Owl on the moors.
* lJr,t March, A Short-cared Ow[ at Lealholm; Lapwings nesting
off the Pickering -'l7hitby
Road; also a Curlew sightcd.
r Jrh lr{ay, Yellowhammers at Goathland.
o l/rr. fuIay, first Swift seen at Sleights; Redpoil on the old railway
track, !ilhitby; a Cuckoo heard at Ewecote; \ilillow'Warbler at
Ugthorpe.
r |Jth May, Brambling in full plumage in Highficld Road;
Goosander in the river at Perry's Garden Centre.
c l$tr. May, Bullfinches at Upper Eskdale; Goshawk at Upper
Eskdalc also at \festerdale.
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