December 2013 Bird Sightings Round-up

Mon 13th Jan, 2025

Happy New Year from Yorkshire Coast Nature after an incredible final month of 2013.....

With an intense depression approaching from the north-west early in the month and an associated storm surge wreaking havoc along our coastline, hopes were high of a displaced Arctic wanderer either preceding or following the extreme conditions. As it turned out, writes YCN's Mark James Pearson, we got both, with bells on......

 Bird of the month (and arguably of the year) naturally caused all hell to break loose after its discovery shortly before dusk on 3rd, when Yorkshire's first ever Brünnich's Guillemot was found swimming unassumingly north close inshore along Filey Bay, hanging around just long enough to for one lucky observer to enjoy its almost mythical presence (and to subsequently consider early retirement from birding.....). An Arctic species usually found well north of the border on the few occasions its ever strayed into British waters (and even then, rarely more alive than Python's parrot), Filey's star turn represents a first (live) record for mainland England, following one off the Farne Islands in the 1970's.

The Brünnich's coincided with an unprecedented influx of another Arctic beauty along the UK's coastline, and all eyes were on the look-out for one of many Ivory Gulls stopping off on our particular stretch. Prayers were answered on 15th, when a gorgeous immature set up camp along the Humber at Patrington Haven, tempted to settle into daily routine by the rotting fish buffet provided by its appreciative audience. Last seen on Christmas Day, it was enjoyed by many hundreds during its ten-day stay, but may well have been present in the area for much longer – a Kilnsea fisherman reported a very tame, all white gull with black spots close up on 5th, which also ties in perfectly with the timing of the influx.

Sightings of other white-winged gulls (Ivory notwithstanding) were led by the returning Kumlien's Gull, again in the Barmston area, for much of the month (although often absent); 'regular' Iceland Gulls were clocked at Long Nab on 15th and Filey on 28th. Fairly standard wildfowl included a small spread of both Velvet Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks, with the former well represented by up to eight in the south of Filey Bay and the latter peaking at three off Flamborough; the highlight, however, was the Black Brant in the Spurn area from 17th.

Notable passerines were predictably hard to come by, although a few classic mid-winter species put in notable performances. Snow Buntings were well scattered in generally  low numbers, but for up to 30 in the Spurn area and an impressive 68 at Filey on Christmas Eve. Flamborough weighed in with up to 30 Twite, but Lapland Buntings were thin on the ground, with a peak of six at Long Nab. Waxwings, however, were relatively numerous in the Scarborough area (given the fact the winter has so far been a non-starter nationally), with several flocks of between eight and 20 birds roaming the area. Two Firecrests, also in the Scarborough area, reflected the generally mild temperatures this month.

With a lack of suitable condtions, the sea was relatively quiet, and observers had to make do with fairly regulation fare during the month. Great Northern Divers were present in good numbers throughout, with most watch-points regularly logging ones and twos, as well as two confiding birds in Scarborough Harbour – a popular juvenile for much of the duration, and a sickly adult in summer plumage which sadly didn't last long. Black-throated Divers were also in good form, with several from the main hotspots; tubenoses were confined to odd Manx and Sooty Shearwaters and, intriguingly, a possible Fea's Petrel past Spurn on 30th. Good luck and good birding for 2014!