Will Scott
@bemptonbirder.bsky.social
Migration obsessed birder / ringer / ornithologist based on the East Yorkshire coast
A flyover Common Rosefinch was the highlight of today's arrival at Bempton Cliffs! Sadly it didn't stick around. Also Green Sand in off, 5 Pied Fly, 8+ Whinchat, 2 Spot Fly, etc.
September 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM
A flyover Common Rosefinch was the highlight of today's arrival at Bempton Cliffs! Sadly it didn't stick around. Also Green Sand in off, 5 Pied Fly, 8+ Whinchat, 2 Spot Fly, etc.
Minimum of 12 1w Caspian Gulls on Bridlington South Beach this evening! Possibly more on the water, and I didn't have time to check the gulls to the south towards Fraisthorpe. Also Yellow-legged Gull, hybrid HG x Casp, 100s Common Tern south, 150 Turnstone. ebird.org/checklist/S2...
September 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Minimum of 12 1w Caspian Gulls on Bridlington South Beach this evening! Possibly more on the water, and I didn't have time to check the gulls to the south towards Fraisthorpe. Also Yellow-legged Gull, hybrid HG x Casp, 100s Common Tern south, 150 Turnstone. ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Pristine juv Honey Buzzard over the house this morning. Initially low, then gained height until very high NW. Perhaps climbing to cut out across Filey Bay. Welcome house-tick!
August 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Pristine juv Honey Buzzard over the house this morning. Initially low, then gained height until very high NW. Perhaps climbing to cut out across Filey Bay. Welcome house-tick!
Quality over quantity on this evenings RSPB pelagic off Flamborough. Highlights included juv LT Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, Roseate Tern, 5 Caspian Gull and a Great Crested Grebe.
August 27, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Quality over quantity on this evenings RSPB pelagic off Flamborough. Highlights included juv LT Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, Roseate Tern, 5 Caspian Gull and a Great Crested Grebe.
Two of three freshly arrived Purple Sandpiper south of Bridlington Harbour this evening, feeding amongst Turnstone. Just the one Casp tonight, but fewer gulls present.
August 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Two of three freshly arrived Purple Sandpiper south of Bridlington Harbour this evening, feeding amongst Turnstone. Just the one Casp tonight, but fewer gulls present.
Some quality gull action by Bridlington Spa this evening, with at least 6 Caspian and a Yellow-legged (all juvs / 1w). Lots of terns feeding in the bay and 8 Teal dropped onto the sea. ebird.org/checklist/S2...
August 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Some quality gull action by Bridlington Spa this evening, with at least 6 Caspian and a Yellow-legged (all juvs / 1w). Lots of terns feeding in the bay and 8 Teal dropped onto the sea. ebird.org/checklist/S2...
At least 9 Willow Warbler and a Tree Pipit at Bempton Cliffs this afternoon. A Purple Sandpiper heading NW at sea with a flock of Curlew was only the third I've had on the patch!
August 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
At least 9 Willow Warbler and a Tree Pipit at Bempton Cliffs this afternoon. A Purple Sandpiper heading NW at sea with a flock of Curlew was only the third I've had on the patch!
More hints of early autumn at Bempton Cliffs today. A few migrant Willow Warblers joined the locals, three juv Marsh Harriers moved through and a juv Kestrel in off the sea quickly learned to avoid the Herring Gulls. Lots of juv Swallows and a few Yellow Wags moved through and 4 Minkes were present.
July 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM
More hints of early autumn at Bempton Cliffs today. A few migrant Willow Warblers joined the locals, three juv Marsh Harriers moved through and a juv Kestrel in off the sea quickly learned to avoid the Herring Gulls. Lots of juv Swallows and a few Yellow Wags moved through and 4 Minkes were present.
Lovely trip to Bempton Cliffs from Bridlington. Big increase in Puffins lately, including lots of immature non-breeding birds. Large feeding frenzies of Kitts and auks on the south side of the headland contained a 2cy Med Gull, whilst several Red Admirals headed for land low across the waves!
June 15, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Lovely trip to Bempton Cliffs from Bridlington. Big increase in Puffins lately, including lots of immature non-breeding birds. Large feeding frenzies of Kitts and auks on the south side of the headland contained a 2cy Med Gull, whilst several Red Admirals headed for land low across the waves!
Great views of the Filey Eastern Subalpine Warbler rounded off a lovely Easter weekend's birding locally. Highlights included a surprise Cory's Shearwater past Bempton, the Ashy-headed Wagtail and Blue-headed Wagtail at Flamborough, the Bonaparte's Gull at Hornsea and a selection of common migrants!
April 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Great views of the Filey Eastern Subalpine Warbler rounded off a lovely Easter weekend's birding locally. Highlights included a surprise Cory's Shearwater past Bempton, the Ashy-headed Wagtail and Blue-headed Wagtail at Flamborough, the Bonaparte's Gull at Hornsea and a selection of common migrants!
A nice mix of migrants at Bempton Cliffs this afternoon, with totals including 14 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 24 Robin (including some very grey birds) and 2 Yellow Wagtail. A new Moorhen also joined the resident pair. @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
April 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
A nice mix of migrants at Bempton Cliffs this afternoon, with totals including 14 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 24 Robin (including some very grey birds) and 2 Yellow Wagtail. A new Moorhen also joined the resident pair. @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
My first Wheatear of the year graced the ploughed fields by Wandale Farm at Bempton this morning. Thrushes had also arrived, with 34 Blackbirds, 4 Redwing and 4 Fieldfare. Seabirds continue to return en masse, and a bloodied Gannet was a reminder of how brutal territorial disputes can be!
March 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
My first Wheatear of the year graced the ploughed fields by Wandale Farm at Bempton this morning. Thrushes had also arrived, with 34 Blackbirds, 4 Redwing and 4 Fieldfare. Seabirds continue to return en masse, and a bloodied Gannet was a reminder of how brutal territorial disputes can be!
The first (5) Puffins of the year were in amongst masses of auks at Bempton Cliffs this morning. Also 2 Woodcock, 12 Golden Plover, the first moving Meadow Pipits and Skylark, 16 Redwing in off and an apparent nominate 'northern' Guillemot on the sea (right hand bird in picture).
February 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The first (5) Puffins of the year were in amongst masses of auks at Bempton Cliffs this morning. Also 2 Woodcock, 12 Golden Plover, the first moving Meadow Pipits and Skylark, 16 Redwing in off and an apparent nominate 'northern' Guillemot on the sea (right hand bird in picture).
Lovely morning in North Lincs today. Starting with great views of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Winteringham, followed by a Bittern at Far Ings!
February 22, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Lovely morning in North Lincs today. Starting with great views of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Winteringham, followed by a Bittern at Far Ings!
A lovely morning at Bempton Cliffs today was headlined by 154 Corn Bunting, by far my highest count here! An amazing sight / sound, especially when a Merlin forced them into nearby bushes. Also an increase in thrushes and 3 Woodcock. #patchbirding @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
February 16, 2025 at 12:33 PM
A lovely morning at Bempton Cliffs today was headlined by 154 Corn Bunting, by far my highest count here! An amazing sight / sound, especially when a Merlin forced them into nearby bushes. Also an increase in thrushes and 3 Woodcock. #patchbirding @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
Lovely to start our last full day on Islay with the Red-breasted Goose at Loch Gruinart. It was last reported in December so we didn't have high hopes! Well picked out by @grahamscott14.bsky.social!
February 7, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Lovely to start our last full day on Islay with the Red-breasted Goose at Loch Gruinart. It was last reported in December so we didn't have high hopes! Well picked out by @grahamscott14.bsky.social!
Lots of thrushes on Islay at the moment, especially Fieldfares including a few triple-figure flocks. Maybe involving birds displaced by harsh weather in Jan. A flock of 17 Song Thrushes this evening included a notably darker brown bird with darker black spots (pictured). Perhaps T. p. hebridiensis?
February 5, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Lots of thrushes on Islay at the moment, especially Fieldfares including a few triple-figure flocks. Maybe involving birds displaced by harsh weather in Jan. A flock of 17 Song Thrushes this evening included a notably darker brown bird with darker black spots (pictured). Perhaps T. p. hebridiensis?
Lots of White-tailed Eagle action around Islay over the last few days, including some crazy views of birds sat in roadside fields in the rain!
February 5, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Lots of White-tailed Eagle action around Islay over the last few days, including some crazy views of birds sat in roadside fields in the rain!
It's been a quiet winter for Short-eared Owls at Bempton Cliffs, so it was lovely to watch two hunt the grassland this evening. A singing Song Thrush hinted that spring is just round the corner!
January 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It's been a quiet winter for Short-eared Owls at Bempton Cliffs, so it was lovely to watch two hunt the grassland this evening. A singing Song Thrush hinted that spring is just round the corner!
A Merlin was the highlight of a bitterly cold morning at Bempton Cliffs. It managed to single out a Goldfinch and chase it several hundred metres out to sea, the Goldfinch then managed to get back and drop into a clifftop bush!
January 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A Merlin was the highlight of a bitterly cold morning at Bempton Cliffs. It managed to single out a Goldfinch and chase it several hundred metres out to sea, the Goldfinch then managed to get back and drop into a clifftop bush!
A smart Hawfinch was the highlight of a gloomy morning around Troutsdale. Picked up with a thermal camera whilst scanning the forest floor for roosting Woodcock!
January 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM
A smart Hawfinch was the highlight of a gloomy morning around Troutsdale. Picked up with a thermal camera whilst scanning the forest floor for roosting Woodcock!
2024 was another cracking year on the patch at Bempton Cliffs. Some highlights include Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Issy Shrike, Sibe Stonechat, Nightjar, Icterine, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler etc. Not to mention a heap common stuff and decent falls enjoyed amongst good company!
January 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
2024 was another cracking year on the patch at Bempton Cliffs. Some highlights include Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Issy Shrike, Sibe Stonechat, Nightjar, Icterine, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler etc. Not to mention a heap common stuff and decent falls enjoyed amongst good company!
Nice views of a couple of Woodcock were the highlight of a foggy walk around Bempton Cliffs this morning. Also Water Rail and 9 Song Thrush.
December 27, 2024 at 2:23 PM
Nice views of a couple of Woodcock were the highlight of a foggy walk around Bempton Cliffs this morning. Also Water Rail and 9 Song Thrush.
Lovely couple of hours around a brutal Filey Brigg earlier today. Highlights included 17 Little Auk, 9 GN Diver (6 in the bay, 3 north offshore), Goldeneye, and 5 Eider. Tough conditions for the local waders and Rock Pipits! ebird.org/checklist/S2...
December 8, 2024 at 5:53 PM
Lovely couple of hours around a brutal Filey Brigg earlier today. Highlights included 17 Little Auk, 9 GN Diver (6 in the bay, 3 north offshore), Goldeneye, and 5 Eider. Tough conditions for the local waders and Rock Pipits! ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Lovely to stumble across this resting Little Auk by Scarborough Harbour earlier today with @grahamscott14.bsky.social. It spent a while sheltering from the northernly winds at mouth of the Harbour, before flying strongly north into a heavy squall. A Great Northern Diver also fed nearby.
December 7, 2024 at 3:36 PM
Lovely to stumble across this resting Little Auk by Scarborough Harbour earlier today with @grahamscott14.bsky.social. It spent a while sheltering from the northernly winds at mouth of the Harbour, before flying strongly north into a heavy squall. A Great Northern Diver also fed nearby.