DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE In October, 4 east on 19th and 24 flew over on 20th during strong easterly winds.
CANADA GOOSE In the early months numbers peaked at 209 on 23rd January, whilst the summering flock reached 202 on 29th June. The year’s highest count was 220 on 5th October. Numbers were generally low towards the year end.
BARNACLE GOOSE In January a single on 2nd and up to 46 between 13th and 30th. On 6th February 30 arrived, 11 with neck collars and 4 yellow ringed birds originating from Scorton North Yorkshire. 13 remaining on 10th and 11th. 42 returned on 30th August, including ringed birds from Flamingo Land and stayed until 14th October. Presumably the same birds returned on 1st December after a period of time at Swinemoor. 68 were present on 3rd, thereafter 40 recorded up to the 5th.
GREYLAG GOOSE As with the other feral Geese, numbers were fewer than in previous years, the peak count being 450 on 24th January. 233 were seen on 8th July, with counts of 360 on 17th October and 400 on 3rd December.
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE In the early months 320 were seen on 6th February. Returning birds were first seen on 21st September with the year’s peak of 7700 recorded on 25th October.
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE In January a 1w on 5th and an adult on 25th and 27th. A 1w on 5th February.
MUTE SWAN 72 was the peak count during the early months on 6th January. Numbers swelled during the summer with 380 on 1st July. Numbers dropped towards the year end and struggled to reach low double figures.
BEWICK’S SWAN 2 on 3rd December (JCL).
WHOOPER SWAN Recorded on just 35 days. 8 sightings in the first 4 months with the highest count being 68 north on 18th March. The best count of a below par autumn by recent standards was 43 on 3rd November.
EGYPTIAN GOOSE A single bird on 7th and 12th July. 2 on 3rd October and 1 on 17th November.
SHELDUCK Recorded on 62 days and in 10 months. Counts of 5 on 5th February and 17th August were the highest made.
MANDARIN Seen on 29 dates, as usual mainly in spring and the summer months. Number of days recorded by month were 1 day in January, 1 April, 2 May, 6 June, 14 days in July, 3 August, 1 in October and 1 day in November. 5 on 5th July was the highest count.
GARGANEY 2 on 4th and 26th April. In May 1 on the 1st and 2 on the 9th. Singles on 16th July, 12th August and 11th September.
SHOVELER Recorded on 231 days and in every month. 31 on 30th March was the highest total in the early months. 40 on 3rd September was the year’s peak.
GADWALL 184 on 2nd January with numbers gradually dropping thereafter. Autumn and early winter counts were low with 50 on 2nd December during a brief cold spell.
WIGEON The highest counts were made in the early months with 343 on 19th January. The highest during the latter months was 150 on 8th October.
MALLARD 670 on 22nd January during a cold period was easily the highest count. 255 on 30th June was the highest summer total recorded. During the latter months the only notable count was of 340 on 2nd December.
PINTAIL Seen on 21 days with 16 on 10th October the most recorded.
TEAL 255 on 22nd January was the peak count during the early months. 700 on 19th August was comfortably the highest of the year.
POCHARD 73 on 4th March was the year’s maximum count. The highest in the latter months was 35 on 14th December.
RING-NECKED DUCK An adult drake on 8th October (JCL, MRad, MI).
TTUFTED DUCK The highest count of the year came on 20th January with 460. No breeding confirmed this year and mid summer counts often in the low teens with the occasional small arrival swelling numbers. 380 on 16th December was the highest count towards the year end.
SCAUP 15+ birds during the year and recorded on 173 days. A wintering female was joined by another between 7th February to 5th March. 1 from 13th March to 16th April with 3 on 15th April. 3 from 25th-28th July with 1 remaining to 4th August. A single on 22nd September. In October 1 on 4th, then increasing to 6 by the 26th, with all 6 remaining to 5th November. Thereafter gradually reducing to 3 until the year end.
VELVET SCOTER 3 arrived on 30th November, with 1 remaining between 22-25th December.
COMMON SCOTER 26 seen on 37 days. All singles other than 5 on 11th April, 4 on 27th July, 7 on 20th October with 2-3 remaining between 21st-24th October.
LONG-TAILED DUCK The overwintering 1w female remained to 10th February. A 1w drake was
present for one day on 18th February. In October 1 from 15th, then joined by a second bird on 26th until they both departed on the 31st.
GOLDENEYE The year’s highest count was 447 on 4th March.
SMEW A drake visited the Mere on the 2nd and 19th February, 13th and 20th March. A redhead occurred from 26th March to 8th April. A drake was present on 9th December and a redhead on 17th.
GOOSANDER 36 sightings with 5 on 6th November.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Singles on 21st October and 5th November.
GREY PARTRIDGE 2 on 9th July and 1 on 30th August.
PHEASANT Resident.
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE 2 on 14th May, singles 5th and 8th June.
ALPINE SWIFT 1 over the south side on 1st April. First Mere record for 24 years. (MRob, JCL, BMJ, AJ, MI et al)
SWIFT First sighting of 2 on 23rd April. Maximum counts of c700 on 11th and 17th July. Last sighting of 2 on 3rd September.
CUCKOO First sighting 1st May. 1-2 recorded on 4 days in May, 13 days in June and 4 days in July.
FERAL PIGEON Resident.
STOCK DOVE 29 on 8th January.
WOOD PIGEON c1030 south on 7th November.
COLLARED DOVE 7 on 9th February.
WATER RAIL Resident.
MOORHEN Resident.
COOT Highest count of 231 was on 2nd February. Autumn counts were very low and dropped to just 8 on 14th October with 21 days in the month with 13 or fewer birds. Numbers rose slowly to the year end with 132 on 30th December.
CRANE 1 flew from Croftings pond near Wassand on 12th August (NL).
LITTLE GREBE Recorded on 63 days. 4 on 23rd August.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Seen on 217 days but not recorded during January and only twice in February and 7 days in March. The maximum count was 6 on 3rd September.
SLAVONIAN GREBE 1 on 3rd November.
BLACK-NECKED GREBE First recorded on 8th August with 15 dates to 1st September. Several birds possibly involved with 2 between 28th-30th August. 2 again on 20th September, then 1 23rd, 24th and 29th of the month. In October 1 on 7th and again on 10th and 11th.
OYSTERCATCHER First of the year on 6th February. 7 on 4th June and 21st July. Last seen 1st September.
AVOCET In April 2 on 14th and 1 on 27th. Singles on 11th May and 7th July. 6 on 4th August.
LAPWING 235 on 1st January, 128 on 22nd September.
GOLDEN PLOVER The highest count was 80 on 14th January.
GREY PLOVER Singles recorded on 12 days: 6th and 20th May and 6th June. In September 3rd, 8th and 28th. October records on 3rd, 7th and 21st. In December 17th, 18th and 19th.
RINGED PLOVER Recorded on 34 days between 14th April-18th October. 4 on 5th August.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Recorded on 4 days between 4th May-10th June.
WHIMBREL Recorded on 31 days between 14th April-1st September. 8 on 3rd May.
CURLEW Recorded on 74 days. 40 south on 6th July, 21 south the following day.
BAR-TAILED GODWIT Singles on 21st and 23rd April, 5th and 21st August. 3 on 1st September.
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Recorded on 17 days between 27th April-23rd September. 57 on 28th June, 27 on 30th June.
TURNSTONE 1 on 19th January. In August 3 on 20th and 1 on 23rd.
KNOT In August 2 on 15th and 2 on 19th. 1 on 15th September. In October 2 on 20th and 1 on 30th.
RUFF Seen on 9 days. The first sighting was 10 on 4th May, the last record of 4 birds on 15th September. 22 on 3rd September.
DUNLIN Recorded on 67 days. 9 on 7th September.
WOODCOCK Seen on 25 dates. 8 on 18th February.
JACK SNIPE 1 on 20th October.
SNIPE Maximum count of 10 on 8th March.
COMMON SANDPIPER Seen on 97 days between 8th April-26th September. 9 on 17th July.
GREEN SANDPIPER Singles recorded on 7 days between 23rd April-27th August.
REDSHANK Recorded on 95 days. 75 south on 19th July.
WOOD SANDPIPER Singles 5th and 11th May, 3rd July, 19th and 23rd August.
GREENSHANK Recorded on 17 days. First 6th May, last recorded on 10th September. 3 on 21st July.
KITTIWAKE 3 on 24th July, singles on 4th and 18th August. 2 on 20th October.
BLACK-HEADED GULL 680 on 18th February was the maximum count recorded.
LITTLE GULL Recorded on 159 days and in all months except February and December. 470 on 22nd July, 1160 on 19th August, 291 on 20th October.
MEDITERRANEAN GULL A below par year. Whilst seen on 36 days, many sightings in the early part of the year appeared to the same individual. All sightings were singles apart from 2 on 24th September, 7th and 11th October.
COMMON GULL Largest count recorded was 610 on 18th February.
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL 104 on 3rd December was the highest recorded count.
ICELAND GULL A 2cy seen on 21 days from 28th January to 2nd March (finder not known).
HERRING GULL The highest count recorded was 420 on 8th September.
CASPIAN GULL Seen on 19 days. First on 29th July. Seen on 7 days in August with 2 on 26th and 28th. In September recorded on 8 days with 4 on 1st, 3 on 8th and 2 on 11th and 21st. Singles on 9th October and 16th December.
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Recorded on 8 days between 31st July to 18th October with 2 on 9th and 27th August and 2 on 8th September.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Recorded in every month. 15+ 1st August.
SANDWICH TERN Singles on 3rd August, 7th and 26th September.
LITTLE TERN There have been several sightings in recent years, all occurring in June. The trend was repeated this year with 2 on 13th and 1 on 22nd June.
COMMON TERN First sighting on 18th April. Maximum count of 32 on 9th August.
ARCTIC TERN Recorded on 5 days in April with 7 on 18th and a single flock of c55 on 24th. 3 on 4th May and 1 on 11th June. 1-2 seen on 5 days in August. A juvenile on 20th October.
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN An adult on 24th June (GL, TM, JCL, DRM, DGH, et al)
BLACK TERN The only “spring” record was 1 on 1st June. 5 on 18th and 19th August. 1 on 27th September.
PUFFIN 1 on 1st April was the first Mere record (JCL).
RED-THROATED DIVER In November 1 between 11th and 19th, another 27th and 28th.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Singles on 4th November and 22nd December.
FULMAR Singles on 23rd May and 11th June. This is the peak period for Fulmars visiting the Mere and the 7th consecutive year that at least 1 has been recorded in both May and June.
CORMORANT Present throughout the year, 334 was the maximum recorded roost count on 18th February.
SHAG 1 on 24th and 25th October.
SPOONBILL In May 1 on the 6th and 7th. Singles on 3rd June and 20th July.
BITTERN 18 sightings during the year. All singles except for 2 on 11th September.
CATTLE EGRET Recorded on 30 days. 1 on 7th August, 7 between 14th to 16th September, then singles to the 24th with 2 seen on 25th. 1-2 seen between 8th October and 10th November (JCL, DRM, MRad et al).
GREY HERON Small numbers present throughout the year. 10 on 15th August.
PURPLE HERON An adult seen briefly at 1st field flew towards Heslops and was seen again a few minutes later when it flew south (MRad, JCL).
GREAT WHITE EGRET Recorded on 35 days. Singles except for 2 on 27th April, 3 on 25th May, 2 on 31st August. In October 2 on 19th, 3 on 28th and 2 on 30th. 2 on 4th November.
LITTLE EGRET A below par year with sightings on 96 days. Highest count of 10 on 12th August.
OSPREY Singles on 2nd and 26th April, 30th May, 1st and 19th June, 14th and 28th September.
SPARROWHAWK Resident, up to 4 occasionally seen.
MARSH HARRIER Recorded in every month.
HEN HARRIER Ringtails on 11th January (MI) and 24th March (LI). An adult male on 10th May (JCL). Ringtail on 30th October (JCL).
RED KITE Seen on 12 days. 3 on 23rd May.
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE An adult flew south over Wassand on 25th September (SH).
BUZZARD 2-3 pairs resident. Counts indicating passage birds were 15+ on 19th March, 12 on 11th September.
BARN OWL Recorded on only 13 days.
SHORT-EARED OWL 1 on 3rd August.
TAWNY OWL Resident.
KINGFISHER Fewer sightings than in recent years.
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Resident, 5 on 9th February and 18th July.
GREEN WOODPECKER Only recorded on 12 days including 5 days in July and 4 in August.
KESTREL Resident with up to 4 seen.
HOBBY First sighting 23rd April. 12 on 20th May. Last sighting 28th September.
PEREGRINE Singles recorded on only 10 days. January (once), February (twice), September (twice), October (once), November (twice), and December (twice).
JAY Resident. Up to 4 seen.
MAGPIE Maximum count of 12 on 2nd January.
JACKDAW Resident .160 on 15th February.
ROOK Resident. 159 on 8th February.
CARRION CROW Resident.
RAVEN First Mere record of 4 on 15th August (DRM, JCL, MI, JC), 4 again on 22nd September (DRM, TMc) and 2 on 29th October (DRM).
COAL TIT Resident.
BLUE TIT Resident.
GREAT TIT Resident.
BEARDED TIT Recorded throughout the year in small numbers. 12 on 16th October.
SKYLARK 29 on 20th February. 70 on 19th October.
SAND MARTIN First sighting on 17th March. c550 on 26th April, c800 on 16th July. 3 on 28th September was the final sighting.
SWALLOW First of the year on 30th March. 300+ on 13th May. 12 on 11th October were the last seen.
HOUSE MARTIN First sighting on 8th April. c50 on 13th May. 2 on 2nd October was the final sighting.
CETTI’S WARBLER Resident.
LONG-TAILED TIT 33 on 19th June.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER 1 on 2nd October.
WILLOW WARBLER First sighting on 7th April. 14 on 23rd August. Final sighting on 22nd September.
CHIFFCHAFF 2 sightings in January. Regularly recorded from 18th March. 23 singing birds on 9th April.
SEDGE WARBLER First sighting on 7th April. Last reported on 1st September.
REED WARBLER First on 25th April. Last reported sighting on 18th September.
MARSH WARBLER A male sang intermittently for c40 minutes on 20th June (JCL, DRM).
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Singles 27th April and 25th July.
BLACKCAP 1 regularly seen in January. First of the spring was on 5th April. Last seen on 30th October.
GARDEN WARBLER At least 1 pair on breeding territory.
LESSER WHITETHROAT First on 20th April. Last seen on 8th September.
WHITETHROAT First on 16th April. Last reported on 6th September.
GOLDCREST Resident.
WREN Resident.
NUTHATCH Singles 5th May and 8th September.
TREECREEPER Resident.
STARLING 4000 on 17th January. 10,000 on 21st October.
SONG THRUSH Resident.
MISTLE THRUSH Resident.
REDWING 90 on 24th March. 1140 south on 8th October.
BLACKBIRD Resident.
FIELDFARE c80 on 15th March. 80+ on 3rd November. 85 on 27th December.
RING OUZEL 1 on 16th April. 1 on 26th October.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER A pair on territory.
ROBIN Resident.
REDSTART 1 on 28th August.
WHINCHAT 1-2 on 7 days in August and 3 days in September.
STONECHAT 2 on 17th March and 1 on 10th April. A juvenile on 3rd July. Regularly seen during the final 4 months of the year with 4 on 25th September and 7th October.
WHEATEAR Recorded on 5 days in the spring. First on 22nd March and 3 on 28th April. Seen on 2 days in the autumn.
TREE SPARROW Becoming scarce around the Mere with only occasional sightings. 14 flew south on 28th August.
HOUSE SPARROW Resident.
DUNNOCK Resident.
YELLOW WAGTAIL First on 26th April. 6 on 22nd August.
GREY WAGTAIL 1-2 regularly recorded outside of the breeding period.
PIED WAGTAIL c100 roosted on 18th December.
WHITE WAGTAIL 1 on 23rd March.
MEADOW PIPIT c40 on 22nd March. 1255 south on 21st September.
TREE PIPIT 1 south 15th August.
ROCK PIPIT Singles on 12th and 22nd March. 2+ on 9th October.
CHAFFINCH 70 on 17th January.
BRAMBLING Singles on 17th January, 8th and 16th April. Recorded on 12 days in October with 9 on 27th and 6 days in November. Seen twice in December.
HAWFINCH 1 flew west 17th October.
BULLFINCH 9 on 6th December.
GREENFINCH Resident.
LINNET Up to 172 during January.
LESSER REDPOLL Small numbers recorded in the early months and autumn. 41 south on 27th September.
CROSSBILL 2 south on 23rd August. 2 on 22nd October. In November south bound passage of 12 on 7th, 15 on 9th, 8 on 16th and 15 on 22nd.
GOLDFINCH 28 on 13th and 18th August.
SISKIN c70 26th January.
CORN BUNTING 1 south on 11th August.
YELLOWHAMMER 21 on 5th March.
REED BUNTING Resident.
HORNSEA SEAWATCHING AND SURROUNDING AREA SIGHTINGS
PALE-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE 2 south on 13th September.
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 5 in a Rolston cliff top field on 27th January.
BEAN GOOSE Sp. 4 near Little Hatfield on 26th December (MI).
GARGANEY Juvenile on the sea 2nd September.
TEAL In September 616 on 2nd, 614 on 16th.
SCAUP 2 south on 13th November.
VELVET SCOTER In November 1 on 1st, 2 on 18th and 3 on 27th.
COMMON SCOTER 504 past on 6th August,
GREY PARTRIDGE 12 at North Cliff on 10th September.
PALLID SWIFT 1 on 29th October, mobile between the Hub and North Cliff boat yard (JCooper, JCL, DRM, DGH, AJ, MRob, GT).
CRANE 1 near West Carlton from 17th to 25th April (AJ et al).
GOLDEN PLOVER c400 on 8th October at North Cliff.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER An adult at North Cliff on 9th September and again on 11th. First record for the Hornsea area (DRM, JCL, DGH).
RINGED PLOVER 55 south on 14th August.
WHIMBREL 12 south 23rd July.
TURNSTONE 38 south on 23rd July.
KNOT 82 past on 7th September.
PURPLE SANDPIPER 1 wintering during the early months on the seafront, several towards the year end with up to 4 seen.
SANDERLING 58 at North Cliff beach on 2nd January with 83 there on 14th December.
JACK SNIPE 1 at North Cliff boatyard 27th October.
LITTLE GULL 1860 offshore on 14th August, 4675 offshore on 19th August.
SABINE’S GULL In September adults on 5th and 13th, juveniles on 14th and 17th.
ICELAND GULL A 2cy on the seafront on 20th February was the same individual regularly visiting the Mere during the same period (RL). An adult south 31st October (DRM, JCL).
CASPIAN GULL Singles seen on several dates between 30th August to 2nd November. 2 on 10th September.
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL 2 off seafront 14th August, 3 on 12th September.
LITTLE TERN 2 north 6th August and 1 on 16th September.
ROSEATE TERN 1 south 4th September.
COMMON TERN 805 north 2nd September.
ARCTIC TERN In August 159 north on 3rd and 78 on 6th.
BLACK TERN Singles on 14th and 24th August, 16th September and 24th October.
GREAT SKUA Seen on 13 days. 1 on 16th January, 3 on 3rd August, 5 on 13th September.
POMARINE SKUA Singles on 14th August and 13th September. 4 on 15th October and 1 on 5th November.
ARCTIC SKUA Highest count recorded was 38 on 13th September.
LONG-TAILED SKUA In September 2 north on 1st, 1 on 12th, 7 north on 13th and 1 north on 19th.
LITTLE AUK 1 north on 1st November.
RED-THROATED DIVER 346 (335 north) on 26th January.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER Singles on 4th October and 27th November.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER 1 north 27th January. In October 2 on 4th and 2 on 15th. 2 south on 24th November.
CORY’S SHEARWATER 1 north on 1st September (DRM, JCL, MRad).
SOOTY SHEARWATER 1 on 10th August. In September 1 on 5th, 28 on 13th and 1 on 17th.
MANX SHEARWATER 1 north on 23rd February. 92 north on 24th July.
HEN HARRIER A ringtail on 1st November at North Cliff (JCooper) and an adult male near Atwick 22nd November(TI).
SHORT-EARED OWL In October 4 in/off on the coast on the 8th, 1 on 19th, 2 on 25th, 1 on 27th, 29th and 31st. In November 2 in/off on 1st and 1-2 occasionally to the year end around Rolston cliff top.
OSPREY 1 north of Seaton 27th May.
MERLIN 1 hunting incoming passerines over the sea on 1st November.
WAXWING In October singles on Cliff road on 21st and 25th. 2 at Rolston on 1st November. 35 at Sigglesthorne on 30th November, reducing to 25 on 1st December and 4 there on 2nd.
SHORELARK 1 on the beach 28th October (JCooper). 1 at North Cliff on 5th November (MO, TF).
SWALLOW A late bird seen near West Newton on 24th November.
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER 1 at Stream Dyke 6th May.
RING OUZEL singles at North Cliff 25th October and between 1st – 4th November.
PIED FLYCATCHER 4 on 19th August in the North Cliff area.
BLACK REDSTART In October 1 at North Cliff on the 12th and 1 in a Hornsea garden on 19th.
TREE SPARROW 35 at Goxhill on 12th March.
GREENFINCH 35 flew to roost at Stream Dyke on 31st January.
LAPLAND BUNTING 1 flew north on 24th November (GT).
SNOW BUNTING 2 on the seafront from 6th to 8th March. Singles at North Cliff 17th November and 1st December.
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
W. ATKINSON
L. C. BALL
L. CARTWRIGHT
J. COOPER
J. COX
S. CREEK
A. ELKIN
T. FULLER
JOHNSON
C. HINE
S. HINES
D. G. HOBSON
I. HOWARD
K. HOWARD
M. IBBOTSON
T. ISHERWOOD
L. IVES
R. KING
J. C. LAMPLOUGH
M. LONSDALE
G. LEEMING
M. LONSDALE
N. LUTHER
R. LYON
T. McEVOY
S. MASON
T. MELLOR
D.R. MIDDLETON
M. OGLESBY
M. RADFORD
M. ROBINSON
S. ROUSE
G. RUSSELL
J. SANDERS
G. TAYLOR
S. WOOLYHEAD
Merebirders 