East Yorkshire (9-12 June 2026)
Day 1 Yorkshire Wildlife Trust North Cave Wetlands
Twenty-six Group members left London behind and travelled north to Scarborough for an adventure that promised a myriad of bird species and some very uncertain weather.
En route many of us stopped at the North Cave Wetlands, run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Formerly used for quarrying and agriculture this beautiful reserve is now being restored to its former marshland glory with a mix of deep and shallow water lakes, islands and hedgerows. We followed the easy circular walk around the reserve moving from hide to hide between heavy thundery downpours, which we watched rolling in across the landscape. Early star sightings were the Little Ringed Plovers found in various locations across the site. We had been told to expect a Great White Egret and it duly appeared for us, vying for attention between Little Egrets and Grey Herons on the Reedbed Lake. We’d also been told that a Whitethroat was feeding a Cuckoo on the side of Silt Pond. A Whitethroat was spotted on top of the hedgerow by the pond, but we couldn’t see the nest to judge whether an interloper was present, although we heard adult Cuckoos in the background. However, we were delighted instead by a Bittern flying across the front of the hide, a Brown Hare lolloping over the meadows, and excellent views of Reed Warblers. Mediterranean Gulls were breeding on the reserve and seeing their chicks was a first for many of us. Oystercatcher chicks were visible too, enchanting us all. The wildflowers provided a colourful background display, all of which more than made up for the initial disappointment of the famed Little Butty Bus not turning up – forcing some of the Group to have to forage further away in search of lunch.
An hour’s drive onwards took us to Scarborough where we discovered Kittiwakes nesting on the hotel – very appropriate for a group of Birders! The evening meal was held in the local Gianni’s restaurant as we compared notes on the day over excellent Italian food.
Species (63) : Avocet, Bittern, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Feral Pigeon, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pochard, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Robin, Rook, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren
Other: Brown Hare, Roe Deer
Day 2 Morning: RSPB Boat trip from Bridlington
Today we enjoyed the magnificence of Bempton Cliffs from below and above.
It started with the boat trip from Bridlington harbour. The weather was cloudy but, most importantly, calm, and indeed our voyage turned out to be smooth.
And, of course, we saw all the species that Bempton is so famous for, Gannets effortlessly riding the breeze before diving into the water, Razorbills and Guillemots rafting up, and above all the Puffins, comical in their ungainly flight with their orange feet stuck out behind them. But the main memory of the morning was the sheer spectacle of the cliffs towering above us while thousands of seabirds soared around. A breathtaking sight.
After three hours we returned to Bridlington where we ate our lunches sitting alongside the harbour, closely observed by menacing looking Herring Gulls ranged on the posts opposite us waiting for any opportunity to cash in on the unwitting tourists’ chips.
Species (15): Buzzard, Cormorant, Eider, Feral Pigeon, Fulmar, Gannet, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Skua, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Kittiwake, Puffin, Razorbill, Shag
Other: Grey Seal
Day 2 Afternoon: RSPB Bempton Cliffs
By contrast the afternoon’s trip to the cliffs allowed us to look down on the nesting seabirds from above, giving us close-up views of individual birds and excellent photographic opportunities. Once again, we had some very special sightings, and not just of Springwatch’s Iolo Williams! Nesting Fulmar, Puffins competing with Rock Pigeons for space, Gannets, Razorbills, Guillemots and Kittiwakes balanced on what seemed impossibly narrow ledges. We could have spent the whole afternoon just gazing seawards. Those of the Group who did were rewarded with views of dolphins and an immature Giant Skua.
However, the reserve offers more than just the clifftops. Away from the sea the meadows, fields of sacrificial crops and hedgerows support other birdlife too. There is a thriving Tree Sparrow colony here, Skylarks and Sedge Warblers were singing loudly, and Yellowhammers perched on the wires giving us their rendition of “little bit of bread and no cheese”. Towards the evening many of us were delighted by the sight of two Barn Owls swooping over the fields behind the café which the Barn Swallows were making full use of for nesting purposes.
A truly memorable day for all.
Species (44): Barn Owl, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Corn Bunting, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Fulmar, Gannet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Great Skua, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Linnet, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Puffin, Razorbill, Reed Bunting, Robin, Sedge Warbler, Shag, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Tree Sparrow, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer
Other: Bottlenose Dolphin, Painted Lady butterfly
Day 3: Tophill Low Nature Reserve & Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint
The weather forecast caused a change of plan with our local guides at Yorkshire Coast Nature advising us to tour Tophill Low Nature Reserve, which is set around reservoirs run by Yorkshire Water. This proved to be a good decision as the reserve has plenty of hides in which we frequently took shelter during the rainiest day yet. Thanks to our excellent guides, Richard Baines and Mark Pearson, and research student Holly, we heard and saw a great deal. Richard and Mark filled us in with fascinating background information. For instance, Song Thrushes are excellent mimics, and Richard had recently heard them imitating Oystercatchers’ squeaky cries. The reason for such impersonations? It turns out the more varied the range of calls and songs the better the chance the male has of attracting a mate!
After a successful day during which Kingfishers, Little Grebe chicks, nesting Common Terns, and a Snipe flushed into the open by an interfering Black-headed Gull chick all featured, we made our way to our group dinner at the local Walkers’ Fish Restaurant.
Our day was not complete yet however! Following the meal, and now with better weather we set out to Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint (our original destination for the day) for an evening walk. Four of us got lucky straightaway when a Barn Owl obligingly flew in front of our car. More excitements were to come. On reaching the viewpoint Richard and Holly led us along the road and found us a beautiful Spotted Flycatcher. This individual proved most cooperative. Not only did it keep going back to the same spot sitting up in clear sight, but its favourite branch had distinctively different leaf colouring from the surrounding greenery enabling us to obtain excellent views of this enchanting little bird over a 10-minute period.
Finally, we tore ourselves away to follow Richard and Holly up a rough track in search of Nightjar and Woodcock. Richard tried to keep our expectations low so as not to get our hopes too high, but this proved unnecessary. Within 20 minutes we had seen three male Nightjars chasing each other round dead trees, while at least three Woodcock flew overhead. Altogether a hugely successful evening!
Species- Tophill (69): Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Robin, Ruddy Shelduck, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Shoveler, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren
Species- Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint (28): Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Jay, Linnet, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Nightjar, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Swallow, Swift, Tawny Owl, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodcock, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer
Other: Brown Hare
Day 4.
After breakfast it was time for the Group to split up and find way our way home, but not before some of us had paid a return visit to Bempton Cliffs. Here, we found the celebrities had changed (Iolo and Springwatch being replaced by Sam and Ade Go Birding). The bird species remained the same, but still as impressive as ever. One extra as we walked back towards the café was a Weasel racing along the cart track and over the path.
All in all, a wonderful adventure. Many thanks to the drivers, and especially to Debbie whose organisation was faultless.