Train trip: Scarborough circular

Northeasterlies in December is a good time to visit Scarborough. The harbour is sheltered and attracts passing divers and other sea birds, so you could be up for a nice surprise. There are rough seas all around, the wind not as strong as in the last few days, but cold. A Great Northern Diver is visible off the beach, with a few Cormorants. There is a passage of Little Auks in the Yorkshire coast, with hundreds reported from Flamborough and Scarborough flying north along the coast, so I reckon there is a chance I get one. Little Auks breed in the Arctic, most of them in Svalbard, but they move to the North of the North Sea in the winter, and are pushed south in storms, flying north again afterwards. As I arrive at the harbour a birder tells me two roosted in the harbour, but already went to see. A Kingfisher flies across the water from the jetty, but it lands in between some wooden slats out of view. There is also a Shag off the harbour. I think there are two GNDs, one paler than the other. 

Heavy machinery is moving sand from the northern end of the beach, where the last storms have piled it over the level of the seawall.

Sparrowhawk fly over.

Cormorant.

Grey Seal.

Turnstone.

Shag.

Great Northern Diver in the harbour.

Great Northern Diver out of the harbour.

A lone Purple Sandpiper roosting.

There were six Fulmars on their nest sites at Castle Cliff, visible from North Marine Drive.

Kittiwake.

An angler in good company.

After a walk around the harbour and up North Marine Drive, I see three photographers pointing their cameras off the harbour wall. As I approach they tell me that a Little Auk had briefly landed in front of them and I had just missed it. Not long after someone called there was another one coming. I couldn't believe I got photos of both in flight. Although one of them landed for a few seconds, I couldn't find it in the surf. It was a lifer for a couple of birders.

Little Auk.

and the second one.

Little Auk fly pass.

I can't resist a Great Black-back Gull braying.

After this, it's lunch time, and I stop for a coffee and a nibble at Ask. The afternoon walk takes me to Peasholme Park, out of the wind. There are several workers clearing out debris and fallen trees. As I walked along Scarborough I noticed many damaged roofs, storm Darragh must have been something to behold.

A view of the beck at Peasholme Park dale.

Scarborough North Beach and Castle.

Kestrel.

I decided to walk back to the station along North Marine Drive. Along the way I make a quick stop to photograph a dozing young Grey Seal on the rocks.

Young Grey Seal.

I manage to make the 15:02 train back home after a brisk walk.