East york moors

[pheonix]

Hey all
Im off up to scarborough again next week, as well as my trip to bempton cliffs i would really like to go over the moors.
it really intrigues me as ive never been and dont really know what to expect. i would like to know what birds i may see, but i dont wont to limit this thread to birds, how about butterflies and dragonflies, or anything unusaul to look out for, or seasonal things as ive only been to that area in the winter before.
if anyone has experience of this area i would appreciate any tips on where to go and what to see.

Does anyone knwo if im likely to see merlin? i really dont know that much about them, are they quite rare or do i have a good chance of seeing them? is it a case of going to the right place? if so does anyone know where it is?

hope someone can help
thanks in advance

[pheonix]

going off early tomorrow mourning, if anyone has any tips i'd really appreciated as my time to explore is limited.
So far ive put together a little list of target birds that could be seen and ive split these in to whether i have a good chance or not so good chance of seeing them (from what i already know or have read):
Fairly good chance: Wheatear and winchat.
Not so good chance: Merlin, Ring ouzel, hen harrier and red grouse.

Any ideas anyone?
I will report what i find for other peoples reference later.

[Tinkerbell]

Hi pheonix

I'd certainly give Dalby Forest a visit since there's a variety of wildlife to be found there in addition to the Bridestones, which are quite magnificent in their own way. Good visitor centre and a bike hire too. Rangers are pretty helpful.

Newtondale has some particularly good walking (no roads here) and I gather some protected species, so keep your eyes peeled. (I believe you shouldn't even take photos here!). I understand merlins may be spotted in the Rosedale area. St Hilda's church at Ellerburn has whiskered bat, the pipistrelle, the brown long-eared bat and the Natterer's bat.

Up on the Moors themselves you'll almost certainly find adders now, basking, and Bransdale is a great quiet valley near Kirbymoorside with spectacular views and a hostel, if you need one. Lovely little church at the top of the valley where you can exchange/buy secondhand books. The bakers backing on to the castle in Helmsley do great pies! Have a good time.

Tink

[pheonix]

Thanks tinkerbell,
just off to bed now for the early start.
will let you know how i get on

[nightshade]

Nip up to Whitby Abbey the pond there has plentyto offer,the moorland above near a famous hollow is also very good

[pheonix]

This is a bit late, but with working and sleeping ive not had a chance to report back!
I thought i'd just put up a few points for other peoples reference (i know FungiJohns going to that area soon).

Well started out early on tuesday the 13th, arriving in Scarborough at around 1030. I unloaded the car and was very glad to sit down and have a cup of tea after a gruelling 4.5hr journey! We stayed with my girlfriends grandparents in Scarborough.

First Day:
After a rest and some lunch, it was time to hit the beach! Its a nice beach at south bay. Not really much wildlife on the beach (bar the locals!) but the were a few Kittiwakes that nest on the buildings, Herring gulls and a black backed gull (not sure which one though).

The beach is nice but still cold up north when the sun isn't shining, and the sea was freezing! So we went for a little drive up the coast to Whitby, we didn't go into the abbey as funds were low but it was a nice drive, through some moor areas and plantations. On the drive i stopped next to one of the plantations to have a quick look, Where i saw a Sparrowhawk, lots of Linnets and a Greater spotted woody.

Second day:
I left my girlfriend in bed to go off and see the cliffs and filey brigg. I went to filey first and had a walk around the country park and out onto the brigg itself.
This is a very popular pace for Meadow pipits and Skylarks. The were also a few Rock pipits about and a small Colony of Sand martins. Lots of Starlings present and the odd Goldfinch. On the rock edges and out to sea there were lots of Guillimots, Razorbills, Rock dove/Feral pidgeon, Kittiwake, Oystercatchers and the odd Gannet, Puffin, Cormarant and Fulmar.
The best thing was spotting a common seal just off the brigg, i was very excited at that point!
Next stop was Filey dams where there had been reports of Red-veined Darters, but unfortunately no sign of any that day. Good numbers of Tree Sparrows though.
I couldn't go up to the east coast of Yorkshire with out going to Bempton Cliffs RSPB, especially as everyone else had gone! So here there were Gannets, Razorbill, Gullimots, Fulmar, Gulls, Puffins, Meadow pipits, Sedge wabler, Tree sparrow, Whitethroat, and Butterflies and a Humming Bird Hawk moth. These cliffs are amazing so i would recomend a visit to anyone, even non-birders!

Last day:
Thursday was the end of the trip, i was going to see my bother in Leeds that evening so decided to go out on to the moors for the afternoon. I didnt have a chance to get out and do much walikng as my girlfriend had hurt her foot, but had an amazing drive. I was surprised to see such a diversity of habitats within 50 miles, from the coast to countyside, to moors and dales, to woods and forest.
I left scarborough to go to Wykeham woods, where there was blackcaps with fledgelings. Through the woods to Dalby forest drive, including northriding forest park. Here i saw Skippers, Tree pipits, and lots of willow warblers and chiffchaffs with fledglings.
From there it was out onto the moors up to Egton and back down to Rosedale, i didnt have the time to sit and look for merlins unfortunatly but i did see lots of Meadow pipits, and lapwings, and a Wheatear.


That was it in as brief as i could, this is a fantastic area and to explor it all you need a good lenght of time. If you up that way try and see the moors at least as they are beautiful.

[Tinkerbell]

Reckon you'll be back then, Pheonix?

We've lived in the area for over 7 years now and never get bored. Do the same route in the opposite direction, or a few weeks either way and things look entirely different. I agree there is a huge variety of landscape and habitat in a small radius and I believe N Yorks has just been voted the loveliest county in Britain.

All you described, and grandparents-in-law in Scarborough. Who could ask for more!

Tink

[Airehead]

I know this is irrelevant but -
An interesting activity on Bempton Cliff (a few years ago, I can't vouch for it right now) is some of the local sea anglers. They stand on top of the 300 foot cliff, on the sloping edge, and cast their lines out over the edge. I would be terrified of casting myself over. And I can't understand how they manage to haul a fish up 300 feet before it is taken by a bird.