August was an excellent month for birding around Filey, with a strong mix of passage waders, seabirds, migrants and locally breeding species recorded across the Dams, East Lea, Filey Brigg, Carr Naze and Hunmanby Gap. The month has been particularly notable for the number and variety of waders using the increasingly productive wetland sites.
Filey Dams have been the main attraction. Early in the month they held Greenshank, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruff and Redshank, with numbers building as August progressed. Three Black-tailed Godwits were present on 5th, increasing to 11 on 13th and seven on 20th. Wood Sandpipers were another highlight, with up to two remaining through much of the middle of the month. A Garganey on 10th was an especially good record, while a Great White Egret on 16th added further interest. By the third week, the site was supporting impressive concentrations of waders, including up to 12 Ruff, seven Black-tailed Godwits and six Dunlin. Curlews also became increasingly conspicuous, with 52 recorded at the Dams on 21st.
East Lea has also produced consistently good numbers. Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwit on 14th, Ruff, Snipe, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Little Ringed Plovers were regular, while Curlews reached 46 in the West Field on 21st. A Turnstone proved unusually persistent, being recorded at both the Dams and East Lea. A Curlew Sandpiper was found on 25th. Lapwings increased to more than 40 at times, adding to the impressive wader assemblage.
The coast produced plenty of interest too. Hunmanby Gap recorded repeated movements of Whimbrel, including flocks of 23 and 27 early in the month and further groups later on. Offshore, Common Scoters, Red-throated Divers, Mediterranean Gulls, Arctic and Common Terns, 200 Sandwich Terns on 4th and Roseate Terns were recorded. The Brigg was particularly good for Roseate Terns, with ten on 10th. Caspian Gulls, Grey Plover, Purple Sandpipers, Sanderling, Turnstone, Eider and an Arctic Skua added further variety.
Passerine migration was also evident. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 20 Whitethroat on 8th, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Wheatear on 19th and Yellow Wagtail were recorded at several sites. Hunmanby Gap produced a flock of 44 Tree Sparrows late in the month, while good numbers of Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins were noted on passage. Yellow Wagtails were particularly widespread around Carr Naze and the surrounding fields. Spotted Flycatcher was heard on 6th. A Cuckoo was at Muston Sands on 14th.
Raptors included regular Peregrines, Marsh Harriers, Hobbies, Kestrels and Sparrowhawks, while Barn Owl was recorded at the Dams. Grey Partridges continued to show well, including a family group at East Lea and 17 on the tip.
Late August at Filey has suddenly produced a strong mix of passage migrants, waders and seabirds, with several species attracting particular attention. The recent change in the weather to rain may have induced a fall in passage species. Little Stint has been the star wader, first noted at East Lea on 27th, with two present on 28th, and another at Carr Naze pond. It has been accompanied by good numbers of Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe and Ringed Plover, while a Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper and Greenshank have added variety. The Dams have held Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, with a further Wood Sandpiper reported on 28 August. Grey Plover has been on the Brigg.
The fall was first noticed at Hunmanby Gap with four Pied Flycatchers on 26th. Reighton Gap followed suit in the evening, with 2 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear & 4 Tree Sparrows. On 27th Reighton Sands had 3 Golden Plover NW, 2 Whimbrel NW, 7 Black-tailed Godwit S, 1 Greenshank S, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Hobby S, 10 Willow Warbler, 16 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 12 Blackcap, 3 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 15 Tree Sparrow, 1 White Wagtail & 3 Siskin.
The Country Park Top Scrub has been particularly productive for passerines. Pied Flycatcher numbers have risen dramatically, with 10 or more reported around the Long Hedge, Tip and Country Park area on 28th. Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchat (ringed), Wheatear, Tree Pipit and Siskin also featured prominently. Warblers included Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat, with smaller numbers of Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler. Raptors included several sightings of Merlin, including one pursuing Meadow Pipits, while Sparrowhawk was also recorded. Five Grey Partridges were seen at the old tip.
Offshore and along the coast, Sandwich Tern numbers have been impressive, with at least 110 feeding off Hunmanby Gap alongside Common Terns and three Arctic Terns. Common Scoter, Whimbrel, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and an Arctic Skua have also passed through. Other notable records include Eider, Swift, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Mediterranean Gull and Yellow-legged Gull. Forty-one Sandwich Terns were feeding off the paddling pool on 30th, increasing to an impressive 120 Sandwich Terns and 60 Common Terns in Filey Bay on 31st. A dark-morph Arctic Skua was seen harassing gulls, while a summer-plumaged Red-throated Diver fed close inshore off Royal Parade.