Water Rails featured often during the month. The Cetti’s Warbler remained all month. A Bar-tailed Godwit was on the beach on 1st. A drake Goosander was on Filey Dams East pool on 2nd, an unusual freshwater record at Filey. A Red-breasted Merganser then appeared on 3rd in the bay. A Pomarine Skua was unusual on 4th, while a Great Black-backed Gull gobbled up an unlucky Puffin the same day. A Jack Snipe was at Filey Dams on 5th. Little Auks were seen on a few days. A Blackcap frequented a local garden. In 10th freezing conditions resulted in 15 Snipe feeding along east bank at Filey Dams. On 11th 56 Sanderlings were on the beach between the town and Reighton Gap. A Water Rail was in a Pasture Crescent garden for three days from 13th. Mediterranean Gull and Long-tailed Duck were seen on 15th. A single Waxwing was at Newbiggin with Redwings on 16th. Two more Waxwing flew south at Hunmanby Gap on 18th. A locally rare female Pochard was on Filey Dams on 22nd, staying until 29th. Tawny Owls were heard calling on 23rd. Eight Grey Plovers were on Brigg end the same day and four Velvet Scoter flew south at Hunmanby Gap. A Great White Egret flew over the Tip on Xmas Eve. On 26th eight Great Northern, six Red throated Divers and seven Great crested Grebes were in the bay, with 20 Turnstone on the Brigg. A Little Owl was in the Collared Fly hedge (between short hedge and long hedge) the same day. A juvenile Iceland Gull was on the sea mid-shore off Hunmanby Gap on 27th. Finally. a Mediterranean Gull was in Country Park on 29th.
