An east coast haven for more than just birds
Staithes is one of those places where you think you are only visiting because it is a tourist attraction, but it is also an attraction for birds as well, with its large cliffs, sheltered harbour and freshwater entering via the Staithes Beck. JOHN MILES
WHERE TO WATCH
1 The steep drop to the sea gives you views of the beck, so it is worth looking over the gardens for migrants, as well as checking for species such as wintering Grey Wagtail and Dipper. Hirundines will be found in summer, hawking the insects; along with screaming Swifts.
2 The first cliff-nesting birds will be Herring Gull, with plenty around the village. Check for ‘white wingers’ in winter, such as Glaucous and Iceland Gull, and the freshwater can attract many species of gulls to wash and preen at low tide.
3 The exposed cliffs at Cowbar Steel see a lovely colony of Kittiwakes still hanging on as other areas round the country see numbers collapse due to shortage of food. Here there are also Fulmars nesting with more Herring Gulls. Try seawatching off this side of the bay.
4 To get the best view of the village and cover the harbour and close in on the sea, try walking around the south harbour wall. You look back at the breeding cliffs and check for feeding auks in the sea.
5 The larger expanse of the sea has been good for cetaceans in recent years, with Minke Whale heading the bill along with Harbour Porpoise and Bottlenosed Dolphin. Check for a movement of divers in autumn and the odd Sabine’s Gull passing with migrating Kittiwakes.
6 Back up the hill check the fields along the ‘Cleveland Way’ towards the Old Nab, where Lapland and Snow Buntings have been found along with Yorkshire’s highest count of Shore Larks. Give the sea another look for passage.