A glorious early spring morning, with sunny skies throughout, light south-west winds and temperatures that reached 15 degrees C.
A total of 36 Teal frequented North Marsh and Thornwick Pools, a Ringed Plover flew south over the former site and a single Woodcock was located on the outer head. In addition, a 2nd/3rd-calendar Iceland Gull flew north over the headland mid-afternoon. Passerine interest centred on the discovery of the year’s first Firecrest at Old Fall. Other highlights included two Hooded Crows at North Marsh, 20 Chiffchaffs, seven Goldcrests, eight Redwing, a female Stonechat, three Wheatear and a Brambling.
A Hooded Crow that flew north past RSPB Bempton Cliffs was presumably one of the two aforementioned individuals that had earlier been flushed from North Marsh and headed north.
The day’s best spectacle, however, related to a pod of c.20 Bottlenose Dolphins than swam south close inshore past the Golf Course/Fog Station early morning.
