The winds were light, initially from the north-west and latterly from the south-east, with sunny intervals and temperatures reaching 15 degrees C. A juvenile ‘intermediate morph’ Long-tailed Skua represented the seawatch highlight, with additional sightings including seven Sooty Shearwater, six Manx Shearwaters and nine Red-throated Divers flying north, 50 Oystercatchers moving south and three Arctic Terns, 56 Common Terns and 59 Sandwich Terns north.
Two Pale-bellied Brent Geese frequented the shoreline at New Fall, South Landing hosted a Little Egret, whilst Thornwick Pools attracted a Shoveler, three Teal and single Redshank, Dunlin and Greenshank. Waders flying over the headland included lone Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Greenshank, Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit; two Ruff frequented the Golf Course. A creamcrown Marsh Harrier hunted cliff top fields near the Fog Station early morning, 12 Common Buzzards included a flock of ten birds, whilst Hobbies appeared over the Gorse Field and Bempton village.
The day’s highlight was the discovery of a Greenish Warbler on the edge of the Gorse Field early morning. A Wryneck that showed sporadically in cliff top scrub at South Dykes was also noteworthy. Additional passerine records included an arrival of Lesser Whitethroats (17), one Garden Warbler, seven Pied Flycatchers, 130 Meadow Pipits, four Wheatears, three Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, five Siskin and two Lesser Redpolls.
Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Greenshank over, two Reed Warblers and three Pied Flycatchers.
