Very light easterly winds and sunny throughout, with temperatures reaching 21 degrees C; a perfect day for drift migration with migrants making landfall in the afternoon.
Highlights were a first-summer male Red-breasted Flycatcher at Thornwick Country Park and the juvenile Red-backed Shrike still in residence near the lighthouse. Single Red Kite and Merlin graced the skies on the outer head, where a Turtle Dove frequented gardens early morning. Passerine migrants included two Goldcrests, a Wood Warbler in Old Fall, five Pied Flycatchers, four Redstarts, seven Whinchats, three Stonechats, a Tree Pipit, 280 Meadow Pipits (inc. 130 south), six Grey Wagtails south, 13 Yellow Wagtails south, 45 Lesser Redpolls, 26 Siskins, the first Brambling of autumn and a Lapland Bunting. Two Wheatears included a Greenland Wheatear that was chased over the sea by an Arctic Skua and only just managed to make landfall.
Wader interest included a Grey Plover, six Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and one Common Sandpiper. A first-winter Caspian Gull again visited the new workings at Thornwick Camp early evening. During the seawatch, two Red-breasted Mergansers, a Sooty Shearwater, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull (0813hrs) and five Arctic Skuas flew north, whilst 20 Bottlenose Dolphins swam close inshore in the same direction.
Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Marsh Harrier, two Reed Warblers, three Goldcrests, a Pied Flycatcher and three Stonechat.
