Recent Daily Highlights

Our full archive of daily highlights and logs going back to 2014 can be found on the Daily Log & Archive page.

• 24th August 2026

  Sunny intervals throughout a day when an easterly wind gradually increased in strength and temperatures reached 19 degrees C. Three Whimbrel were off Hartendale and a Green Sandpiper overflew Thornwick. A Short-eared Owl came in off the sea at Cattlemere, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was off the Fog Station, while a Water Rail was on the cliff top alongside the Golf Course. A Raven was recorded on the outer head for the third day running with one heard near Flatmere; additional passerine interest included two Spotted Flycatchers at Old Fall, a Reed Warbler at North Landing and 16 Yellow Wagtails.

  Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included four Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, one Spotted Flycatcher and two Wheatears.

  

• 23rd August 2026

  Sunny intervals, with light winds that switched to an onshore direction in the afternoon and a high of 21 degrees C. Sightings from South Landing included one Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, 17 Ringed Plovers, one Ruff, seven Bar-tailed Godwits, two Purple Sandpipers, a Knot and two Ravens that flew north-west. A total of nine Whimbrel also flew south over the outer head. Passerine interest included three Garden Warblers, a Wheatear, one Whinchat and four Spotted Flycatchers.

  Three Minke Whales included two off RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where two Golden Plovers, four Whimbrel, a juvenile Cuckoo and five Yellow Wagtails were also seen.

  

• 22nd August 2026

  Generally overcast, although sunny intervals established by the afternoon; there were relatively light northerly winds and a high of 16 degrees C. The morning’s avian highlights came early, with single Great Shearwater and Grey Phalarope flying north past the Seawatch Observatory soon after first light. An evening watch was rewarded with a second Great Shearwater, a Cory’s Shearwater and the year’s first Balearic Shearwater. Better still, and following a sighting earlier in the month off Bempton, a Thresher Shark breached off the Observatory. Additional seawatch records included 118 Teal, a Ruff, two Black Terns, 246 Arctic Terns, three Little Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull all flying north, along with 23 Bonxies, 48 Arctic Skuas and 59 Sooty Shearwaters.

  Five Caspian Gulls at Cattlemere included four juveniles, and more unusually, a fourth calendar-year. Additional interest on the land included single Hobby and Cuckoo, a Raven, three Spotted Flycatchers and six Corn Buntings.

  Notable records from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included 11 Ringed Plovers, a Marsh Harrier and seven Willow Warblers.

  

• 21st August 2026

  A northerly wind strengthened late morning when a series of heavy and squally showers tracked down the coast; temperatures reached 16 degrees C. Given the weather conditions, seawatching was the obvious birding activity for the first time in many weeks. Single Great Shearwater and Cory’s Shearwater provided the highlights: the Cory’s flew north close inshore at 1320hrs, while the ‘Great Shear’ headed north before landing amongst a feeding flock at 1910hrs. Three juvenile Long-tailed Skuas were logged: two flew south together early morning, with a single tracking back north in the evening. Seven Roseate Terns and a Black Tern fed offshore amongst 1690 Arctic Terns, 354 Common Terns, 690 ‘Commic Terns’ and large numbers of Kittiwakes. Other notable sightings included 104 Sooty Shearwaters (99 north, 5 south), 41 Manx Shearwaters (38 north, 3 south), a Blue Fulmar, a Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, 55 Arctic Skuas, eight Bonxies, four juvenile Caspian Gulls and a single juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.

  South Landing attracted five Eider, 20 Ringed Plovers, five Dunlin, two Bar-tailed Godwits and a Ruff, while a Hobby flew along the adjacent cliffs.

  

  

  

• 20th August 2026

  There wasn’t any perceptible wind at first light, but this gradually increased from the north, albeit still relatively light for the majority of daylight hours. There were also sunny intervals and a few showers, with temperatures reaching 16 degrees C. The morning seawatch took place before the advent of the northerlies and was limited to three juvenile Caspian Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, nine Arctic Terns, 161 Common Terns, 16 Little Gulls, two Sooty Shearwaters, two Manx Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua. Wader interest, mostly focused at South Landing, included 19 Ringed Plover, five Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, one Sanderling and eight Dunlin. Single Quail and Hobby were recorded from the Bowling Green. Passerine interest included a Pied Flycatcher, three Spotted Flycatchers and 12 Yellow Wagtails.

  Elsewhere, a flock of 17 Black-tailed Godwits flew north-west over RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

  

  

• 19th August 2026

  Occasional sunny intervals and showers, with light winds variable in direction and a high of 22 degrees C. A Sooty Shearwater flew north during a morning seawatch that also featured 92 Common Terns, 175 Sandwich Terns, a Little Gull, two Arctic Skuas, three Red-throated Divers and two Manx Shearwaters. Passerine interest on the outer head included two Spotted Flycatchers, a Whinchat and a Wheatear.

  

• 18th August 2026

  Overcast with some brighter spells; a moderate westerly wind established during daylight hours while temperatures reached 23 degrees C. Single juvenile Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls were off the Fog Station, where a Grey Plover flew south. A Sooty Shearwater, seven Whimbrel, three Arctic Terns, 52 Common Terns and 129 Sandwich Terns all moved north. Sightings on the outer head included two Quail, two Short-eared Owls, one Hobby, a Marsh Harrier, two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls and 19 Yellow Wagtails.

  The day’s most notable record from RSPB Bempton Cliffs related to a Spotted Redshank that flew south-east; additional were single Little Owl and Short-eared Owl, as well as a single Minke Whale.

  

• 17th August 2026

  Overcast, with very light winds and a high of 19 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included 284 Oystercatchers south, 75 Common Terns and 109 Sandwich Terns north, three Little Gulls, five Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie, one Red-throated Diver and two Minke Whales. South Landing hosted 12 Ringed Plovers, three Whimbrel, a Knot, a Common Sandpiper, three Purple Sandpipers, three Sanderling and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls. Additional records below the South Cliffs included three Little Egrets and a juvenile Caspian Gull, while a Marsh Harrier flew east over the Bowling Green. Passerine interest on the outer head included a Spotted Flycatcher, one Wheatear, two Grey Wagtails and 23 Yellow Wagtails.

  Notable sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included 61 Oystercatchers south-east, a Marsh Harrier, one Little Owl, seven Willow Warblers, four Yellow Wagtails and two Minke Whales. Nearby, a Hobby and seven Common Buzzards flew west over Bempton village.

  

• 16th August 2026

  Light winds turned onshore in the afternoon, mainly overcast skies and a high of 19 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included 20 Teal, 16 Common Terns, 116 Sandwich Terns, a juvenile Caspian Gull, an Arctic Skua, one Red-throated Diver and a Manx Shearwater. Three Little Egrets frequented Cattlemere, while three Eider and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull lingered at South Landing. Other notable records included a Water Rail, one Short-eared Owl, three Reed Warblers, a Grey Wagtail and 12 Yellow Wagtails.

  Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Little Owl, one Green Sandpiper, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Garden Warbler, two Reed Warblers, a Pied Flycatcher, five Yellow Wagtails and a Minke Whale.

  

• 15th August 2026

  Sunny intervals, light north-west winds and a high of 20 degrees C. Two juvenile Caspian Gulls, a Little Egret and a Short-eared Owl were recorded in the Cattlemere area; presumably the latter overflew Croft’s Hill/Sixpenny in the evening. Thornwick Pools hosted two Teal, a Black-tailed Godwit and two Snipe; 55 Tufted Ducks were on the nearby Lakes. Migrant interest on the outer head included a juvenile Cuckoo, 17 Willow Warblers, one Whinchat, a Common Redstart, a Pied Flycatcher, three Spotted Flycatchers and five Yellow Wagtails.

  Notable records from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Golden Plover, two Ringed Plovers, two Reed Warblers, five Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 12 Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, 39 Corn Buntings, a Humpback Whale (south-east at 1115hrs) and a Minke Whale.

  

• 14th August 2026

  Another hot day under bright skies, very light winds and a high of 27 degrees C. Thornwick Pools attracted five Black-tailed Godwits, two Snipe and a Common Sandpiper. A Great White Egret flew in off the sea at South Landing early morning where three Eider and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull were also present. Single Hobby overflew Head Farm and South Dykes, while six Golden Plovers headed over Lighthouse Road. Passerine interest on the outer head included eight Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, a Whinchat and 13 Yellow Wagtails.

  Two Pied Flycatchers were in residence at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where a headline-grabbing Thresher Shark breached twice offshore. A Short-eared Owl also hunted the cliff top fields there late evening.

  

• 13th August 2026

  Seven Shelduck, 89 Teal, three Whimbrel, an Arctic Skua and a Bonxie flew south during the morning seawatch, while 237 Sandwich Terns went north. Sightings from the Thornwick wetlands included 41 Tufted Ducks, three Teal, two Little Grebes, a Whimbrel, five Black-tailed Godwits, two Snipe and a Common Sandpiper. Other notable records from the outer head included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a Hobby and 11 Yellow Wagtails.

  

  

• 12th August 2026

  Sunny throughout, with a light/moderate south-easterly wind and maximum of 23 degrees C. An adult Roseate Tern flew north during a morning seawatch that also featured two Purple Sandpipers, eight Arctic Terns, 78 Common Terns, 290 Sandwich Terns, a Black Tern, three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie. Five juvenile Caspian Gulls and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew south in the evening. Elsewhere, nine Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper dropped onto Thornwick Pools. A Common Sandpiper was on South Landing beach and a Greenshank flew south over the village.

  A Pied Flycatcher at RSPB Bempton Cliffs was new, while single Marsh Harrier and Hobby were recorded at nearby Buckton.

  

• 11th August 2026

  Sunny skies, a moderate south-easterly wind and high of 21 degrees C. The Thornwick wetlands hosted 46 Tufted Ducks, four Little Grebes, a Snipe, one Common Sandpiper and two Green Sandpipers. The uptick in wader records was also apparent over the sea, with 46 Redshank moving south; in addition, two Greenshank headed in the same direction over the outer head. Six juvenile Caspian Gulls rested on rocks at Cattlemere during low tide, including two darvic-ringed individuals. On the land, the Quail continued to sing from barley crop on the outer head. A Clouded Yellow butterfly battled the wind on Beacon Hill.

  A total of 51 Oystercatchers headed south-east past RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where a Reed Warbler, seven Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest and four Yellow Wagtails were present.

  

• 10th August 2026

  Light/moderate northerly winds, sunny thoughout and a best of 19 degrees C. Three Goosanders were on the sea off Beacon Hill, while the long-staying Wood Sandpiper and a Snipe graced Thornwick Pools. A Little Egret scoured rock pools on Cattlemere and six Ringed Plovers fed on South Landing beach. In addition, a juvenile Caspian Gull lingered off the Fog Station in the morning. Passerine interest included a Cetti’s Warbler (Needles Plantation), a Spotted Flycatcher, one Grey Wagtail and five Yellow Wagtails.

  The day’s most notable passerine migrant was a Pied Flycatcher that arrived at RSPB Bempton Cliffs in the afternoon; two Quail, one Goldcrest, a Tree Pipit and 18 Yellow Wagtails were also recorded at the reserve.

  

• 9th August 2026

  Another warm day, with sunny intervals, light westerly winds and a high of 27 degrees C. The rocks at Cattlemere hosted three juvenile Caspian Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 106 Sandwich Terns and seven Common Terns. Elsewhere, the Wood Sandpiper remained in residence at Thornwick Pools and a Quail continued to sing on the outer head. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull and seven Yellow Wagtails were at Hartendale/South Dykes.

  An impressive nine Quail were singing at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, with another two at nearby Buckton. Additional sightings at Bempton included a Marsh Harrier, 15 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, four Yellow Wagtails and three Minke Whales. Another Quail sang at Speeton, where an adult male Marsh Harrier, a Goldcrest and ten Yellow Wagtails provided further interest.

  

• 8th August 2026

  Sunny, with a moderate onshore wind developing that resulted in temperatures peaking at 22 degrees C. Seawatching was rewarded with an Arctic Tern, 18 Common Terns, 222 Sandwich Terns and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull all flying north, while a Minke Whale fed offshore. Additional records from the outer head included four Eiders, a Wood Sandpiper (Thornwick Pools), two juvenile Caspian Gulls (Cattlemere), another juvenile Mediterranean Gull (South Landing), a Red Kite, one Quail, 12 Willow Warblers, a Grey Wagtail and four Yellow Wagtails.

  Two Quail were calling at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where sightings included a Hobby, 16 Willow Warblers, 17 Corn Buntings and a Minke Whale. Three Clouded Yellow butterflies were also present on the reserve.

  

• 7th August 2026

  Sunny intervals, a light/moderate south-westerly wind and high of 24 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included 91 Common Scoters, eight Common Terns, 82 Sandwich Terns and 32 Manx Shearwaters all flying north. Two juvenile Caspian Gulls and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull rested on the rocks at Cattlmere. A Marsh Harrier came in off the sea and another two hunted the outer head, where a Hobby pursued hirundines. Wader interest included the long-staying Wood Sandpiper at Thornwick Pools, single Greenshank and Ruff flying south at the outer head and four Black-tailed Godwits over the Bowling Green. Elsewhere, two Quail continued to sing east of the Dykes. Other migrants included a Cuckoo, a Garden Warbler, three Spotted Flycatchers and two Grey Wagtails.

  At least seven Quail were singing in the Bempton/Buckton area, with other records including a Greenshank and one Wheatear.

  

• 6th August 2026

  A southbound Cory’s Shearwater at 1230hrs represented the highlight of a seawatch that also recorded eight Whimbrel, three juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, two juvenile Caspian Gulls, four Arctic Skuas, four Sooty Shearwaters and two Minke Whales. Thornwick Pools hosted a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, one Green Sandpiper, the juvenile Wood Sandpiper and three Dunlin. Grounded migrants on the outer head included a Short-eared Owl, one Quail, a Cuckoo, 17 Willow Warblers, a Reed Warbler and two Spotted Flycatchers.

  Sightings from Buckton included two Quail, two Marsh Harriers, a Hobby, one Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher. Nearby, Bempton attracted another two Quail and a fly-over Green Sandpiper.

  

• 5th August 2026

  Sunny intervals, strong westerly winds and a high of 23 degrees C. A Sooty Shearwater provided the highlight of the morning seawatch. Nearby, the Cattlemere shoreline attracted a juvenile Caspian Gull, a Whimbrel and three Knot. Single Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl were pushed onto the extreme outer head by the strength of the winds, as no doubt was a Hobby tracking back west over the village.

  The Thornwick area hosted 46 Tufted Ducks, two Little Grebes, two Dunlin and a Wood Sandpiper. Two Quail called from RSPB Bempton Cliffs, with another on the outer head near Old Fall.

  

• 4th August 2026

  The weather consisted of sunny intervals, occasional and very light showers, a light/moderate easterly wind and high of 21 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included 162 Oystercatchers, 18 Whimbrel and 28 Knot all south and 1088 Sandwich Terns; the latter the highest count for at least 15 years. Other sightings included a Little Gull, a Red-throated Diver, two juvenile Caspian Gulls and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Four Quail sang on the outer head, where other notable records included: five Golden Plovers, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, two Greenshank, four Mediterranean Gulls, one Garden Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtail.

  A total of six Quail sang between RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Buckton, with other sightings including a Golden Plover, five Yellow Wagtails and two Willow Warblers.

  

• 3rd August 2026

  A moderate easterly wind established during a largely sunny day with temperatures reaching 22 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included four Teal, 78 Common Scoters, 99 Oystercatchers, four Arctic Terns, 45 Common Terns, 534 Sandwich Terns, four Mediterranean Gulls, two juvenile Caspian Gulls, two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls and an Arctic Skua. Nearby, five juvenile Caspian Gulls and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls dropped onto Cattlemere, while five Mediterranean Gulls were shared between South Landing/Hartendale and Thornwick Pools.

  Wader interest included two Greenshank and two Green Sandpipers, while three Quail remained in residence on the outer head. The switch to easterlies also resulted in the arrival of single Reed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Wheatear and Redstart.

  

• 2nd August 2026

  Sunny throughout with temperatures only reaching 20 degrees C as an onshore easterly established. Three juvenile Caspian Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and a juvenile Mediteranean Gull were recorded at Cattlemere, where single Dunlin, Knot and Whimbrel were also present. Other records along the South Cliffs included three Eider, a Little Egret, a creamcrown Marsh Harrier, an additional three Whimbrel, two Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls. Three singing Quail remained in crop near Old Fall. A juvenile Cuckoo lingered on the outer head, where passerine interest included a migrant Reed Warbler, seven Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Grey Wagtails and 14 Yellow Wagtails. However, the true extent of passage was indicated by a marathon ringing session at South Landing that included: 66 Common Whitethroats, four Lesser Whitethroats, 14 Blackcap, two Garden Warblers, three Reed Warblers, seven Sedge Warblers, nine Chiffchaffs, ten Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest. While a proportion of these birds may have been local in origin, many would undoubtedly be migrants from further afield.

  Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs/Buckton included a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, four singing Quail and 20 Yellow Wagtails.

  

• 1st August 2026

  The month opened with sunny intervals, a light/moderate westerly wind and high of 23 degrees C. A record-breaking 25 Mediterranean Gulls (24 juvs, one second-summer) flew north, while larid interest was maintained with four Caspian Gulls (three juvs, one second-summer) and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Three Quail called from fields adjacent to Old Fall and a Hobby chased Linnets off High Stacks. A feeding movement of 200 Swifts gradually drifting west over South Landing took place mid-morning, with 70 also recorded over Bempton. Further evidence of passerine migration included a Reed Warbler and 11 Willow Warblers at Oceanview.

  Three Quail and a Marsh Harrier were recorded at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, while a further two Quail were audible from Bempton village.

  

  

• 31st July 2026

  Sunny intervals, light variable winds and a high of 21 degrees C. The Cattlemere rocks hosted five juvenile Caspian Gulls, a Little Egret, four Eider, two Dunlin and nine Whimbrel. Elsewhere, Thornwick Pools attracted single Snipe, Green Sandpiper and Dunlin. A Short-eared Owl toured the outer head where four Quail, seven Willow Warblers, two Wheatear, two Spotted Flycatchers and five Yellow Wagtails were also present. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was off North Landing, while a singing Grasshopper Warbler was on the opposite side of the head at South Dykes.

  Increased cloud, especially inland, induced a Swift movement: 585 flew south-west over the outer head in the evening. Seawatch highlights included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and one Arctic Skua.

  An additional two Quail were singing between RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Hoddy Cows Lane, Buckton. A creamcrown Marsh Harrier also hunted cliff top fields in the Bempton area, as did a Merlin.

  

  

• 30th July 2026

  Light, variable winds, some sunny intervals and a high of 23 degrees C. Eleven juvenile Mediterranean Gulls flew north during a morning seawatch that also featured an Arctic Skua.

  Three Quail continued to call from arable crops between Old Fall and Oceanview. Two juvenile Cuckoos were present – a single at Oceanview and another at Speeton. Passerine interest on the outer head included Goldcrest and Redpoll.

  Another Quail was singing from cliff top fields at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where a Golden Plover, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, six Yellow Wagtails and a Minke Whale were also recorded.

  

• 29th July 2026

  Another warm day, with temperatures reaching 27 degrees C by midday under sunny skies; a cooling onshore breeze subsequently provided relief in the afternoon. Seawatch highlights included five Golden Plovers moving south, a Common Tern, 245 Sandwich Terns and two Arctic Skuas north with a Minke Whale offshore.

  There were five calling Quail on the outer head providing further evidence of an increase over the last two days. Other notable records included a Merlin, a creamcrown Marsh Harrier, two Whimbrel and a ‘migrant’ Reed Warbler.

  

  

• 28th July 2026

  A hot day, with sunny intervals, a moderate south-west wind and maximum of 29 degrees C. Quail again featured strongly, with four calling on the outer head, one at Mid Dykes, three at Bempton Cliffs and another at Buckton Hall.

  A Red Kite toured the the outer head before visiting RSPB Bempton Cliffs. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull and two Arctic Skuas flew past the Fog Station, with six Eider and four Dunlin also at South Landing. A Green Sandpiper flew west over Mid Dykes.

  Additional records from Bempton included a Marsh Harrier and a Clouded Yellow. Four juvenile Marsh Harriers hunted fields around Buckton Hall.

  

• 27th July 2026

  A relatively bright day, with a moderate westerly wind and high of 23 degrees C. An arrival of Willow Warblers was apparent: 24 were shared between the Old Fall circuit, South Dykes and Oceanview, indicating the potential scale of numbers that must have been present across the entire headland. In addition, a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher and the long-staying Quail lingered at Old Fall. Other notable sightings included three Grey Wagtails on the outer head and a juvenile Red Kite over Bempton village.

  

• 26th July 2026

  Generally overcast, with a moderate westerly veering northerly, occasional showers interspersed with sunny intervals and a high of 22 degrees C. The juvenile Black Stork presumably roosted in the Micklemires area, where it showed in flight a couple of times during the morning. However, perhaps due to the subtle change in wind direction, just before mid-day it overflew Whelkie Wynds and slowly drifted south-west; it was last seen continuing in the same direction south of Bridlington early afternoon. Two Shelduck, four Black-tailed Godwits, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and a juvenile Merlin were seen from the Fog Station. Nearby, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, two Sanderling and 17 Turnstones were at Cattlemere. South Landing hosted three Eider, another juvenile Mediterranean Gull, two Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and one Whimbrel.

  A Hobby flew past Old Fall, where two Spotted Flycatchers remained, while a Quail was calling on the north side of Lighthouse Road. Another Quail was calling at Croft’s Hill in the evening. Numbers of Swifts were pushed onto the headland by the showers and included 300 birds over Marton.

  Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included three Manx Shearwaters, four Willow Warblers, three Yellow Wagtails and a Minke Whale.