Gale force northerly winds and heavy rain showers ensured all attention was justifiably focused on the sea. The highlight was a Flamborough record 302 Bonxies that flew south during the course of the day. Other notable sightings included 16 pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Blue Fulmar and 814 Sooty Shearwaters flying north, the latter the second highest count over the last decade. Six Pink-footed Geese, 83 Red-throated Divers, 17 Golden Plovers and a Mediterranean Gull also flew south, together with two Pomarine Skuas and 227 Arctic Skuas (the highest daily total for 20 years).
Seawatching at RSPB Bempton Cliffs reflected the wider movement past the outer head: 111 Sooty Shearwaters headed north, 45 Bonxies and 18 Arctic Skuas flew south.
