Light variable winds eventually settled into easterlies during the afternoon, with sunshine throughout and temperatures reaching ten degrees C. After the prolonged northerly winds of late, it felt like a day when migrants might feature and so it proved. Two skeins containing a total of 123 Pink-footed Geese flew north in the morning, whilst a Water Rail frequented the Golf Course Willows. The year’s first two Hooded Crows fed on recent plough at Northcliffe, and were joined on the outer head by 15 Goldcrests, five Chiffchaffs, five Redwing, a Fieldfare, four Stonechats, two Black Redstarts (a female joining the long-staying male near the Fog Station), a White Wagtail (Hartendale) and six Siskin. In addition, the pod of 20 Bottlenose Dolphins re-appeared off the headland.
