The weather always looked conducive for migration and so it proved, with an array of interesting sightings; a light south-west wind backed easterly in the afternoon, with sunshine throughout and temperatures peaking at 16 degrees C. A northerly movement of 655 Pink-footed Geese took place during the morning, with 265 moving over the sea and 390 over the headland itself. Thornwick’s New Workings attracted a pair of Little Ringed Plovers. A third calendar-year Iceland Gull flew south past RSPB Bempton Cliffs before settling on the outer head late afternoon. Already a good spring, with two different individuals to date, two White-tailed Eagles circled offshore at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. It appeared one bird gained height and probably headed south over the headland, whilst the other individual flew around the cliffs past the lighthouse before crossing Bridlington Bay. A Red Kite had earlier flown west over the Golf Course and latterly South Landing. Migrant passerines included 28 Sand Martins, three Swallows, 19 Chiffchaff, two Blackcaps, a Goldcrest, the year’s first Ring Ouzel, three Redwing, four Fieldfare, a Black Redstart, 17 Wheatears and a Redpoll.
Additional sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included 24 Whooper Swans on the sea, three Short-eared Owls, 15 Sand Martins, two Swallows, five Chiffchaffs (with another duo at Buckton), 383 Meadow Pipits moving north-west and two Corn Buntings.
