On the eve of our inaugural Seawatch Festival, it was appropriate that seawatching proved rewarding throughout the day. A Storm Petrel flew north close inshore from 0724-0730hrs, with an adult Sabine’s Gull doing the same at 1918hrs. Eighteen Pale-bellied Geese flew north; presumably the same flock had flown past Cley, Norfolk yesterday and later today flew north past Whitburn. Other notable records included 101 Common Scoters, 78 Sooty Shearwaters, 81 Manx Shearwaters, three juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 34 Bonxies and a Little Gull flying north; 25 Arctic Skuas flew south. Passerine interest included the Barred Warbler that remained in residence in the Bay Brambles and two Pied Flycatchers in and around Old Fall.
The Black-browed Albatross remained at RSPB Bempton Cliffs until early afternoon, but there were no further signs; a Hobby flew west near the village.
