Traditionally THE birding month of the year opened in the same vein as almost the entirety of September with a continuation of blustery south-westerly winds; rain early on soon relented, with sunny intervals dominating a day when temperatures reached 14 degrees C. Surprisingly, the Great Shearwater re-appeared off the Seawatch Observatory in the morning attending one of several large feeding flocks of seabirds. Unfortunately, it chose not to linger, but a juvenile Long-tailed Skua and the year’s first Grey Phalarope provided compensation. Other notable seawatch records included a Sooty Shearwater flying north and three Pintail and 81 Little Gulls moving south.
A skein of 100 Pink-footed Geese flew south over the headland. Thornwick Pools attracted two Wigeon, 43 Teal, two Dunlin, the juvenile Spotted Redshank and a Grey Wagtail. A Sand Martin over the outer head was notable given the date. Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Minke Whale feeding offshore.
