After a bright start, cloud increased from mid-morning, with a light/moderate south-westerly wind developing, light rain from early afternoon and temperatures reaching 13 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included the year’s first Long-tailed Duck that eventually flew north, 16 Sandwich Terns, four Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a lone Manx Shearwater.
Yesterday’s Dotterel remained on fields between Lighthouse Road and Old Fall and, surprisingly, was joined by a second Dotterel mid-morning; although both departed south-west 35 minutes later. Single Little Ringed Plover and Greenshank flew over the outer head, four Bar-tailed Godwits were on South Landing beach, while three Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper frequented Thornwick Pools. An Arctic Tern flew north past the Fog Station, as did a pair of Goosander.
Other notable sightings included a Hobby that graced the skies above Old Fall and Thornwick Pools and a Short-eared Owl along the South Cliffs. Better still, a Turtle Dove flew west along Lighthouse Road, with both Ring Ouzel and Hooded Crow at Oceanview and a Cuckoo on the outer head.
Additional migrants included four Pied Flycatchers, four Garden Warblers, two Fieldfare, two Redwing, five Common Redstarts, seven Whinchat, ten Wheatears, two Tree Pipits and one Brambling.
RSPB Bempton Cliffs attracted a single Garden Warbler.
