The day was all about Storm Babet, with gale force easterly winds and heavy rain producing spectacular seas. The conditions also proved conducive for seabirds, with petrels in particular displaced.
Four Leach’s Petrels and two Storm Petrels flew north past the Seawatch Observatory, with an additional two petrels sp. evading specific identification. Also moving were a dark-bellied Brent Goose, two Grey Plovers, 2000+ Kittiwakes, 160 Little Gulls (north), six Bonxies, four Pomarine Skuas (three north, one south) and four Sooty Shearwaters.
Searching for passerines proved nigh on impossible given the conditions, although 65 Fieldare heading west out of a village garden towards dusk hinted as some immigration.
Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included 65 Blackbirds, 25 Redwing, a Ring Ouzel, eight Goldcrests and two Brambling.
