Overcast skies throughout, with persistent but mainly light rain for the majority of daylight hours, and a top temperature of 12 degrees C. Both the first-winter male Red-headed Bunting and the Siberian Stonechat lingered at North Marsh. However, a new arrival of passerines was also evident, including a Firecrest (Old Fall Hedge), a Waxwing (North Marsh), two Hawfinch and 12 Mealy Redpolls. Migrant totals also included four Woodcock, six Swallows, 250 Redwing, 15 Song Thrush, 385 Fieldfare, 65 Blackbirds, a Ring Ouzel, 55 Robins, six Blackcap, nine Chiffchaff, 68 Goldcrests and 12 Brambling. Seawatching produced a ‘heinei’ Common Gull and a first calendar-year Yellow-legged Gull, but was otherwise quiet.
Six Mealy Redpolls were also recorded at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where grounded migrants included four Chiffchaffs, three Blackcap, 44 Goldcrests, 45 Redwing, 35 Fieldfare, 20 Robins and five Brambling. In addition, 177 Redwing, 20 Blackbirds, 123 Fieldfares and six Brambling flew north-west. A total of 400 Pink-footed Geese were present on cliff top fields, along with the long-staying Merlin and four Short-eared Owls.
