Long-anticipated, moderate winds that swung round to the east under overcast skies produced a great day’s birding. Seawatching proved spectacular, with three White-billed Divers flying north, along with seven Leach’s Petrels, three Storm Petrels, three Grey Phalaropes, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, four juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, a Black-throated Diver, one Little Auk and a Velvet Scoter.
The land also proved rewarding: three Radde’s Warblers included two birds together at Thornwick. The year’s third Hoopoe was discovered in South Landing car park early morning; it later flew through Butler’s Lane in the village. Additional interest was provided by two White-fronted Geese, a Long-eared Owl, a late juvenile European Nightjar, two Great Grey Shrikes (including a bird near North Dykes), a Red-backed Shrike, two Firecrests, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Red-breasted Flycatcher (Thornwick) and a Hawfinch. The outer head also attracted ten Woodcock, two Jack Snipe, three Short-eared Owls, four Jays, two Ring Ouzels, seven Black Redstarts, four Mealy Redpolls and three Snow Buntings.
A Pallas’s Warbler headlined at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where sightings included a Great White Egret flying north-west, a Greenshank, one Woodcock, a Black Redstart, one Lesser Whitethroat, a Pied Flycatcher and four Mealy Redpolls.
