The day featured light north-easterly winds and sunny intervals during the morning, before heavy showers from mid-afternoon. During the seawatch, six Sooty and one Manx Shearwater were recorded, whilst a dark-bellied Brent Goose headed north. A drake Velvet Scoter was on the sea adjacent to Old Fall.
Writing the daily sightings page is part of the ‘welcoming offer’ the Observatory is now determined to give to all visitors. However, this post is certainly more arduous to compile than most.
The highlight of today was the discovery of a female/1st-winter Red-flanked Bluetail. Unfortunately the bird frequented an area that is strictly private with no public access and, consequently, we were unable to release the news. As another bluetail was showing well at Spurn, and reflecting upon the fact that four individuals have been ‘twitchable’ at Flamborough over the last decade, we decided not to trap the bird. Obviously we appreciate that this course of action will disappoint many and can only sympathise.
Scarce migrants were represented by two Red-breasted Flycatchers in Old Fall, five Yellow-browed Warblers and two Firecrests. Additional migrants included 140 Pink-footed Geese flying south, a Jack Snipe, two Redstarts, four Grey Wagtails, a Pied Flycatcher, 460 Goldcrest, 30 Chiffchaff, two Garden Warblers, 11 Blackcaps and 25 Brambling.
West of the Dykes, there were two Yellow-browed Warblers (Buckton Pond & Bempton), with a Ring Ouzel also at the latter site.
