Strong north-westerly winds moderated slightly during a sunny day. Seawatching produced the following: a Velvet Scoter and 116 Red-throated Divers south, 238 Sooty Shearwaters and 63 Manx Shearwaters north, 49 Bonxies south, 18 Arctic Skuas south, two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas south.
The Taiga Bean Goose accompanied 29 Pink-footed Geese at North Marsh. Single Hen Harrier and Merlin hunted the headland, with three Short-eared Owls also present; two in off the sea and one at North Marsh. However , the day’s highlight was a significant arrival of passerines, including 13 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Barred Warbler immediately south of the lighthouse, a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Old Fall, a Richard’s Pipit over the outer head and a Hawfinch at Old Fall. Additional migrants included eight Redwing, two Lesser Whitethroats, 35 Goldcrests, ten Chiffchaffs, 300 Brambling, two Snow Buntings and a Lapland Bunting.
West of the Dykes, sightings at Bempton Cliffs RSPB included a Short-eared Owl and a Snow Bunting, with a Blue Fulmar, Merlin, Jack Snipe, Redstart and seven Redwing recorded at Buckton.
