Recent Daily Highlights

Our full archive of daily highlights and logs going back to 2014 can be found on the Daily Log & Archive page.

• 19th July 2026

  Blustery northerly winds, an overcast morning with occasional light showers that preceded brighter skies; temperatures eventually reached 18 degrees C after a distinctly cooler start. Seawatch highlights included five Wigeon, seven Arctic Terns, 237 Sandwich Terns, a Mediterranean Gull, a Bonxie and 26 Manx Shearwaters.

  The summering Bonxie was still in residence at RSPB Bempton Cliffs where additional sightings included two Arctic Terns, a Hobby and three Yellow Wagtails.

  

• 18th July 2026

  Overcast until mid-afternoon, with a blustery northerly wind and high of 18 degrees C. Attention focused on seawatching which was rewarded with: 115 Oystercatchers south, 35 Arctic Terns north, 82 Sandwich Terns, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, three Little Gulls, two Bonxies, 3660 Puffins north and 71 Manx Shearwaters also north.

  Further evidence that some passerines are already on the move came in the form of a Spotted Flycatcher at the Bowling Geen.

  

• 17th July 2026

  A northerly wind strengthened during the day; overcast at first, with sunny intervals from late morning and a high of 19 degrees C. These were essentially seawatch conditions, and oft said, the season begins in mid-July – certainly the day featured an uptick in quality.

  The undoubted highlight of a morning seawatch was a summer-plumaged Black Guillemot that flew north past the Fog Station at 0915hrs. Number of Puffins tend to peak during July, presumably as non-breeding birds reconnoitre colonies ahead of the next breeding season: a total of 4950 Puffins flying north during the morning was testament to such an increase. Other notable records included a Blue Fulmar lingering offshore, an eclipse drake Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Manx Shearwaters, 20 Oystercatchers south, two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Skua, 286 Sandwich Terns north and six Arctic Terns also north. In addition, a Marsh Harrier flew in off the sea. Later in the day, a Cory’s Shearwater flew north relatively close inshore from 1915-1922hrs.

  Thornwick Pools hosted 47 Tufted Ducks, including a female with a recently hatched duckling. Passerine records included a Garden Warbler at Oceanview and nine Yellow Wagtails.

  A Quail was seen in flight at Bempton, where single Marsh Harrier and Bonxie were also recorded.

  

• 16th July 2026

  Light northerly winds throughout; an overcast morning preceded brighter skies, while temperatures reached 20 degrees C. The morning seawatch was rewarded with 126 Common Scoters, 32 Arctic Terns, 73 Sandwich Terns, two Arctic Skuas and 13 Manx Shearwaters flying north; a flock of 17 Black-tailed Godwits headed south.

  Elsewhere, a lone Quail continued to sing from fields along Lighthouse Road, a Whimbrel was on the shore at Hartendale and a female-type Black Redstart appeared at the Fog Station; the latter the second individual this week, following an adult male.

  Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Marsh Harrier, one Snipe, seven Eiders (flying north-west) and a Bonxie.

  

  

• 15th July 2026

  Overcast until the evening when sunny intervals prevailed; there were light north-east winds and a high of 18 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included 15 Teal, 225 Common Scoters, five Arctic Terns, 196 Sandwich Terns, a Mediterranean Gull, three Arctic Skuas and 27 Manx Shearwaters that all flew north. A lone Bonxie lingered offshore, while a recently fledged Herring Gull loafed with gulls at Cattlemere.

  

• 14th July 2026

  A blustery northerly wind, relatively cloudy skies and a high of 17 degrees C. The undoubted highlight was the discovery of an immature Brown Booby at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Photographed off Breil Nook late morning, it eventually flew off north-west. However, it then re-appeared briefly along the cliffs mid-afternoon before disappearing below the cliff-line. This constitutes the second record for the headland, following the well-twitched bird that lingered off the Flamborough/Filey coast in September 2023. Additional sightings from Buckton/Bempton included a Bonxie, a singing Quail, a Marsh Harrier and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

  A morning seawatch at the Fog Station was rewarded with 58 Common Scoters, 32 Manx Shearwaters, 1503 Puffins, 14 Arctic Terns and two Bonxies flying north; a lone Arctic Skua also flew south. In the evening, 30 Common Scoters, ten Manx Shearwaters and 1308 Puffins flew north in 90 minutes. Elsewhere, two Quail sang on the outer head, while a Hobby flew over South Landing.

  

• 13th July 2026

  Variable cloud cover in a moderate to fresh north-easterly, the temperature reaching 19°C.

  Unexpected finds of the day were a drake Scaup off South Landing and a Black Redstart. Other sightings around the Outer Head include two Whimbrel, a Greenshank, two Grey Wagtails and a singing Quail. Eleven Manx Shearwaters, three Arctic Terns and 12 Common Scoters were the best of a morning seawatch.

  A Great Skua continued to patrol offshore at Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

  

• 12th July 2026

  Sunny skies returned but the moderate north-easterly moderated the temperature which reached 20°C.

  Seawatching totals included 14 Common Scoter, ten Arctic Terns and 19 Manx Shearwaters. A White Wagtail at Thornwick Pools was a new migrant.

  

• 11th July 2025

  Cloud carried in on an onshore light north-easterly meant cooler conditions with the temperature reaching 19°C.

  Seawatching at the Fog Station provided highlights that include seven Eider, 252 Common Scoter, a Whimbrel, two Arctic Skuas and two Manx Shearwaters.

  Yesterday’s Wood Sandpiper remained at Thornwick Pools, two Whimbrel came in off the sea at Breil Nook and five Mediterranean Gulls were along the southern cliffs. A single Quail called on the Outer Head.

  A phylloscopus, thought to be either a Greenish or Green Warbler, sang for just a few minutes at Bempton Cliffs RSPB and recorded but, frustratingly, it was not seen or heard subsequently. Investigation into its identity is ongoing.

  

• 10th July 2026

  The dry, sunny weather goes on. A light easterly breeze and a maximum temperature of 22°

  Seawatching yielded 27 Common Scoters, an Arctic Tern and an Arctic Skua while a Grey Wagtail passed overhead. The Wood Sandpiper remained at Thornwick Pools, three Little Egrets were at Cattlemere Rocks and a Cuckoo at Old Fall.

  Quails continue to be found with six along Hoddy Cows Lane, Buckton.

  

  

• 9th July 2026

  Another warm, sunny day, the light easterly breeze moderating the temperature which rose to 22°C.

  Seawatching was predictably quiet, a single Minke Whale being the highlight. Four Little Egrets graced the rocks at Cattlemere and a Wood Sandpiper spent all afternoon at Thornwick Pools. A Red Kite flew north over the village. Four Quails continued to sing on the Outer Head.

  

• 8th July 2026

  Cloudless skies, light easterlies and the temperature rose to 23°C.

  The morning seawatch was productive with six Shelduck, 158 Common Scoter, a Whimbrel, an adult Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Skua and four Manx Shearwaters. Forty Common Scoter also flew north off Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

  Up to four Little Egrets were around the Outer Head along with two Cuckoos, two singing Quail and a Green Sandpiper at Thornwick Pools.

  

  

• 7th July 2026

  Cloudy but warm again, maximum temperature 27°C. Winds light westerly.

  Seawatching highlights comprised a Mediterranean Gull, 14 Manx Shearwaters. and two Minke Whales.

  A singing Quail remained at Old Fall and a juvenile Cuckoo was also seen on the Outer Head while a Hobby was at South Dykes and a Little Egret at Head Farm.

  A further six Minke Whales were feeding off Bempton Cliffs RSPB and two more Quails were on the reserve.

  

• 6th July 2026

  A warm day again,the temperature reaching 28°C. Mostly cloudy in a moderate westerly.

  Two Quail remained near Old Fall and one at Bempton Cliffs RSPB. A Common Sandpiper and a juvenile Shelduck were at Thornwick Pools while seawatching highlights included nine Manx Shearwaters and 12 Common Scoters.

  As has become a regular feature, pods of Bottle-nosed Dolphins were again seen at several watchpoints around the headland and three Minke Whales were off Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

  

• 5th July 2026

  Mainly cloudy but the temperature still rose to 24°C. The wind was a moderate westerly.

  Two Mediterranean Gulls and eight Manx Shearwaters were the highlights off the Fog Station during the morning seawatch. Reports of Quails continue with three along the South Cliffs and another at Bempton Cliffs RSPB where the Bonxie continued to scavenge offshore.

  

• 4th July 2026

  Overcast for the majority of the day, with some sunny intervals, an increasingly blustery westerly wind and high of 24 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included a Bonxie, 40 Common Scoters, 50 Sandwich Terns and 18 Manx Shearwaters. The Thornwick area attracted a Shelduck, 23 Tufted Ducks, two Teal and a Little Grebe. Single Quail (calling), Grey Wagtail and Goldcrest were recorded near South Landing, while a Red Kite toured the outer head.

  

• 3rd July 2026

  More cloud than of late, but temperatures still reached 24 degrees C during sunny intervals; initally light, a moderate westerly wind established in the afternoon. Nine Mediterranean Gulls flew north during a morning seawatch that also featured an Arctic Tern, a Blue Fulmar and 36 Manx Shearwaters. Four Eider were also close inshore off the south side of the headland. The second earliest ever juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew along the South Cliffs in the morning, where a Quail and two Little Egrets were also in residence. A juvenile Common Redstart and a single Spotted Flycatcher were surprising passerine migrants.

  

• 2nd July 2026

  Strong westerly winds featured throughout another sunny day, with temperatures reaching 23 degrees C. The winds were responsible for pushing birds onto the outer head including a juvenile Marsh Harrier, two Cuckoos and 340 Swifts that flew west past South Dykes. In addition, a Quail continued to call from fields near South Landing.

  

• 1st July 2026

  Overcast skies book-ended a largely sunny day, with temperatures reaching 22 degrees in light, generally onshore, winds. The morning seawatch recorded 179 Common Scoters, four Curlew, 38 Sandwich Terns and 23 Manx Shearwaters. On the land, a minimum of two calling Quail were still in residence. However, the day’s most notable sighting was feather-free – a Norfolk Hawker dragonfly was discovered on the outer head. A first for Flamborough and one of only a handful of county records of a species that has traditionally been confined to the East Anglian Broads, but recently shown signs of range expansion.

  

  

• 30th June 2026

  The weather consisted of sunny intervals, a light onshore wind in the afternoon and temperatures that reached 20 degrees C. Following singles on preceding days, an influx of Mediterranean Gulls took place: an adult and three first-summers flew south during a morning seawatch, while five birds were recorded during an evening seawatch: an adult and three first-summers north and a first-summer south. Up to ten Mediterranean Gulls were also recorded along the South Cliffs: a first-summer, a second-summer and up to eight adults. A drake Eider and 315 Common Scoters were also off the South Cliffs, while 94 Manx Shearwaters flew past the Fog Station in the evening.

  Two Quail continued to call from crop fields, including a single near North Landing. Further interest on the outer head included an unseasonal Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail and a Cuckoo, while the Bonxie remained off RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

  

• 29th June 2026

  Overcast skies dominated after a bright start; light/moderate south-west winds and a high of 22 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included a flock of 11 Shelduck south, a Common Tern and four Manx Shearwaters. Three calling Quail were recorded including birds near South Landing and RSPB Bempton Cliffs. The ‘resident’ Bonxie remained at the latter site.

  

• 28th June 2026

  Prolonged sunny intervals, a moderate west-south-westerly wind and temperatures that peaked at 25 degrees C. The second day of the inaugural Seabird Festival provided a significant highlight to a lucky few. A Common Scoter flock unusually landed close inshore off the Seawatch Observatory and careful scrutiny revealed the presence of Flamborough’s first Surf Scoter (a drake) for ten years. Unfortunately, the flock was soon flushed by the approach of the ‘Yorkshire Belle’; although a birder onboard managed to capture images of the scoter. An adult Mediterranean Gull, 12 Manx Shearwaters and 330 Puffins flew north during an evening seawatch. Away from the sea, two Quails continued to call from the outer head, with another Quail remaining at Speeton.

  

• 27th June 2026

  Sunny intervals throughout; initially the headland benefitted from an onshore southerly breeze that ensured temperatures remained no higher than 22 degrees C. A shift to a south-westerly airflow early afternoon brought a dramatic rise to a record-breaking 30 degrees C.

  Befitting of the first day of the Seabird Festival, most attention was focussed on the sea: a Minke Whale moved north past the Seawatch Observatory, whilst a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins entertained for the majority of the day. Larid interest included two Mediterranean Gulls flying north and an adult Yellow-legged Gull that ‘U-turned’ and eventually flew south. Five calling Quail were in residence on the outer head, including two near North Landing and one near South Landing. Additional Quail were also calling from Buckton and Speeton, while the Bonxie remained off RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

  

• 26th June 2026

  A few thundery showers skirted the headland in the morning before sunny skies prevailed; winds remained light and temperatures reached 22 degrees C. An adult Roseate Tern that eventually flew north close inshore was the highlight of a seawatch that also featured an adult Mediterranean Gull, 18 Sandwich Terns and two Arctic Skuas. A total of 174 Swifts flew south past the lighthouse in under an hour ahead of the morning showers. Later in the day, a further 268 Swifts moved south-east past North Landing, while a second calendar-year Little Gull was offshore.

  Three singing Quail included two near North Landing, where a Great White Egret flew south and a Hobby made a typically brief appearance. Elsewhere, the Cuckoo remained in residence around Beacon Hill and two Bonxies were off RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

  

• 25th June 2026

  A sea fret dominated the day, reducing the maximum temperature to 17 degrees, while a light/moderate south-easterly wind added to the fresh feel. Already well-established as a record-breaking spring, an amazing 12 singing Quail were located on the outer head. In addition, an additional two Quail were singing in fields at Speeton. Other notable sightings included two Eider, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Cuckoo.

  

• 24th June 2026

  Sunny with light/moderate onshore winds capping temperatures to a pleasant maximum of 23 degrees C. Three calling Quail were in residence on the outer head, where a juvenile Little Egret flew west. A redhead Goosander flew east past South Dykes, while a Cuckoo was nearby at Beacon Hill. Late evening, a further three Quail were singing from fields near Speeton.

  

• 23rd June 2026

  The warm weather continues. Sunny throughout the day, light south-easterly winds and the temperature rose to 19°C by late afternoon.

  A hundred Common Scoters and seven Manx Shearwaters were the pick of the seawatch. Passage waders at Thornwick Pools included a Green Sandpiper and a Dunlin while a Teal was also new. A Cuckoo was at South Landing beach before moving up the ravine. At least one Quail continued singing on the Outer Head.

  

• 22nd June 2026

  Mainly fine morning with cloud clearing by midday. Winds generally light from the south-east. Warm throughout with a maximum temperature of 23°C.

  The influx of Quails continues with an unprecedented eight heard singing – seven at various locations around the Outer Head and another at Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

  Seawatchers logged 46 Common Scoters, a Red-throated Diver, five Manx Shearwaters and a ‘Blue’ Fulmar. Common Scoters were also sound recorded passing over Bempton overnight.

  A Greenshank and a Little Ringed Plover were noted at Thornwick Pools signalled that the autumn passage of waders is already underway. Raptor interest included a Hobby at Bempton and a Marsh Harrier at Buckton.

  

• 21st June 2026

  Some low cloud and fog during the morning clearing to become mainly sunny with a light easterly and the afternoon temperature rose to 22°C.

  A Shoveler, a Grey Wagtail and a Whimbrel were at Thornwick Pools. Nearby at The Lakes, 29 Tufted Duck were counted. The male Cetti’s Warbler to the west of Danes Dyke continued to sing.

  

• 20th June 2026

  Winds initially from the west switched to onshore later; sunny intervals established in the afternoon, when temperatures reached 25 degrees C. The morning seawatch was rewarded with seven Common Terns, 42 Sandwich Terns and three Manx Shearwaters. Two Quail were recorded on the headland: singles calling at Oceanview and at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Further evidence that ‘autumn passage’ has started for some waders came in the form of single Lapwing and Ringed Plover.