After moderate north-easterly winds and showers at the start of the day, the winds dropped slightly and there were sunny intervals in the afternoon. Seawatching highlights included 13 Sooty Shearwaters flying north, 48 Common Scoter, 11 Arctic Skuas and 33 Bonxies all moving south, whilst a Short-eared Owl also went south offshore. A lone Whooper Swan headed south over the Headland, a Yellow-legged Gull appeared off the Fog Station and another Short-eared Owl frequented Beacon Hill later in the day.
Late afternoon, a first-winter/female Red-flanked Bluetail was discovered in South Landing near the Whalebone bridge; in light of the distances involved, presumably a second individual following the bird on private land yesterday. In addition, eight Yellow-browed Warblers remained, as did the Red-breasted Flycatcher at Old Fall; a Hawfinch at the latter location later flew west. Migrant totals included two Ring Ouzels, 490 Goldcrests (with 160 trapped and ringed at South Landing, which included an individual previously ringed in Denmark), two Ring Ouzels, two Redstarts, two Wheatears, a Garden Warbler and 19 Chiffchaffs.
Reflecting the significant arrival of migrants, a total of 287 birds have been caught and ringed over the last two days including 240 Goldcrests, eight Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs one Lesser Redpoll and a single Yellow-browed Warbler.
West of the Dykes, a Yellow-browed Warbler was at Bempton and sightings from Buckton included single Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest, a Ring Ouzel and 60 Goldcrests.
