Very little wind at the start of the day, with a south-easterly developing later; it remained overcast throughout, with rain arriving mid-afternoon. The morning’s seawatch was rewarded with three Gadwall, two Red-breasted Merganser, 29 Red-throated Divers, 668 Black-headed Gulls and 109 Little Gulls moving south, with a juvenile Pomarine Skua flying north.
Four Whooper Swans referred to two birds that visited North Marsh, a lone bird that flew south and a single at Thornwick. A total of 190 Pink-footed Geese were logged moving south, whilst the Velvet Scoter lingered off South Landing; a Short-eared Owl frequented North Marsh.
The day’s highlight related to a party of six Bearded Tits that landed briefly at North Marsh before gaining height and heading south. Other totals involved: a Turtle Dove at Old Fall, a Shore Lark in off the sea near South Landing, 76 Goldcrests, two Firecrests (Bay Brambles/Old Fall), eight Yellow-browed Warblers, 23 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 40 Chiffchaff, 780 Redwing, 30 Song Thrush, eleven Ring Ouzel (including a single at RSPB Bempton Cliffs), four Mistle Thrush, 15 Stonechat, three Whinchat, a Black Redstart (South Landing beach), two Wheatear, nine Grey Wagtails, 15 Brambling, 65 Chaffinch, 14 Lesser Redpoll, 220 Siskin, 97 Reed Buntings, 45 Yellowhammers and a Corn Bunting.
A concerted ringing effort as part of ‘migweek’ resulted in 199 birds being caught, including a Ring Ouzel, 27 Robin, ten Blackcap, 52 Goldcrests, five Chiffchaff and two Lesser Redpolls.
