After overnight showers, a relatively bright morning preceded overcast skies; there were light/moderate south-west winds and a high of 16 degrees C. An adult Long-tailed Skua lingering off the Fog Station was the highlight of a morning seawatch that also featured a first calendar-year Caspian Gull, 15 Golden Plovers, an Arctic Skua, two Bonxies and six Little Egrets.
Autumn’s first skein of Pink-footed Geese moved south. Additional interest was provided by a Merlin at Oceanview and a Greenshank, two Whimbrel and ten Golden Plovers overflying the headland. The year’s second Green Woodpecker surprised at South Landing. The overnight showers grounded passerine migrants including 16 Goldcrest, 55 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warbler, six Wheatear, three Whinchat, one Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 13 Yellow Wagtails, 40 Siskin and a Redpoll. While a fraction of the numbers recorded at other sites, 530 Meadow Pipits on the outer head were notable, with many heading off south-west. Elsewhere, a Marsh Harrier flew over RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
