Moderate/strong north-easterly winds and a heavily overcast morning, before sunny intervals from mid-afternoon. A drake Velvet Scoter was on the sea near South Landing. A Black-throated Diver flew north on the seawatch, as did 13 Sooty Shearwaters, whilst 18 Bonxies moved south.
The Siberian Stonechat remained in the vicinity of the wild bird cover crop south of the Lighthouse, with a Firecrest nearby. Late in the day the South Landing Red-flanked Bluetail was relocated at South Landing, again near the whalebone bridge alongside the sheep field. A Dusky Warbler was discovered along Old Fall Hedge early morning; although relatively vocal and initially flighty, it then reverted to type and stayed elusive until melting away.
The Pallas’s Warbler remained in Old Fall, where there was also a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Great Grey Shrike. Three Yellow-browed Warblers were located in total, with others at South Landing and Whelkie Wynds. Additional migrants included a Jack Snipe, four Short-eared Owls, 1850 Redwings and 130 Fieldfare arriving in off the sea, two Ring Ouzels, 45 Robins, single Redstart and Wheatear and eight Crossbills.
The scale of this week’s influx is amply demonstrated by the total of 675 birds ringed over the last five days, with 556 of these being Goldcrests including individuals previously ringed in Norway, Finland and Denmark.
The Olive-backed Pipit and two Pallas’s Warblers were still present at Buckton. Other sightings from Buckton included single Woodcock and Water Rail, three Short-eared Owls, 220 Goldcrests and 100 Redwing. Nearby Bempton sightings involved 30 Goldcrests, 12 Robins and 100 Redwing.
