An overcast start to the day with sporadic light rain throughout the morning followed by sunny intervals later; blustery south-west winds and temperatures peaked at 12 degrees C. Unsurprisingly quieter than of late, seawatching still produced a Black-throated Diver, 63 Little Gulls and a Pomarine Skua flying north, with a Grey Phalarope flying south close inshore at 1435hrs and a second-winter Mediterranean Gull also heading in the same direction.
Unfortunately there was no sign of yesterday’s Taiga Flycatcher. A Woodcock overflew the outer head, four Purple Sandpipers and 63 Turnstone roosted on the cliffs near the Fog Station and a House Martin lingered over the same area. The day’s most notable passerine was a Hawfinch at South Dykes, with a Lapland Bunting at nearby Beacon Hill; 14 Goldcrests, 48 Skylarks, 102 Redwing, eight Fieldfare, a Wheatear, two Brambling and 16 Siskin were also recorded. A Snow Bunting remained on the cliff top at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, whilst three Jays flew west at Buckton.
