Sunny throughout, with a light onshore wind developing during a day where temperatures reached 17 degrees C. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua flew north during a morning seawatch that also featured two Black Terns and a Minke Whale; 200 Little Gulls, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull and a dark-bellied Brent Goose flew south during an evening watch. Chiffchaff numbers continued to increase, with eight at Beacon Hill/Hartendale and five at Thornwick an indication of a significant tally across the headland. Single Whinchat and Grey Wagtail were also present.
The high pressure conditions proved conducive to raptors drifting onto the headland, with 58 Common Buzzards recorded from RSPB Bempton Cliffs along with a Red Kite, five Marsh Harriers and the long-staying juvenile Merlin. Seven Chiffchaffs were also present on the reserve, together with a Spotted Flycatcher that arrived in the evening and 56 Meadow Pipits flying north-west.
