Light/moderate south-easterly winds, overcast skies with rain from mid-afternoon and temperatures peaking 16 degrees C. Such conditions predictably proved ideal for wildfowl passage, although were no signs that the easterly airflow elicited an arrival of passerines.
A Honey Buzzard that flew in off the sea over Selwick’s Bay at 0850hrs and then headed south-west provided a welcome distraction during the seawatch. September had provided the previous day record tally for Teal (790), but that was beaten when 900 flew south past the Seawatch Observatory; a further 83 dropped onto Thornwick Pools. Additional seawatch records were 26 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, seven Shoveler, a Gadwall, 199 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, four Tufted Ducks and 156 Common Scoter all flying south. A total of 103 Red-throated Divers also moved south, two Sooty Shearwaters headed north, whilst two Mediterranean Gulls, two Roseate Terns (adult & juvenile) and an adult Pomarine Skua went south; 27 Arctic Skuas and two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas headed north. Wader interest included single Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank in residence at freshwater pools, along with five Dunlin.
The Black-browed Albatross entertained at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, with two Marsh Harriers and a Whinchat at nearby Buckton.
