The first day of meteorological spring was appropriately very sunny although the temperature only reached 9°C in a cool northerly breeze.
Seawatching was relatively uneventful, highlights being four Eider, four Common Scoter, 28 Red-throated Divers and a winter-plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull. The female-type Black Redstart remained below the Fog Station.
Elsewhere on the Outer Head, the more interesting sightings included a Pink-footed Goose, Teal numbers continued to fall with 44 present at Thornwick Pools, a Water Rail, a Jack Snipe and 14 Snipe. Passerine interest involved three Goldcrest, 14 Fieldfare and a male Siskin in a village garden – presumably all birds on their return journey to breeding areas.
At Bempton Cliffs RSPB, two Short-eared Owls continued to hunt on the reserve while nearby at Buckton a Golden Plover headed west and two Lapland Buntings remained on the cliff top.
