The weather consisted of prolonged sunny intervals, lighter south-west winds and temperatures reaching 24 degrees C. Seawatching again proved productive for terns, the main highlight being seven Black Terns, the highest total for over a decade; other counts included 787 Common Terns and 436 Sandwich Terns. Four Goosanders, two Bonxies, 19 Arctic Skuas, 11 Little Gulls, a juvenile Caspian Gull and a Sooty Shearwater were also recorded during the morning and evening sessions.
The year’s first Common Rosefinch was an early morning discovery along Lighthouse Road, while the juvenile Red-backed Shrike lingered at South Landing. Four Pied Flycatchers also remained, while Willow Warbler numbers increased – 15 at Oceanview alone hinting at a significant increase.
Thornwick Pools attracted two Wood Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover, two Little Ringed Plovers, six Dunlin and a Greenshank; a Hobby overflew Mid Dykes.
A south-easterly raptor movement took place over RSPB Bempton Cliffs in the morning, involving three Marsh Harriers, six Sparrowhawks, nine Kestrels and 14 Common Buzzards. Additional sightings there included 244 Swifts, a Black-tailed Godwit, both juvenile Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls, six Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, one Pied Flycatcher and a Common Redstart; a Minke Whale was also recorded.
