Strong and rather cool westerly winds featured throughout a largely sunny day after a wet start. Seawatching highlights included 11 Pink-footed Geese, 43 Wigeon, a Pintail, two Eider, six Velvet Scoter, three Goldeneye, two Great Northern Divers, a Manx Shearwater, a Mediterranean Gull, 29 Bonxies, a Pomarine Skua and 25 Arctic Skuas flying south, with 163 Little Gulls moving in the other direction. Single Jack Snipe and Woodcock also came in off the sea at the Fog Station.
Thirteen Whooper Swans flew south over South Landing, with an additional four birds on North Marsh; a Little Grebe and seven Grey Partridge were also present at the latter location. Two Little Egrets toured the headland, a Marsh Harrier frequented the Dykes, a Ruff flew over Old Fall, whilst 14 Snipe, a Jack Snipe and one Woodcock came in off the sea at South Landing.
The day’s highlight related to a Pallid Swift; potentially the individual seen on 20th, which was initially observed coming in off the sea and low over the Bay Brambles at 0935hrs. It re-appeared off the Fog Station from 1055-1110hrs, before drifting east out of view. Passerine interest included five Yellow-browed Warblers, two Lesser Whitethroats, 330 Redwings, 58 Fieldfare, six Ring Ouzels, six Mealy Redpolls and a Lapland Bunting.
West of the Dykes, sightings from Bempton Cliffs RSPB included six Whooper Swans, a Ring Ouzel and two Yellow-browed Warblers.
