It was an unseasonably warm day, with temperatures reaching 17 degrees under sunny skies. A flock of five hirundines of which at least three were Red-rumped Swallows over Wandale Farm stole the headlines; unfortunately, they flew south-west towards Bempton village, but weren’t relocated.
The morning seawatch produced a dark-bellied Brent Goose, eight Whooper Swans, a Black-throated Diver, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, one Mediterranean Gull, a Bonxie and 18 Puffins all flying south, with a Velvet Scoter moving north and 750 Little Gulls offshore. As well as the flock of Whoopers south on the seawatch, a further nine southbound birds crossed the headland, with a Jack Snipe at Thornwick Pools. Raptor interest included the ringtail Hen Harrier, the juvenile Osprey first seen yesterday and the long-staying Merlin.
A Pallas’s Warbler was caught and ringed at South Landing, where a Ring Ouzel, the Dusky Warbler and a Firecrest were also present. A second Firecrest was located in nearby Booted Gully, while the two Pallas’s Warblers remained at Old Fall and nine Yellow-browed Warblers were also in residence. Additional passerine migrants on the outer head included five Black Redstarts, 25 Brambling and 71 Siskin.
Four Barnacle Geese flew south-east at Bempton, where a Swift sp. moved in a similar direction and a Siberian Chiffchaff was present.
