The weather consisted of light variable winds, overcast skies with occasional light showers and sunny intervals. Seawatching highlights included seven Wigeon, 19 Teal, a Red-throated Diver and 19 Manx Shearwaters flying past the Fog Station, together with a Balearic Shearwater, a Yellow-legged Gull and 297 Common Terns heading north; one Greenshank, a Little Gull, another Yellow-legged Gull, 13 Bonxies and five Arctic Skuas moved south.
A Little Egret was on the beach at Hartendale, 15 Dunlin and a Redshank at Thornwick Pools, with nine Dunlin and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover at Stainforth’s Flash. North Marsh hosted a Short-eared Owl. Passerine interest included a Wheatear, two Whinchat, one Redstart, three Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher and good numbers of Willow Warblers, including 25 at South Landing alone.
The day’s highlight was discovered at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, when an Ortolan Bunting visited the car park early morning only; other sightings there included 40 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler and two Pied Flycatchers. Nearby, Buckton attracted a Short-eared Owl, a Whinchat and six Willow Warblers.
