An overcast and slightly misty day with a light northerly breeze. We are now into what is normally considered traditional midsummer and a lull in new birds is often anticipated. Not on this day though.
Seawatching highlights at the Fog Station included 267 northbound Common Scoter with 15 Manx Shearwaters north and 42 south while Bempton Cliffs saw 111 Common Scoter flying SE and also what was without doubt the star bird of the day, an adult Sooty Tern. It passed by the cliffs twice within a few minutes at midday before heading north west and was later seen off Filey Brigg still heading north. This constitutes the first record for the FBO recording area and it can be speculated that this is the same returning bird as seen in Northumberland and Aberdeenshire in July and August last year. A Hobby also flew NW over the cliffs.
On the Outer Head, birding quality in the form of a male Subalpine Warbler was initially heard singing opposite the Golf Course Willows before showing intermittently – the second Subalpine in this location, found by the same person this June. A very smart bird for those lucky enough to see it well.
Elsewhere, Thornwick Pools attracted 3 Little Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin while the number of Teal increased to 5.
