25th October 2017

A day of sunny intervals and light overcast skies with a moderate westerly wind. During the seawatch, 95 Little Gulls and two Arctic Skuas flew north; single Ring Ouzel, Goldcrest and Mealy Redpoll also flew in off the sea.

Eight Whooper Swans and 355 Pink-footed Geese flew south over the headland. An adult Caspian Gull rested on the Golf Course during the morning, an adult Mediterranean Gull frequented Thornwick Bay, whilst single Swallow and House Martin were recorded. Two Nuthatches attended the feeders in South Dykes, with additional passerine interest including two Yellow-browed Warblers, 300 Blackbird, 460 Redwing, 22 Fieldfare, five Ring Ouzel, 158 Siskin, six Lesser Redpolls, two Brambling and a Snow Bunting.

West of the Dykes, sightings from Bempton Cliffs RSPB included the aforementioned Pink-footed Geese, one Water Rail, a Yellow-browed Warbler and 29 Siskin. As well as these geese, a further 320 Pink-feet flew south over Buckton.

Lesser Redpoll, outer head, by John Beaumont