A clearer day with winds in southeast and more observer coverage brought good variety of migration.
Wheatear headlined with around 40 birds present. Specific counts:
8 Golf Course
11 Micklemires
6 Thornwick area
5 cliff top near Holmes Gut
3 opposite Oceanview
2 Old Fall circuit
2 Water Lane
1 Whelkie Wynds
A Wood Warbler on the edge of the Gorse Field was the first of the year and 8 Common Crossbill flew south out of Old Fall Plantation. The Hooded Crow was still present in the North Marsh/ Golf Course area with up to 100 Carrion Crow. Ring Ouzel were recorded at Buckton (1) and Bempton (2). c 35 Fieldfare divided themselves between Micklemires fields and the Gorse Field/ Old Fall area. 2 Male Redstart on Outer Head and male Black Redstart still at Thornwick. Short-eared Owl were around the Gorse Field and at Bempton and a Merlin flew over the outer head. 2 Brambling and single Siskin in Old Fall. A Whinchat east of Thornwick and acredula Willow Warbler by Thornwick Pool. Many song birds are establishing territory with migrants still passing making it difficult discern between the two, in the case of Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers.
2 Bar-tailed Godwit, adult male and adult female gave excellent views on Thornwick Pool and later Micklemires fields. These were joined by a couple of Whimbrel and single Curlew with up to 7 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpiper also on Thornwick. Single Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel also flew south on the morning seawatch. A pair of Garganey on the sea off Bempton was unusual with Great Skua again there.
