Following what seemed like a lifetime of freezing northerly winds, a switch to light easterlies, prolonged sunny intervals and temperatures reaching nine degrees C elicited an influx of migrants. The year’s first Reed Warblers arrived, with five singing males including three at Thornwick Pools; four singing Grasshopper Warblers were also fresh in, including a single at North Landing. Significant arrivals also included 48 Sand Martins, 34 Swallows, 19 Lesser Whitethroats and 16 Common Whitethroats.
Other notable migrants included a Bonxie, two Whimbrel, a Short-eared Owl, two Hooded Crows, a Ring Ouzel, eight Sedge Warblers, a Goldcrest, a White Wagtail, a female Common Redstart, five Wheatears and a Brambling.
A Short-eared Owl lingered at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, while two Lesser Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers and two Yellow Wagtails were along Hoddy Cows Lane, Buckton.
