The weather consisted sunny intervals, light westerly winds and a peak of 15 degrees C. RSPB Bempton Cliffs was unsurprisingly the centre of many a birders attention due to the continued presence of the UK’s second ever Pale-legged Leaf Warbler. While elusive for long spells, most of the many hundreds of birders on site were able to obtain views at some point. Additional sightings of interest on the reserve included 581 Pink-footed Geese, a Marsh Harrier, three Yellow-browed Warblers, a Siberian Chiffchaff, three Lesser Whitethroats, 25 Goldcrests, a Redstart, two Whinchat, a Tree Pipit and a Common Rosefinch.
A Siberian Stonechat was located at North Dykes in the morning and spent the majority of the day feeding along the fenceline on the eastern side of the dyke. The eastern vibe only intensified with the mid-afternoon discovery of a Red-flanked Bluetail in ‘Booted Gully’ – it showed well flycatching in a lone sycamore until dusk. On the opposite side of the headland, North Landing hosted three Red-breasted Flycatchers and an Icterine Warbler. Equally notable was an influx of five Siberian Lesser Whitethroats on the outer head. Additional migrant totals there included a Jack Snipe, ten Yellow-browed Warblers, 36 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, four Common Whitethroats, two Pied Flycatchers, two Whinchat, a Redstart, one Tree Pipit and two Brambling.
