Light westerly winds and sunny skies after a frosty start, resulted in good birding conditions. During the seawatch, a dark-bellied Brent Goose and one Sooty Shearwater flew north, with 200 Pink-footed Geese heading in the opposite direction.
The day’s highlight related to a juvenile White-tailed Eagle that flew in off the sea from Bridlington Bay at 1550hrs; it had earlier flown north over the Humber at Spurn. After touring the headland, it eventually landed in a tree at North Dykes where it went to roost.
A Water Rail frequented the main ravine in South Landing, whilst a Swallow appeared near the Old Lighthouse. A Shore Lark that overflew the outer head appeared to land at Cattlemere, but wasn’t relocated. South Landing hosted both a presumed blythi Lesser Whitethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler. Three Siberian Chiffchaffs remained (two South Landing, one Old Fall), although two Snow Buntings were new. The autumn’s second Little Bunting was discovered late afternoon, feeding in sycamores at South Landing.
West of the Dykes, a Barred Warbler and three Lapland Buntings were seen at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
