There were light easterly winds throughout, overcast skies preceded sunny intervals and temperatures peaked at 15 degrees C. The influx of two scarce migrant species have dominated the national headlines within the last week and Flamborough featured both today. An adult Rose-coloured Starling joined the Starling flock in the Gorse Field mid-afternoon, although there were no further signs of the bird in the evening. However, it was the arrival of 12 Bee-eaters that was unprecedented (presuming the following sightings related to different birds): two graced Old Fall at 1105hrs, but soon departed south over Bridlington Bay. A single was then located on wires near the Old Lighthouse at 1215hrs before it flew east; presumably the same individual then headed in off the sea near the Lighthouse at 1440hrs and headed south-west along the cliffs. Finally, a flock of nine birds toured the outer head around Old Fall from 1705-1730hrs before they all headed south-west. Other notable sightings included a Red-breasted Merganser unusually on Thornwick Pools, a Hobby over Thornwick Pools/Selwick’s Bay, the year’s first Quail flushed on the cliff top south of the Seawatch Observatory and single Cuckoo and White Wagtail at Oceanview.
