Winds shifted subtly from a predominantly northerly direction to a east-north-easterly and dropped in strength during the afternoon; it was again overcast, with temperatures struggling to reach 15 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included six Shelduck, three Pochard, 270 Common Scoters, a Great Northern Diver, 40 Sooty Shearwaters and a Balearic Shearwater all flying north. No fewer than three Sabine’s Gulls were recorded, with an adult and two juveniles feeding in large Kittiwake flocks off the headland that also attracted an additional 12 Sooty Shearwaters. All four skua species were observed during the morning, with an immature Pomarine Skua flying south and three juvenile Long-tailed Skuas moving north along with 36 Arctic Skuas. Passerine interest included seven Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Whinchat and seven Wheatears.
Six Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where a Marsh Harrier, three Pied Flycatchers and a Whinchat were also recorded.
