Relatively light easterly winds established during a day that started brightly, but mainly light rain arrived from early afternoon; temperatures reached 11 degrees C. Seawatching was relatively busy, with four Scaup flying south, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull north, a late juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 34 Little Gulls, an Arctic Tern and a Black-throated Diver north. Single Merlin, Black Redstart and Snow Bunting were around the Fog Station.
A total of 23 Whooper Swans flew south, while a Shoveler and a Little Egret were on the outer head. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew south-east high over the Dykes, while 212 Skylarks included 162 moving south. The day’s highlight was the mid-morning doscovery of six Bearded Tits in the Bay Brambles. Other passerine interest included three Brambling, a Snow Bunting and two Lapland Buntings.
Large Pink-footed Geese flocks toured the northern side of the headland once again, with at least 5000 birds present, mainly between RSPB Bempton Cliffs and North Dykes. A single European White-fronted Goose , a Barnacle Goose and a dark-bellied Brent Goose were also present. Other sightings from the reserve included a Little Gull, three Short-eared Owls, six Siskin and two Snow Buntings.
