A day of moderate east-south-easterly winds and sunny skies, after light rain around dawn, ensured today was special. Bempton Cliffs RSPB stole the headlines with the discovery of the UK’s fourth ever Eastern Crowned Warbler near the visitor centre. Found in the middle of the day, the warbler remained stubbornly elusive until late afternoon when it started to give better views.
East of the Dykes, a Siberian Stonechat appeared briefly in the Bay Brambles before disappearing, but was then relocated in the Gorse Field late afternoon. A Radde’s Warbler remained frustratingly elusive near Highcliffe Manor (formerly the Timoneer), South Landing. A Pallas’s Warbler frequented the Golf Course Willows and a Siberian Chiffchaff was discovered at Thornwick.
During the seawatch, a dark-bellied Brent Goose flew north, 53 Wigeon and 40 Teal and a Little Gull headed south, with seven Bonxies and two Arctic Skuas moving north. The Taiga Bean Goose remained at North Marsh. Other migrants included two Short-eared Owls and an influx of thrushes; including 140 Song Thrush, 90 Redwing and seven Ring Ouzels. Other migrants included a Common Whitethroat, four Lesser Whitethroats, a Redstart, two Whinchat, a Pied Flycatcher and a Hawfinch. Yellow-browed Warblers were again ubiquitous, with 42+ present, but attention was focused elsewhere.
In addition to the aforementioned, sightings west of the Dykes included ten Chiffchaffs, single Spotted and Pied Flycatchers at Bempton Cliffs RSPB. Buckton sightings included a Fieldfare, 100 Song Thrush, 50 Redwing, 30 Blackbirds, a Ring Ouzel, 30 Goldcrests, eight Chiffchaffs and 12 Brambling.
