The weather consisted of light south-westerly winds, sunny intervals and temperatures peaking at 12 degrees C. The Taiga Flycatcher remained in South Landing all day and visiting birders located a Red-flanked Bluetail only 50m away late morning; the latter also remained in residence until late afternoon.
Northbound highlights of the morning seawatch included two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 62 Eider, three Red-breasted Mergansers, a Great Northern Diver, two Manx Shearwaters, a Grey Phalarope, two Little Gulls and three Little Auks. A Great Northern Diver also flew south.
It proved to be another day that featured a significant arrival of thrushes amongst others: ‘vis mig’ counts of birds heading west off the headland included 6200 Redwing, 4315 Blackbirds, 2470 Fieldfares, 275 Siskin, two Woodcock and, amazingly, a Little Auk flying west over South Dykes in a flock of Redwing!
Three Short-eared Owls flew in off the sea, whilst six Woodcock and a Merlin also frequented the outer head. In addition grounded migrant totals included 955 Blackbirds, 220 Redwing, 105 Fieldfare, an Eastern Lesser Whitethroat, a Siberian Chiffchaff, two Chiffchaffs, three Blackcap, eight Goldcrests, 13 Lesser Redpolls, 180 Siskin, 18 Brambling, four Twite and eight Snow Buntings.
