Winds were light from the north-west at the start of the day, switching to a moderate south-easterly from early afternoon, with relatively overcast skies throughout. Seawatch highlights included three dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Pintail and three Velvet Scoter flying north, a Goldeneye, one Sooty Shearwater and a Red-necked Grebe south. Two juvenile Sabine’s Gulls flew north (at 1124hrs), as did 415 Little Gulls during the morning (with 209 south in 45 minutes in the evening) and two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas also moved north.
Four Gadwall were on the sea off the Fog Station late afternoon, eight Grey Herons included a flock of four flying south, four Jack Snipe were present at North Marsh and two Short-eared Owls included a single in off the sea. Twenty Yellow-browed Warblers represented the highest year’s highest tally to date; this included three birds caught & ringed at South Landing, three at Old Fall and a single caught & ringed at Buckton. Additional passerine interest included two Ring Ouzel (including one caught & ringed at South Landing), 1125 Redwing in off, 90 Song Thrush, three Mistle Thrush, 35 Goldcrests, a Willow Warbler, three Lesser Whitethroats, a Willow Tit at Old Fall, three Stonechat, a Whinchat, three Wheatear, four Redstarts, three Grey Wagtails, seven Brambling, 59 Reed Buntings and four Corn Buntings.
Migrants at RSPB Bempton Cliffs/Buckton included the aforementioned Yellow-browed Warbler at Buckton, a Grey Plover flying north-west, one Willow Warbler, a Ring Ouzel at Bempton and two Brambling.
