An overcast day throughout, with heavy rain from dawn until late morning, lighter drizzle through to mid-afternoon, before a dryer interlude; strong easterly winds gradually dropped in strength, although birding remained challenging. Seawatch highlights included 11 dark-bellied Brent Geese (six north, five south), 273 Wigeon, two Pintail, 66 Teal and six Tufted Ducks all flying south, with a Velvet Scoter, one Sooty Shearwater, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, 65 Little Gulls and six Arctic Terns moving north. Thornwick Pools hosted 12 Teal and single Jack Snipe, Dunlin and Water Rail. Seventeen Wigeon and a Short-eared Owl frequented North Marsh.
Although the conditions limited coverage, it was clear a considerable arrival of passerines had taken place, especially of thrushes. A total of 133 Redwing was recorded coming in off the sea during the seawatch, with 300+ downed on the outer head during the heavy rain; although the majority quickly headed inland. Ten Ring Ouzels included two birds at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, with the hedgerows sheltering 160 Song Thrush and seven Fieldfare. A juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Old Fall was the year’s first record, with a Siberian Chiffchaff and a male Red-breasted Flycatcher in the same location. A Shore Lark gave good views near the Lighthouse, with three Yellow-browed Warblers and a Firecrest nearby. Additional records included one Woodcock, another two Yellow-browed Warblers at Old Fall, one Common Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, one Pied Flycatcher, three Redstarts and two Brambling.
RSPB Bempton Cliffs attracted a Jack Snipe, 350 Redwing, 11 Fieldfare, 80 Song Thrush, 16 Goldcrests, a Willow Warbler and three Brambling.
