There were light south-westerly winds throughout, along with sunny intervals, occasional light showers and temperatures peaking at 14 degrees C. A Velvet Scoter flew north during a relatively quiet seawatch that also featured a southerly passage of Pink-footed Geese; albeit the latter was more obvious over the headland itself, with a total of 1172 birds flying south. Of interest, helping maintain one of the skeins perfect ‘V’ were 12 Pintails. Eleven Whooper Swans (4,3,4) also headed south.
The day’s highlight was the discovery of a Nightjar early morning at South Landing that flushed into nearby trees; persistence paid off when undoubtedly the same bird was relocated hunting at dusk. Two Bearded Tits initially seen in the Bay Brambles before they headed south represented another local rarity. A juvenile Red-backed Shrike in the Bay Brambles was fresh-in and joined the Great Grey Shrike that made occasional visits to the same area, although more often it frequented mature hedgerows along the western edge of the Golf Course. Notable sightings also included a Merlin, a relatively late Hobby, 175 Redwings, 12 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Barred Warbler (North Landing), 23 Stonechats, two Whinchats, four Redstart, one Tree Pipit and a Hawfinch (South Dykes). Of additional interest, four Bottlenose Dolphins were off the Fog Station at noon.
The southerly Pink-footed Geese movement was also witnessed at RSPB Bempton Cliffs with a total of 730 logged, along with a Barnacle Goose and 12 Pintail. Migrants there also included two Short-eared Owls, the lingering Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat.
