6th October 2023

The weather consisted of relatively overcast skies, moderate west-south-westerly winds and temperatures that reached 20 degrees C. Wildfowl on the move during the seawatch included 22 Wigeon and 33 Teal south, along with a lone Tufted Duck. A first-winter Caspian Gull was off the Fog Station, while another overflew Thornwick. Seven Mute Swans and 28 Tufted Ducks remained on Thornwick Lakes, while 11 Bar-tailed Godwits were again at South Landing beach. Sightings from South Dykes included 23 Siskin flying west, two Redwing and five Goldcrests, with the juvenile Harris Hawk again seen nearby.

A skein of 130 Pink-footed Geese flew south-east over RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where 20 Golden Plover, one Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, 15 Goldcrests, 21 Redwing, two Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll were also recorded. Nine Snipe flew west over the nearby village, where there were also four Goldcrests, four Chiffchaffs, a Redwing and a Grey Wagtail.

Short-eared Owl, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, by Alan Walkington