Unseasonably warm, with a high of 20 degrees C in a light/moderate westerly wind and sunny skies. A total of 96 Whooper Swans were recorded on the outer head including 16 birds that dropped onto Thornwick Pools; 46 of these were also recorded at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Seawatching was rewarded with 458 Little Gulls (north), 12 Arctic Skuas, six Bonxies, a Great Northern Diver and nine Sooty Shearwaters.
Presumably as a result of the recent strong westerlies pushing southbound birds against the coast, a south-westerly movement of passerines occurred over South Landing from first light involving: 360 Linnets, 70 Goldfinch, 17 Yellowhammers, 12 Redpoll, eight Siskin and three Swallows. Elsewhere, a lone Crossbill rested briefly on Thornwick Camp. Other totals included two Yellow-browed Warblers (South Landing), 19 Chiffchaffs, two Cetti’s Warblers at Thornwick Pools, a Reed Warbler, 14 Redwing, three Mistle Thrush and a Wheatear.
Additional to the Whoopers, sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Merlin, while Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Redpoll were recorded in the nearby village.
