Overcast throughout, with a blustery south-west wind and temperatures reaching 18 degrees C. While the local airstream was unchanged, developing high pressure over Scandinavia resulted in a north-easterly wind establishing at higher latitudes – the result, the autumn’s first appreciable thrush arrival. A total of 6600 Redwings arrived during the day, with movement continuing throughout daylight hours; these were accompanied by two Jack Snipe and four Fieldfare. Additional ‘vis mig’ migrants, albeit ones that almost certainly originated from closer to home, included 365 Goldfinch and 168 Lesser Redpolls flying south-west off the headland. Continuing the passerine theme, the year’s second Marsh Tit visited a garden near South Landing.
Seawatch highlights included six Goosanders south, two Little Gulls, single Arctic Skua, Bonxie and Puffin, a Great Northern Diver south and a Sooty Shearwater north. Two Velvet Scoters were off South Landing late afternoon.
Three Barnacle Geese, 28 Pink-footed Geese, a Jack Snipe, a first calendar-year Caspian Gull, a Marsh Harrier, four Brambling and five Lesser Redpolls flew south-east at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. A first calendar-year Yellow-legged Gull flew north-west over the reserve, as did 116 Redwing. Three Short-eared Owls were in residence, while grounded migrants included 18 Goldcrests.
