A misty start to the day with intermittent hazy sunshine that was soon replaced by a heavy overcast with showers, some of which were heavy; temperatures reached 17 degrees C in a light/moderate north-easterly wind. Seawatch highlights included a Balearic Shearwater, 78 Manx Shearwaters and 21 Sooty Shearwaters moving north. An adult Pomarine Skua did the same along with 23 Arctic Skuas and six Bonxies. Five Little Gulls flew south, while two first calendar-year Caspian Gulls and a first calendar-year Yellow-legged Gull remained in residence. However, the rarest sighting related to two Common Dolphins that headed north, an exceptional local record.
Passerine migrants featured once again, headlined by a Blyth’s Reed Warbler photographed in Lighthouse Field early morning only. It showed several times while the hedge was lit by the sun, but melted away once the overcast established. Two Red-breasted Flycatchers were both new arrivals, with one in scrub near the cliff top north of Thornwick Camp and the other in Lighthouse Field after the rain cleared. Additional migrants included four Tree Pipits, six Sedge Warblers, 12 Garden Warblers, 14 Lesser Whitethroats, 82 Wheatear, seven Whinchat, 12 Pied Flycatchers, eight Spotted Flycatchers, 18 Redstarts and one Siskin. A Hobby toured the outer head, where five Sparrowhawks represented an increase.
RSPB Bempton Cliffs attracted one Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, three Lesser Whitethroats, three Garden Warblers, a Tree Pipit, seven Wheatear, a Whinchat, five Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher and two Redstart. Raptor interest there included single Marsh Harrier, Hobby and Merlin, while the Garganey remained at nearby Buckton Pond; there were four Wheatear nearer the cliff top.
