Migweek 2022 began with bright, sunny skies, a light/moderate westerly wind and temperatures reaching 13 degrees C. Wildfowl were on the move with 52 Whooper Swans (51 south, 1 north), 3000+ Pink-footed Geese flying north from the Humber to feed on cliff top fields. A Barnacle Goose also briefly visited Thornwick Pools where a Bittern proved popular.
There was an obvious increase in passerine migrants including a Ring Ouzel, 18 Redwing, 78 Skylarks, 17 Blackcap, five Yellow-browed Warblers (including four at South Landing), a Willow Warbler, 23 Chiffchaffs, 23 Goldcrests, four Lesser Redpolls, eight Siskin and a Brambling. Seawatch highlights included 12 Little Gulls, two first-winter Yellow-legged Gulls, nine Common Terns and an Arctic Tern. The Merlin continued to hunt the outer head favouring the cliffs around the Fog Station, with presumably another individual at South Landing.
Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs reflected those on the outer head, including 1930 Pink-footed Geese, 46 Whooper Swans and 53 Skylarks moving north-west; a lone Barnacle Goose was located within a Pink-feet flock along Cliff lane late afternoon. In addition, a Barred Warbler made an appearance in the Dell. Another three flocks of Whooper Swans and a Little Owl were recorded during a ‘noc mig’ session in Bempton village.
