The weather consisted of prolonged sunny intervals, light southerly winds and temperatures reaching 16 degrees C. Migweek started with a bang, with a Red-throated Pipit located in the Lighthouse Grassland mid-morning. Unfortunately its appearance was brief, as was another sighting in the same area late afternoon. Three Yellow-browed Warblers were present on the outer head, including a single in the Bay Brambles, but there was no sign of yesterday’s Red-flanked Bluetail at the same location.
A couple of small skeins of Pink-footed Geese contained a total of 38 birds, whilst 11 Whooper Swans flew west over the outer head. A Red-breasted Merganser was on the sea off the South Cliffs, with yesterday’s Little Owl on nearby farmland. Passerine migrants were scarce, but included a Jay, two Reed Warblers, four Lesser Redpolls and three Brambling. A pod of at least 12 Bottlenose Dolphins moved south past the headland mid-morning. Notable records from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included 100 Pink-footed Geese, the aforementioned Whooper Swans, 86 Skylarks, two Yellow-browed Warblers (inc. one caught & ringed), single Brambling and Siskin and a Snow Bunting that flew north-west.
