A bright and warm day, the light to moderate westerly wind continued, temperatures reached 20°C.
Highlights of the morning seawatch included 4 sooty Shearwaters north and a single Manx south. Passing waders were restricted to one Bar-tailed Godwit. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew north as did 61 Common Gulls which is a significant increase on previous days. Four Arctic Skua headed south and a single Bonxie north. Passerines passing overhead included a Grey and 2 Yellow Wagtails, 207 Meadow Pipits and 12 Siskins. During the afternoon, a Cory’s Shearwater headed slowly north, 2 Manx Went south as did 2 Little Egrets.
Away from the Fog Station, wader interest included 2 Common Sandpipers at Hartendale. A juvenile Caspian Gull put in appearance at Thornwick Pools and 32 Pink-footed Geese passed over. There were more passerine migrants than in recent days. In addition to the Meadow Pipits counted on the seawatch a further 88 were logged on the Outer Head. Eleven Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat were all increases on recent days while warblers were also well represented with 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 8 Willow Warblers, 7 Chiffchaffs and single Sedge and Reed Warblers. A Crossbill flew over the Gorse Field and 5 Siskin were also present.
The bird cover crop at Bempton is producing results with an extraordinary mixed flock of 1000 Linets and Goldfinches. Other highlights included 3 Marsh Harriers and 3 Short-eared Owls, 5 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatears, 7 Yellow Wagtails and a Crossbill. Buckton was also in on the action with a 6 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and 3 Blackcaps.
