Category: Sightings

More cloud than of late, but temperatures still reached 24 degrees C during sunny intervals; initally light, a moderate westerly wind established in the afternoon. Nine Mediterranean Gulls flew north during a morning seawatch that also featured an Arctic Tern, a Blue Fulmar and 36 Manx Shearwaters. Four Eider were also close inshore off the south side of the headland. The second earliest ever juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew along the South Cliffs in the morning, where a Quail and two Little Egrets were also in residence. A juvenile Common Redstart and a single Spotted Flycatcher were surprising passerine migrants.

Overcast for the majority of the day, with some sunny intervals, an increasingly blustery westerly wind and high of 24 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included a Bonxie, 40 Common Scoters, 50 Sandwich Terns and 18 Manx Shearwaters. The Thornwick area attracted a Shelduck, 23 Tufted Ducks, two Teal and a Little Grebe. Single Quail (calling), Grey Wagtail and Goldcrest were recorded near South Landing, while a Red Kite toured the outer head.

Mainly cloudy but the temperature still rose to 24°C. The wind was a moderate westerly.

Two Mediterranean Gulls and eight Manx Shearwaters were the highlights off the Fog Station during the morning seawatch. Reports of Quails continue with three along the South Cliffs and another at Bempton Cliffs RSPB where the Bonxie continued to scavenge offshore.

A warm day again,the temperature reaching 28°C. Mostly cloudy in a moderate westerly.

Two Quail remained near Old Fall and one at Bempton Cliffs RSPB. A Common Sandpiper and a juvenile Shelduck were at Thornwick Pools while seawatching highlights included nine Manx Shearwaters and 12 Common Scoters.

As has become a regular feature, pods of Bottle-nosed Dolphins were again seen at several watchpoints around the headland and three Minke Whales were off Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

Cloudy but warm again, maximum temperature 27°C. Winds light westerly.

Seawatching highlights comprised a Mediterranean Gull, 14 Manx Shearwaters. and two Minke Whales.

A singing Quail remained at Old Fall and a juvenile Cuckoo was also seen on the Outer Head while a Hobby was at South Dykes and a Little Egret at Head Farm.

A further six Minke Whales were feeding off Bempton Cliffs RSPB and two more Quails were on the reserve.

Cloudless skies, light easterlies and the temperature rose to 23°C.

The morning seawatch was productive with six Shelduck, 158 Common Scoter, a Whimbrel, an adult Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Skua and four Manx Shearwaters. Forty Common Scoter also flew north off Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

Up to four Little Egrets were around the Outer Head along with two Cuckoos, two singing Quail and a Green Sandpiper at Thornwick Pools.

Another warm, sunny day, the light easterly breeze moderating the temperature which rose to 22°C.

Seawatching was predictably quiet, a single Minke Whale being the highlight. Four Little Egrets graced the rocks at Cattlemere and a Wood Sandpiper spent all afternoon at Thornwick Pools. A Red Kite flew north over the village. Four Quails continued to sing on the Outer Head.

The dry, sunny weather goes on. A light easterly breeze and a maximum temperature of 22°

Seawatching yielded 27 Common Scoters, an Arctic Tern and an Arctic Skua while a Grey Wagtail passed overhead. The Wood Sandpiper remained at Thornwick Pools, three Little Egrets were at Cattlemere Rocks and a Cuckoo at Old Fall.

Quails continue to be found with six along Hoddy Cows Lane, Buckton.

Cloud carried in on an onshore light north-easterly meant cooler conditions with the temperature reaching 19°C.

Seawatching at the Fog Station provided highlights that include seven Eider, 252 Common Scoter, a Whimbrel, two Arctic Skuas and two Manx Shearwaters.

Yesterday’s Wood Sandpiper remained at Thornwick Pools, two Whimbrel came in off the sea at Breil Nook and five Mediterranean Gulls were along the southern cliffs. A single Quail called on the Outer Head.

A phylloscopus, thought to be either a Greenish or Green Warbler, sang for just a few minutes at Bempton Cliffs RSPB and recorded but, frustratingly, it was not seen or heard subsequently. Investigation into its identity is ongoing.

Sunny skies returned but the moderate north-easterly moderated the temperature which reached 20°C.

Seawatching totals included 14 Common Scoter, ten Arctic Terns and 19 Manx Shearwaters. A White Wagtail at Thornwick Pools was a new migrant.

Variable cloud cover in a moderate to fresh north-easterly, the temperature reaching 19°C.

Unexpected finds of the day were a drake Scaup off South Landing and a Black Redstart. Other sightings around the Outer Head include two Whimbrel, a Greenshank, two Grey Wagtails and a singing Quail. Eleven Manx Shearwaters, three Arctic Terns and 12 Common Scoters were the best of a morning seawatch.

A Great Skua continued to patrol offshore at Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

A blustery northerly wind, relatively cloudy skies and a high of 17 degrees C. The undoubted highlight was the discovery of an immature Brown Booby at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Photographed off Breil Nook late morning, it eventually flew off north-west. However, it then re-appeared briefly along the cliffs mid-afternoon before disappearing below the cliff-line. This constitutes the second record for the headland, following the well-twitched bird that lingered off the Flamborough/Filey coast in September 2023. Additional sightings from Buckton/Bempton included a Bonxie, a singing Quail, a Marsh Harrier and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

A morning seawatch at the Fog Station was rewarded with 58 Common Scoters, 32 Manx Shearwaters, 1503 Puffins, 14 Arctic Terns and two Bonxies flying north; a lone Arctic Skua also flew south. In the evening, 30 Common Scoters, ten Manx Shearwaters and 1308 Puffins flew north in 90 minutes. Elsewhere, two Quail sang on the outer head, while a Hobby flew over South Landing.

Overcast until the evening when sunny intervals prevailed; there were light north-east winds and a high of 18 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included 15 Teal, 225 Common Scoters, five Arctic Terns, 196 Sandwich Terns, a Mediterranean Gull, three Arctic Skuas and 27 Manx Shearwaters that all flew north. A lone Bonxie lingered offshore, while a recently fledged Herring Gull loafed with gulls at Cattlemere.

Light northerly winds throughout; an overcast morning preceded brighter skies, while temperatures reached 20 degrees C. The morning seawatch was rewarded with 126 Common Scoters, 32 Arctic Terns, 73 Sandwich Terns, two Arctic Skuas and 13 Manx Shearwaters flying north; a flock of 17 Black-tailed Godwits headed south.

Elsewhere, a lone Quail continued to sing from fields along Lighthouse Road, a Whimbrel was on the shore at Hartendale and a female-type Black Redstart appeared at the Fog Station; the latter the second individual this week, following an adult male.

Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included a Marsh Harrier, one Snipe, seven Eiders (flying north-west) and a Bonxie.

A northerly wind strengthened during the day; overcast at first, with sunny intervals from late morning and a high of 19 degrees C. These were essentially seawatch conditions, and oft said, the season begins in mid-July – certainly the day featured an uptick in quality.

The undoubted highlight of a morning seawatch was a summer-plumaged Black Guillemot that flew north past the Fog Station at 0915hrs. Number of Puffins tend to peak during July, presumably as non-breeding birds reconnoitre colonies ahead of the next breeding season: a total of 4950 Puffins flying north during the morning was testament to such an increase. Other notable records included a Blue Fulmar lingering offshore, an eclipse drake Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Manx Shearwaters, 20 Oystercatchers south, two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Skua, 286 Sandwich Terns north and six Arctic Terns also north. In addition, a Marsh Harrier flew in off the sea. Later in the day, a Cory’s Shearwater flew north relatively close inshore from 1915-1922hrs.

Thornwick Pools hosted 47 Tufted Ducks, including a female with a recently hatched duckling. Passerine records included a Garden Warbler at Oceanview and nine Yellow Wagtails.

A Quail was seen in flight at Bempton, where single Marsh Harrier and Bonxie were also recorded.

Overcast until mid-afternoon, with a blustery northerly wind and high of 18 degrees C. Attention focused on seawatching which was rewarded with: 115 Oystercatchers south, 35 Arctic Terns north, 82 Sandwich Terns, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, three Little Gulls, two Bonxies, 3660 Puffins north and 71 Manx Shearwaters also north.

Further evidence that some passerines are already on the move came in the form of a Spotted Flycatcher at the Bowling Geen.

Blustery northerly winds, an overcast morning with occasional light showers that preceded brighter skies; temperatures eventually reached 18 degrees C after a distinctly cooler start. Seawatch highlights included five Wigeon, seven Arctic Terns, 237 Sandwich Terns, a Mediterranean Gull, a Bonxie and 26 Manx Shearwaters.

The summering Bonxie was still in residence at RSPB Bempton Cliffs where additional sightings included two Arctic Terns, a Hobby and three Yellow Wagtails.

Sunny, with light onshore winds and a peak of 21 degrees C. Seawatching produced the year’s first Sooty Shearwater, a Blue Fulmar, the first juvenile Caspian Gull of the season, a flock of 16 Whimbrel moving south, 621 Sandwich Terns north (including 47 birds that cut the head by flying overland), two Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie and 42 Manx Shearwaters. Elsewhere, Thornwick Pools hosted single Green Sandpiper and Redshank along with two Dunlin.

The day’s most significent surprise was an adult Spotted Flycatcher feeding a newly fledged juvenile in Old Fall. Additional records included six Eider, a Quail calling along the South Cliffs and 19 Yellow Wagtails.

The day ended with sunny skies after an overcast start; there were light northerly winds and temperatures reached 19 degrees C. A record-breaking 14 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls flying north were a particular feature of the seawatch. Two juvenile Caspian Gulls included a yellow darvic-ringed individual. Other notable records included 345 Common Scoters, four Arctic Terns, 256 Sandwich Terns, two Arctic Skuas and three Little Egrets. A single Quail was singing from the outer head, a Hobby overflew North Landing and 13 Whimbrel were recorded at South Landing. Evidence that passerines have started to move came in the form of five Willow Warblers and a ‘migrant’ Sedge Warbler.

Three Marsh Harriers, five Yellow Wagtails and 420 Painted Lady butterflies were the most notable sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

Four Purple Hairstreaks near South Dykes represented an excellent local record.

The weather followed a similar pattern of late, with overcast skies and occasional light drizzle preceding sunshine; light northerly winds once again and a high of 20 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included 114 Common Scoters, 206 Sandwich Terns, two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, an Arctic Skua, two Sooty Shearwaters and 18 Manx Shearwaters all flying north. A Sunfish off High Stacks represented an unusual record.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier toured the outer head, while six Eider and a Little Egret remained below the South Cliffs; another juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew past South Landing. Three Quail called from fields on the south side of the outer head. The Spotted Flycatcher family remained at Old Fall, where a migrant Willow Warbler a Hobby were present. Twelve Yellow Wagtails also frequented the outer head.

Sightings from Buckton included two creamcrown Marsh Harriers, three Quail calling and a Tree Pipit. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the shore between South Dykes and Sewerby.

Sunny intervals established mid-morning during a day of very light winds and high of 21 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included two Common Terns, 332 Sandwich Terns and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls flying north, while 62 Oystercatchers and a Ringed Plover headed south. In addition, four Minke Whales fed offshore, the first sighting for a couple of weeks. Three Marsh Harriers toured the outer head, where three Willow Warblers were also present. At least one calling Quail also remained in the same area.

Records from Buckton included two Quail and a Marsh Harrier, while an adult Mediterranean Gull overflew RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

A sunny and warm day, with light/moderate westerly winds and a maximum of 26 degrees C. Seawatch records included juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and juvenile Caspian Gull together with five Great Crested Grebes and an Arctic Skua. Three Little Egrets, four Whimbrel, three Golden Plover, 42 Redshank, 17 Turnstone and an adult Mediterranean Gull were in residence. A Short-eared Owl briefly dropped into the Gorse Field, while a single Red Kite toured the outer head. Other notable sightings included a single Quail, a juvenile Cuckoo, two Wheatear, 11 Yellow Wagtails and four Willow Warblers were present. A Nuthatch that visited a village garden was unusual.

Mainly overcast, with occasional sunny intervals, a high of 24 degrees C and, importantly, a blustery westerly wind. The latter was responsible for pushing a headline-grabbing juvenile Black Stork onto the headland. Initially photographed moving south-east over the sea at RSPB Bempton Cliffs at 1040hrs, it made landfall at the Fog Station ten minutes later. Despite being elusive for much of the day, it toured various fields (but mainly hidden dips!) east of the village through to the evening. This represents the second record for the headland, following a single in August 2021.

Additional seawatch highlights included six juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, two juvenile Caspian Gulls and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. A total of 250 Sandwich Terns flew north, while a single Minke Whale added interest. Elsewhere, nine Dunlin dropped onto Thornwick Pools and a Hobby flew west over the village.