Category: Sightings

Light winds were variable in direction during a day that began with extensive sunny intervals but ended with relatively overcast skies; temperatures reached 16 degrees C. The day’s undoubted highlight was the discovery of the year’s second Bonelli’s Warbler mid-morning; initially in the hedge east of Old Fall, it then flew into the Plantation, where it remained until the evening. Unfortunately, it stubbornly refused to call to aid specific identification.

Over 2000 Redwing flew west over the head in the morning, with 17 Barnacle Geese (north), eight Snipe, a Merlin, two Jays and a Fieldfare recorded during the same ‘vis mig’ session. Barnacle Geese were also recorded over Thornwick Pools (14), at South Landing (one) and Thornwick Lakes (two). A Little Owl along Lighthouse Road was an unsual record for the outer head, while two Short-eared Owls were recorded there; sadly one of these appeared to ditch into the sea. Passerine migrants included eight Jays, a Lesser Whitethroat, eight Yellow-browed Warblers, four Goldcrests, three Ring Ouzels, a Tree Pipit, 14 Brambling and a Lapland Bunting.

The most notable seawatch record referred to a juvenile Sabine’s Gull that flew north mid-afternoon. Other records included a Sooty Shearwater, 121 Little Gulls and a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull.

A Short-eared Owl flew in off the sea at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where a Firecrest was trapped and ringed. Nearby, a Yellow-browed Warbler was in Bempton village, while a Black Redstart was on the cliffs at Speeton.

Overcast with strong south-south-easterly winds and a high of 16 degrees C. A vocal Red-throated Pipit over RSPB Bempton Cliffs at 1415hrs was the highlight. Other records from Bempton included 247 Pink-footed Geese, a Woodcock, a Marsh Harrier, two Ravens, 315 Redwing, 34 Blackbirds, 26 Song Thrush, a Ring Ouzel and 16 Brambling.

Seawatching on the outer head was rewarded with two pale-bellied Brent Geese, three Whooper Swans, seven southbound Egyptian Geese, three Goosanders, 59 Little Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, three Sooty Shearwaters and two Long-tailed Skuas. On the land, two Caspian Gulls (first-winter, second-winter) and two first-winter Yellow-legged Gulls followed a plough.

Migrants making landfall and heading west from the outer head included two Jack Snipe, two Ring Ouzel, 475 Redwing, two Fieldfares, 30 Blackbirds, 354 Starling and 14 Brambling. A Marsh Harrier and two Mediterranean Gulls were recorded at South Dykes, while a lone Yellow-browed Warbler was at North Landing.

Sunny intervals dominated after an overcast start which included a band of light rain crossing the headland; there were strong south-west/west winds and temperatures reached a warm 20 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included a Long-tailed Skua, 77 Little Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull off the Fog Station. Better still, a Grey Phalarope rested on the sea off Cattlemere early afternoon, where nine Grey Plovers, another Mediterranean Gull and two Caspian Gulls were in residence. Wildfowl on the move included 59 Whooper Swans heading south, three Pintail and 52 Teal. Small numbers of Redwing, Song Thrush, Blackbird and Starling made landfall throughout the day, along with eight Lapwing and 45 Skylarks. Further passerine interest included a Yellow-browed Warbler at South Landing, where a Jay and ten Siskins were present. The Thresher Shark breached off the Fog Station once again, where a late Clouded Yellow butterfly was also present.

Sightings from RSPB Bempton Cliffs included 18 Whooper Swans, 71 Pink-footed Geese, 79 Blackbirds, 28 Song Thrush, 170 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 22 Skylarks, a Grey Wagtail and nine Bramblings.

Sunny intervals preceded cloudier skies; a blustery south-west wind established once again and temperatures reached 17 degrees C. A Sabine’s Gull that flew north at 1018hrs was the undoubted highlight of a seawatch that also featured 11 Little Gulls and an Arctic Tern.

Five Yellow-browed Warblers remained in residence on the outer head, where additional sightings included two Barnacle Geese, eight Lapwing, four Grey Plovers, one Marsh Harrier, four Jays, a Cetti’s Warbler and 37 Siskin.

Three Brambling fed in the sunflower crop at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

Overcast after a bright start, with moderate south-west winds and a high of 20 degrees C. A juvenile Spoonbill flew south during a morning seawatch that also produced a Pintail, 41 Little Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, three Yellow-legged Gulls, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua and three Manx Shearwaters. Additional sightings on the outer head included a Jay, one Ring Ouzel and three Yellow-browed Warblers.

Eight Whooper Swans flew west from the Dykes towards Bempton village. Records from the reserve included a Jack Snipe in off, two Jays, 28 Song Thrush, 78 Redwing and three Brambling.

Sunny intervals, winds remained light but switched to north-westerlies mid-morning, and a high of 15 degrees C. Five Mediterranean Gulls flew south during a morning seawatch, as did seven Eider and two Little Gulls, while a Red-breasted Merganser moved north. The Thresher Shark also breached three times off the Fog Station.

Six Barnacle Geese flew south over the Lighthouse, with a duo on fields near Thornwick. The waters off South Landing attracted 72 Common Scoters and three Eider, while four Little Egrets and seven Grey Plovers fed on the rocks at Cattlemere. A Woodcock was at Booted Gully, while three Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Ringed Plovers, a Golden Plover and two Dunlin were nearby at South Landing.

Passerine interest included: a Cetti’s Warbler in the Thornwick Roost, two Jays, a Yellow-browed at South Landing, a Grey Wagtail, a lone Twite south over Cattlemere, 25 Siskins and a lone Snow Bunting that overflew Old Fall/Golf Course. The two long-staying Ravens commuted between the high cliffs between Thornwick and RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

Other sightings from the reserve included 16 Whooper Swans flying south-east, a Lapwing, seven Chiffchaff, a Ring Ouzel, 46 Redwing, a Grey Wagtail, three Brambling, two Siskin and a Lapland Bunting.

Overcast with some brighter intervals, a strong northerly wind and maximum of 12 degrees C. An all day seawatch was rewarded with a juvenile Sabine’s Gull that lingered offshore mid-afternoon, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua that flew south and two Pomarine Skuas heading north. Other notable records included four Barnacle Geese, 131 Little Gulls, 1253 Kittiwakes, five Mediterranean Gulls, 68 Sooty Shearwaters and 48 Manx Shearwaters.

‘Strong flying’ passerines took advantage of the northerlies to cross the North Sea including 3780 Redwing, 15 Mealy Redpolls, two Lesser Redpolls and 44 Brambling. Also of note were two Woodcock, a Jack Snipe, one Water Rail, a Short-eared Owl, both Cetti’s Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler at South Landing, and six Grey Wagtails.

Four Barnacle Geese flew south-east at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where additional records included a Short-eared Owl, ten Little Gulls and three Brambling.

Sunny intervals and occasional showers, a moderate north-easterly wind and high of 13 degrees C. Seawatch highlights included a juvenile Sabine’s Gull flying north along with a Slavonian Grebe, two Long-tailed Skuas and four Pomarine Skuas. Also recorded were: 11 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 16 Eiders, 451 Common Scoters, three Goosanders, four Red-breasted Mergansers, 29 Little Gulls, 18 Arctic Skuas, 12 Bonxies, 2321 Kittiwakes and 23 Sooty Shearwaters.

The most notable migrants on the outer head were a Richard’s Pipit at South Landing and a juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Oceanview. Additional records included: four pale-bellied Brent Geese, four Woodcock, a Water Rail, a Long-eared Owl, four Short-eared Owls, three Swallows, five Jays, a Cetti’s Warbler, one Reed Warbler, two Lesser Whitethroats, three Yellow-browed Warblers, 13 Goldcrests, 6490 Redwing west, 470 Blackbirds, 21 Fieldfare, a Grey Wagtail, 42 Brambling, 24 Redpoll (inc. 14 Mealy), 35 Siskin, a Snow Bunting and four Lapland Buntings.

Single Firecrest and Siberian Chiffchaff were trapped and ringed at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Other reserve sightings included: ten Golden Plovers, a Woodcock, two Short-eared Owls, four Jays, 25 Blackbirds, 35 Redwing, six Goldcrests, four Lesser Whitethroats, a Pied Flycatcher, 15 Brambling and ten Redpolls.

Long-anticipated, moderate winds that swung round to the east under overcast skies produced a great day’s birding. Seawatching proved spectacular, with three White-billed Divers flying north, along with seven Leach’s Petrels, three Storm Petrels, three Grey Phalaropes, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, four juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, a Black-throated Diver, one Little Auk and a Velvet Scoter.

The land also proved rewarding: three Radde’s Warblers included two birds together at Thornwick. The year’s third Hoopoe was discovered in South Landing car park early morning; it later flew through Butler’s Lane in the village. Additional interest was provided by two White-fronted Geese, a Long-eared Owl, a late juvenile European Nightjar, two Great Grey Shrikes (including a bird near North Dykes), a Red-backed Shrike, two Firecrests, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Red-breasted Flycatcher (Thornwick) and a Hawfinch. The outer head also attracted ten Woodcock, two Jack Snipe, three Short-eared Owls, four Jays, two Ring Ouzels, seven Black Redstarts, four Mealy Redpolls and three Snow Buntings.

A Pallas’s Warbler headlined at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where sightings included a Great White Egret flying north-west, a Greenshank, one Woodcock, a Black Redstart, one Lesser Whitethroat, a Pied Flycatcher and four Mealy Redpolls.