Saturday 23rd August 2014

Light to moderate northerly winds dropped by the end of the day moving round to a south-westerly direction. The seawatch produced the following highlights: a single adult Sabines Gull in summer plumage, one 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gull, four Pomarine Skuas and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.

At Buckton there was a ringtail Hen Harrier, 9 Buzzard, 1 Hobby and 3 Peregrine, along with 1 Spotted Flycatcher and a Cuckoo. Hirundines were present in numbers again, with 500 Swallow recorded at Bempton RSPB.

The flooded fields near Old Fall held Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, 2 Knot and 3 Dunlin. Thornwick Pool attracted a juvenile Greenshank, Grey Heron, Snipe, Grey Wagtail and the drake Pochard remained.

Willow Warblers were present in small numbers with 10 around Selwicks Bay/Coastguard Cottages. The day ended on a high, with a juvenile Caspian Gull near Old Fall and the first scarce land bird of the autumn in the form of a Barred Warbler in the Bay Brambles.

Reed Bunting at Buckton, by Paul Reed
Reed Bunting at Buckton, by Paul Reed
Hen Harrier Buckton by Paul Reed
Hen Harrier Buckton by Paul Reed