Month: June 2018

Another day with periods of fog, although mainly restricted to the morning and sunny intervals prevailed subsequently; light northerly winds and temperatures of 17 degrees C. Despite poor visibility at times, highlights from the morning seawatch included two Shoveler flying south and a Manx Shearwater, two Ringed Plover, 12 Sandwich Terns and 864 Puffin flying north. 

Thornwick Pools attracted three Tufted Ducks along with single Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover, whilst Stainforth’s Flash hosted six Ringed Plovers. Four Common Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier drifted over mid-morning. Migrant passerines were scarce, although included two singing Grasshopper Warblers on the north side of the headland, one Wheatear and a Spotted Flycatcher.

An overcast day, with light rain during the afternoon. Seawatching highlights included 11 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver flying north, with 11 Manx Shearwaters and 19 Sandwich Terns heading in the opposite direction. 

Thornwick Pools attracted a Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin. The day’s highlight related to an immature male/female Golden Oriole that flew inland from South Landing over the Living Seas Centre mid-afternoon; single Garden Warbler, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher and White Wagtail comprised the only other passerine migrants.

West of the Dykes, a male Marsh Harrier flew north over Bempton.

Another day that featured prolonged misty periods early and late on, with brighter skies in between; northerly winds strengthened during the afternoon. Seawatching highlights included eight Sandwich Terns heading south and an Arctic Tern flying north. Nine Ringed Plover were recorded, including a flock of eight on Stainforth’s Flash, with two Little Ringed Plovers also present. 

The highlight was the discovery of a female Red-backed Shrike in the Gorse Field mid-morning. A Fieldfare at South Landing was also unusual, with additional sightings including single Wheatear, Whinchat, Siskin and Corn Bunting.

West of the Dykes, an Osprey flew north-west early afternoon.

Continuing the recent theme, the weather consisted of moderate northerly winds, misty conditions with light drizzle. During the seawatch, a Red-throated Diver and 55 Sandwich Terns flew south, with an Arctic Skua moving north. Thornwick Pools attracted a Little Ringed Plover and one Dunlin.

Overcast during the morning, but clearing to sunny skies by the afternoon, with a moderate northerly wind. The morning sea watch produced 19 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver, 142 Fulmar, a Blue Fulmar, 18 Manx Shearwater, 30 Sandwich Tern, 2 Bonxie, 1 Arctic Skua and 651 Puffin.

On the land, the days highlight pertained to a Spotted Flycatcher around the Heligoland trap at Buckton, whilst a Hobby was present on the north side of the outer headland. A notable count for the time of year was of 3 Garden Warbler, with other high counts including 12 Ringed Plover on Stainforth’s flash and 91 Greylag Geese including 45 Gosling.

Barn Owl by Andy Hood

Broad-bodied Chaser by Brett Richards

Another overcast day, with light northerly winds, periods of drizzle and temperatures pegged back to 13 degrees C. During the seawatch, four Teal flew south, single Red-throated Diver flew north/south, 20 Manx Shearwaters headed north, 15 Sandwich Terns flew south, whilst two Bonxies and an Arctic Skua flew north. 

Three Teal frequented Thornwick Pools. On the passerine front, single Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher were recorded.

The weather replicated previous days, with light northerly winds and overcast skies until early afternoon. During the seawatch, 28 Canada Geese, 97 Common Scoter, two Red-throated Divers, two Common Terns and three Arctic Skuas flew north, whilst 21 Sandwich Terns headed south.

Four Eider were present off South Landing, with Thornwick Pools attracting single Little Ringed Plover and Redshank. Passerine interest included two Garden Warblers, a White Wagtail, one Yellow Wagtail and three Crossbills. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was present at Buckton, where a Bonxie flew along the cliffs.

Overcast, with light rain first thing, and light northerly winds. Seawatching highlights included six Red-throated Divers, six Manx Shearwaters, a Bonxie and one Arctic Skua flying north, with 39 Sandwich Terns heading in the opposite direction. 

Single Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellow and White Wagtail on the outer head were all presumed migrants, as was a Redstart in the village.

A day of light northerly winds, overcast skies initially with brighter intervals by the afternoon. During the seawatch, two Red-throated Divers, seven Manx Shearwaters and four Common Terns flew north, with 31 Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua moving south. Two Wheatears lingered at Oceanview and were the only obvious migrant passerines.

Another overcast start to a day with sunny intervals dominating later and only light winds, generally from the north. The seawatch highlight related to a whale, presumed a Minke, that surfaced once as it moved north. Other sightings included three Common Scoter, four Manx Shearwaters, 30 Sandwich Terns and single Arctic Skua and Bonxie. Elsewhere, three Eider were off South Landing and a Little Ringed Plover frequented Thornwick Pools.

West of the Dykes, single Hobby and Corn Bunting were recorded from RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

A bright day, with prolonged sunny spells during the morning and a light easterly wind developing. During the seawatch, 23 Canada Geese flew south, with a Red-throated Diver, 17 Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua moving north. 

Thornwick Pools hosted single Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover and two Dunlin. A ringing session near North Landing was rewarded with seven Sedge Warblers, two Reed Warblers and three Reed Buntings being rung.

After a damp start, sunny intervals featured throughout the day, with light north-easterly winds during the morning. Single Ringed Plover and Dunlin were recorded, whilst the day’s highlight pertained to a cream crown Marsh Harrier that flew south over the Dykes mid-morning.

A bright day, with sunny intervals especially during the morning and a westerly wind. During the seawatch, nine Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, 19 Manx Shearwaters, 17 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Skua and 334 Puffins flew north, whilst an Arctic Tern headed south.

Thornwick Pools hosted a Grey Heron and single Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover, with eight Lapwing at Oceanview.

An overcast start to a day that featured strong south-westerly winds in the morning that gradually dropped in strength. During the seawatch, two Manx Shearwaters, a Sandwich Tern and 269 Puffins flew south. Two Dunlin frequented Thornwick Pools, whilst Mistle Thrush feeding young near South Landing represented a notable local record.

West of the Dykes, a migrant Reed Warbler was located at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

A light/moderate west-south-westerly wind, with occasional sunny intervals in ostensibly overcast skies. Seawatching was rewarded with three Red-throated Divers flying south, 209 Manx Shearwaters heading north, the year’s first appreciable movement, and 39 Sandwich Terns also north.

An influx of Swifts occurred during the afternoon, with 100 between the Dykes and the village and 331 moving south over RSPB Bempton Cliffs. A Reed Warbler at Oceanview was a late migrant.

An overcast day that ended with heavy showers, with light south-west winds throughout. During the seawatch, two dark-bellied Brent Geese, 269 Common Scoters, two Red-throated Divers, 90 Manx Shearwaters, one Little Gull and 35 Sandwich Terns flew north, with nine Shelduck and a Common Tern heading south. In addition, seven Eider were on the sea off the Fog Station.

West of the Dykes, RSPB Bempton Cliffs attracted a calling Quail and 134 Swifts that flew south.

A generally overcast day, with light south-west winds and temperatures eventually reaching the high teens C. Seawatching highlights included 69 Manx Shearwaters and a first-summer Yellow-legged Gull flying north, with 39 Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern heading in the opposite direction.

A relatively warm and sunny day, with moderate south-west winds. Eight territorial male Reed Warblers were in residence, with six in the Thornwick area and an additional duo at Greenacres. West of the Dykes, a singing male Corn Bunting was on roadside wires near Buckton Pond.

A day of moderate westerly winds, sunny intervals and increasing amounts of cloud, with temperatures reaching 21 degrees C. During the seawatch, a Red-throated Diver, 189 Manx Shearwaters, 15 Sandwich Terns and two Arctic Terns flew north. In addition, a female Kestrel and a brood of five young were ringed on the headland.

The weather consisted of moderate westerly winds and sunny intervals, with temperatures of 18 degrees C. Five Manx Shearwaters were the highlight of an early morning seawatch, whilst a Little Egret that overflew Oceanview then lingered on Stainforth’s Flash.

Moderate/strong north-westerly winds gradually abated during the afternoon, with sunny intervals throughout. During the seawatch, nine Manx Shearwaters flew north, as did a Common Tern and a Bonxie, with two Sandwich Terns moving south.

Sunny throughout, with a moderate north-north-westerly wind. Seawatching produced three Red-throated Divers, a Sooty Shearwater, 216 Manx Shearwaters, eight Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern, three Arctic Terns, a Bonxie and an Arctic Skua flying north, whilst 25 Common Scoters and another Arctic Skua moved south. Stainforth’s Flash attracted two Dunlin and a Corn Bunting frequented the immediate surrounds of Thornwick Pools. The escaped Canary lingered in gardens in the centre of the village.

West of the Dykes, an additional ten Manx Shearwaters flew north past RSPB Bempton Cliffs mid-afternoon.

Winds were light throughout and switched from a north-westerly direction to a north-easterly, whilst there were extensive sunny intervals throughout. During the seawatch, 115 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, 247 Fulmar, 162 Manx Shearwaters, two Curlew, 12 Sandwich Terns, four Common Terns and a Bonxie flew north, with another of the latter and an Arctic Skua heading south. 

Stainforth’s Flash attracted two Lapwing, a Dunlin and two Ringed Plover. A pair of Coot accompanied four young at North Marsh, where a White Wagtail was also present.

The weather consisted of light northerly winds, sunshine throughout and temperatures that reached 19 degrees C. Seawatching highlights included 65 Common Scoter, 36 Manx Shearwaters, 33 Sandwich Tern and a Common Tern moving north.

West of the Dykes, a Hobby overflew Buckton.

Another hot and sunny day, with temperatures up to 25 degrees and a light north westerly wind. The morning sea watch held 23 Common Scoter, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Common Gull, 6 Sandwich Tern and 1 Bonxie.

Ringing totals from South Landing included 1 Wren, 4 Dunnock, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap and 1 Bullfinch.

Over at Bempton five Lesser Whitethroat and 107 Swift were notable, whilst a further 11 swift were over the outer headland and a single Lapwing was noted.

Razorbill, Bempton by Alan Walkington.

A day of thick fog throughout, with a light north easterly breeze. The weather conditions prevented the morning sea watch and hampered viewing on the land, with the only notable occurrences on the outer headland relating to 7 Sandwich Tern and 2 Swift.

A Grasshopper Warbler was new in at Bempton, along with Garden Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat and a single Sandwich Tern.

Cormorant, North Landing by Mike Smith.

Grasshopper Warbler, Bempton by Will Scott. 

After an overcast start to the day, sunshine dominated, with temperatures in the high teens and winds remaining light. During the seawatch, eight Manx Shearwaters, four Curlew and single Arctic Skua and Bonxie flew north. The first Guillemot chick appeared on the sea off the Fog Station: fifteen days later than the average over the last decade. Two Little Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin frequented Stainforth’s Flash, whilst a Wheatear at Thornwick was unseasonal. 

After an overcast start, blue skies and sunshine dominated during a day of light easterly winds. Seawatching highlights included five Teal, 80 Common Scoter, two Red-throated Divers, eight Sandwich Terns and four Common Terns heading north, with 150 Common Scoters moving south. Thornwick Pools attracted both single Dunlin and the first returning Green Sandpiper.

A day of sunny intervals, a brief period of fog and moderate northerly winds, with temperatures peaking at 18 degrees C. During the seawatch, 50 Common Scoter, five Manx Shearwaters, two Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Tern and a Bonxie flew north, with one Tufted Duck heading south. The first Razorbill chicks were also seen on the sea off the Fog Station. Thornwick Pools hosted single Curlew. Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and two Dunlin. In addition, five Crossbills visited Oceanview.

The weather consisted of light north-easterly winds, sunny skies and temperatures that reached 18 degrees C. Seawatching highlights included 23 Common Scoter, two Red-throated Divers, 16 Manx Shearwaters, a Golden Plover, one Bar-tailed Godwit, a summer-plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull, nine Sandwich Terns and single Arctic Skua and Bonxie all flying north. In addition, a ‘brown’ Puffin with the usual black plumage tracts replaced by a sandy-brown colour flew north.

Thornwick Pools again hosted single Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Little Ringed Plover. A pair of Mistle Thrush have successfully fledged a minimum of two juveniles near South Landing, with an additional pair on the edge of Bridlington Links GC, South Dykes. Insect interest centred on a female Keeled Skimmer photographed at Thornwick Pools, an exceptional local record. A significant influx of Silver Y moths also took place, with 75 at Thornwick and a minimum of 20 at Beacon Hill.

West of the Dykes, nine Curlew and a Grasshopper Warbler were recorded at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.