A red male Common Rosefinch was the day’s highlight at Holmes Gut/ St David Lane, occasionally singing and showing from late afternoon it was particularly elusive! Cuckoo again, Hobby over the village and Short-eared Owl near lighthouse. Thornwick pool had a Grey Plover, juvenile Ringed Plover (seemed early!) and 2 the Mute Swans. The sea held 3 Eider and Wigeon and 13 Sandwich Tern flew by. A Redwing remained in an outer head garden.
Category: Sightings
Daily highlights of birds seen in the FBO recording area – Flamborough, Bempton, Buckton and Speeton.
55 Common Scoter and 1 Common Tern over the sea. Corn Bunting and Hobby near Old Fall and a Short-eared owl Hunting over Northclifff Marsh. The two 1st summer Mute Swans remain at Thornwick and the BTO ring has been read, so hopefully some news on its origins. 2 juvenile Stonechat continue to entertain there also plus Ringed Plover.
So far a pretty wet day with intervals of heavy rain, fog and some light periods in southerly/SW airstream. 2 female Redstarts in Lighthouse Rd. garden early doors with a drake Gadwall and the 2 Mute Swans on Thornwick. Over the sea 28 Common Scoter and 5 Sandwich Tern. 5 juvenile Stonechat were around the Fisherman’s carpark at Thornwick. 150 Swift over Thornwick was noteworthy
This photos of the Gadwall in the rain, by Brett Richards gives you an idea off today’s weather:
A Redwing amazingly keeps coming to a Lighthouse road garden and a Quail is singing at Buckton. 6 juvenile Stonechat were counted at Thornwick and seawatching included 69 Fulmar on the move aand 27 Sandwich Terns. 1 Short-eared owl continues to hunt the outer head and 2-3 Barn Owl can also be seen hunting by day. Very small numbers of hirundines and flava wagtail seen still migrating
A quieter day, Seawatching produced 37 Common Scoter, 4 Eider, 23 Fulmar with 15 sandwich Tern and one Arctic Tern. Plenty of newly fledged young birds around the head.
Seawatching produced another Grey Plover, 30 Fulmar past, 4 Manx Shearwater, 16 Sandwich and a single Arctic Tern with 153 Common Scoter past and 120 in Bridlington Bay.
This period (around 2 weeks in early June is one off the best for the commoner Hawkmoths on the head, with Eyed, Lime, Elephant, Small Elephant and Poplar all caught in recent days
The annual moult migration of Canada Geese began with 7 south plus 2 Grey Heron and a Gadwall on the seawatch plus single Manx, 29 Fulmar, 11 Sandwich terns. A single Mute Swan remained, joined by 8 Teal in the area. At Buckton, female Marsh Harrier still, 3 Peregrines and Grasshopper Warbler.
Also at Buckton and South Landing Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen (one of which flew straight into the Living seas centre!) and the first Large Skipper on the wing this year also at South Landing.
Yet another Avocet on Thornwick in remarkable run this spring appeared to be a male. 5 Teal and one Mute Swan also there with 139 Common Scoter, 20 Fulmar and 36 Sandwich tern on the seawatch.
Super record was of a Stone Curlew seen by 2 lucky observers (Brett R., Andrew L) as it flew east past the Thornwick hide at 10:24 am. Also 5 Teal and a Ringed Plover past there. The ‘kinked’- necked Mute Swan was taken into care and its presumed sibling remained on the pool. On the seawatch 73 Fulmar and 2 Eider.
5 juvenile Barn Owls were ringed in their nest last Sunday (near Buckton). Beautiful! Early seawatch produced 33 Fulmar, 1 Manx Shearwater past, 26 Common Scoter and 11 Greylag Geese moving south. Terns included 5 Sandwich and 1 Arctic. 1 Mute Swan remains with Ringed Plover and Yellow Wagtail on Thornwick Pool. An immature Grey Heron was on Northcliffe.
Yellow Wagtails are present scattered in suitable breeding habitat now over the headland with the odd late migrant. 2 Grey Wagtail over the outer head this morning
3 Grey Herons today, despite more often being an August migrant with 2 juveniles on Northcliff and one south on seawatch. Also adult Mute Swan south and 2cy still Thornwick Pool where male Tufted Duck. Some 33 Common Scoter passed the headland and 26 Sandwich Tern and 2 Manx Shearwater.
Light NE and full cloud produced a few more seabirds this morning. 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Manx Shearwater , 105 Fulmar , 34 Common Scoter, 7 Curlew, 39 Sandwich and 1 Common Tern. 1 Grey Wagtail. An unseasonal surprise was a Blue Fulmar seen over Thornwick Pool in the early afternoon. Perhaps its occupying territory on a cliff nearby (which has happened before). The Tufted Duck and single Mute Swan remained on Thornwick Pool.
A juvenile Redshank was on Thornwick Pool along with the drake Tufted Duck. The morning seawatch produced 110 Fulmar, 1 Manx and 1 Arctic Tern heading north.
A single Mute Swan was again present on Thornwick Pool. The seawatch produced counts of 193 Fulmar, 8 Manx, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua and 175 Common Scoter. Additionally, a Yellow Wagtail was on Lighthouse Road.
A single Brent Goose flew north during the seawatch, particularly notable for the time of year. Numbers of Manx Shearwater increased to 21, with 1 Bonxie and 139 Fulmar. A single Yellow Wagtail was again present.
Another Arctic Skua flew north on the seawatch. With weather conditions not as favourable as the previous day, numbers of Manx and Fulmar dropped to 5 and 116 respectively. On the headland, the single Mute Swan remained on Thornwick Pool.
The morning seawatch again produced the day’s highlights, with 2 Bonxie, 19 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 6 Manx Shearwaters , 66 Fulmar and 178 Common Scoter. The Mute Swan remained on Thornwick Pool.
Two first-summer Little Gulls flew north offshore during the morning. The seawatch also produced 22 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie, 1 Common Tern and 117 Fulmar.
A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was present on a field adjacent to North Cliff Marsh, along with a single Golden Plover.
With northerly winds the sea watch counts included 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Red-throated Diver, 181 Fulmar, 18 Manx Shearwaters, 264 Common Scoter, 88 Sandwich, 6 Common and 3 Arctic Tern.
Despite high pressure still dominating, with a light south-easterly wind developing during the day and hazy sunshine again prevalent, two local ‘megas’ graced the Headland. A Black Kite took pride of place, when one flew low over cliff top fields near North Landing at 0930hrs, before heading off west (Max Webber). A Nuthatch located in the Bay Brambles mid-morning was photographed, before it flew towards the Coastguard Cottage gardens, but couldn’t be relocated; this species is locally almost as rare as the Kite, with only a handful of previous records.
A creamcrown Marsh Harrier was hunting grassland fields immediately to the west of Mid-Dykes during the morning, much to the consternation of the breeding pair of Curlew there. Thornwick Pool attracted a male Yellow Wagtail, whilst the nearby ‘roost’ reedbed attracted a pair of Broad-bodied Chasers, with the female ovipositing.
The morning’s seawatch produced five Manx Shearwaters north, 21 Shelduck south, 211 Common Scoters south (and 30 north), 55 Sandwich Terns north and a single Common Tern north.
A flock containing at least 500 Common Scoters was off the southern side of the Headland in Bridlington Bay in the afternoon, with one Velvet Scoter also present.
Birds at Buckton included calling Quail, a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker perched on the cliff top Heligoland trap, Common Buzzard and several Goldcrest juveniles in a family party in the Sycamores near the village pond – first ever breeding here.
Little change in the weather, with light winds and the sun breaking through in the middle of the day. Such settled conditions proved conducive to huge flocks of seabirds feeding off the Outer Head, including a single Manx Shearwater amongst 1000s of auks, Kittiwakes and Gannets. Seawatch highlights included 13 Shelduck south, two Tufted Duck north, 163 Common Scoter north (and 152 south!), 74 Sandwich Terns north and single Common and Arctic Terns heading south.
The day provided a local record count of 8 Little Egrets; a flock of five flew north past the Fog Station early morning, followed by two dropping onto Head Farm Pond and another near North Marsh. In addition, three Grey Herons flew north.
The dark-bellied Brent Goose remained on fields near North Marsh, whilst a Cuckoo overflew the Outer Head and two Grey Wagtails did likewise.
Light variable winds continued, although light showers brought a subtle change. The morning’s seawatch produced nine Manx Shearwaters heading north, a Blue Fulmar joined the large seabird feeding flock, 673 Common Scoters flew north, as did 42 Sandwich Terns and six Common Terns. Whilst young Guillemots have accompanied adults on the sea for the last week or so, the first young Razorbill did the same today.
Thornwick Pool attracted a single Redshank and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover.
Bright sunny conditions allied to light winds led to a relatively quiet seawatch. Nine Manx Shearwaters headed north, as did 111 Common Scoters, seven Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Tern.
Common Scoters continued to build off South Landing, with 730 resting on the sea.
Two Grey Wagtails overflew the Outer Head, as did two Yellow Wagtails. In addition, a creamcrown Marsh Harrier lingered in the North Marsh area.
A light NNW wind prompted 11 Manx Shearwaters to head north, along with 51 Common Scoters, whilst a single Bar-tailed Godwit flew south, as did five Curlew. A Bonxie moved north along with 22 Sandwich Terns.
A creamcrown Marsh Harrier was hunting fields at Buckton.
Winds generally from a north-easterly vector prompted two Blue Fulmars to move north during the morning’s seawatch. In addition, five Manx Shearwaters, 133 Common Scoter and 18 Sandwich Terns headed north. The continental ‘sinensis’ race of Cormorant tends to be more prevalent than the ‘carbo’ sub-species at Flamborough during the summer; a single of the former flew south.
The flock of Common Scoters off the South Cliffs contained 750 individuals.
A light northerly breeze prompted a Blue Fulmar to move south. In addition, 16 Manx Shearwaters headed north, four Eider went north, with 45 Sandwich Terns south and four Common Terns north. However, the highlight was a pod of five Bottle-nosed Dolphins that moved north.
The Mute Swan returned to Thornwick Pool, whilst 750 Common Scoters remained in residence off the South Cliffs. A creamcrown Marsh Harrier was still in the Buckton area, as was a post-breeding flock of 34 Curlews. Two Willow Warblers in the Coastguard Cottage gardens were early for undoubted migrants.
A calling Corncrake added significant interest to a moth-trapping session in the early hours. Located in a weedy field just east of the village opposite Millennium Wood, it called until 0900hrs and then again in the evening.
A Blue Fulmar headed north on the morning’s seawatch during moderate north-easterlies, with other records including 12 Manx Shearwaters flying north, 34 Common Scoters south and just nine Sandwich Terns moving north.
Light northerly winds veering north-east with reducing cloud heralded the predicted start of warmer weather this week. The day started with the Corncrake still singing again opposite Millennium Wood. Visitors should be aware this bird is in a private field but can be heard from the adjacent footpath. A Little Egret showed very well at Thornwick Pool. It was a good day for breeding dragonflies with 2 Broad-bodied Chaser near Lighthouse Road and at least 2 male Black-tailed Skimmers at Thornwick Pool.
On the sea 53 Manx Shearwater moved north, small numbers of terns were represented by 2 Arctic Tern, 2 Common Tern and 20 Sandwich Tern. A single Arctic Skua and 56 Common Scoter were also recorded on the seawatch.