Category: Sightings

Another warm day, with sunny intervals and a light southerly wind. During the seawatch, eight Common Scoters flew south, with a Manx Shearwater and six Sandwich Terns heading north.

Thornwick Pools once again hosted single Wigeon and Wood Sandpiper, whilst three Corn Buntings were seen on the outer head. The warm conditions also proved conducive to other taxa, with three Small Copper butterflies recorded between Thornwick and Breil Nook and six Broad-bodied Chasers also present.

A day of light winds, sunny intervals with light rain for a brief period and temperatures that reached 20 degrees C. Seawatching highlights included 71 Common Scoters flying south, five Manx Shearwaters, 12 Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern.

Two Marsh Harriers flew south, but the day’s highlight related to a first-summer male Golden Oriole that sang at Old Fall early morning before heading west.

After an overcast start to the day, sunny conditions predominated and north-westerly winds lessened in strength. During the seawatch, 97 Common Scoters and ten Manx Shearwaters flew north, with ten Sandwich Terns also logged. In addition, a Bonxie lingered offshore.

A Hobby overflew South Landing, whilst a Marsh Harrier headed south over Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

A day of sunny intervals and moderate westerly winds. During the seawatch, ten Common Scoters flew south, with three Manx Shearwaters, a Little Egret and a Sandwich Tern moving north; a Bonxie again lingered offshore.

A Reed Warbler along Lighthouse Road was a late migrant, whilst a Marsh Harrier frequented Buckton.

Arguably the most notable sighting related to a female Red-veined Darter located near Head Farm.

An overcast day, with light rain in the morning and heavy rain during the afternoon; strong south-westerly winds persisted throughout. Little moved over the sea, although three Manx Shearwaters were logged.

West of the Dykes, an Arctic Tern flew north and a Short-eared Owl remained at Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

An overcast day throughout with a moderate/strong southerly wind and periods of heavy rain. Seawatching highlights included 42 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver flying north, with 23 Manx Shearwaters moving south. 

It was a day of moderate/strong west-north-westerly winds and generally overcast skies. During the seawatch, seven Manx Shearwaters were logged flying past, with six Canada Goose a typical early summer record. 

A Little Egret visited a pond at South Landing, whilst the day’s highlight related to an Osprey that drifted south over South Dykes; it had earlier flown south over Filey, before heading over Bempton Cliffs. A Cuckoo also frequented the Old Fall area.

West of the Dykes, single Mediterranean Gull and Short-eared Owl were recorded at Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

An overcast day, with a light/moderate south-south-westerly wind. Despite seemingly benign conditions, seawatching was much improved with 55 Common Scoters flying south, 386 Manx Shearwaters, three Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Tern flew north. Better still, a summer-plumaged Black Guillemot flew north before landing on the sea. 

The weather consisted of moderate south-south-westerly winds and sunny intervals with temperatures recovering to peak at 20 degrees C. During the seawatch, three Red-throated Divers flew south, six Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Tern flew north, whilst 20 Manx Shearwaters were logged. In addition, a Bonxie cruised the cliffs. 

A Crane was well-watched as it drifted around the headland; initially seen over North Landing, it overflew the majority of the northern half of the recording area and was last seen heading north-west over Bempton Cliffs RSPB. Single Siskin and Corn Buntings were also recorded on the outer head, whilst a Turtle Dove showed well at the RSPB reserve.

A day of moderate south-west winds and overcast skies with rain at times. Seawatching was rewarded with 64 Common Scoters, 33 Manx Shearwaters, 1081 Herring Gulls and two Sandwich Terns flew south.

Single Tufted Duck and Whimbrel were recorded on the headland, with a Red Kite flying south over the village mid-afternoon.

West of the Dykes, yesterday’s Crane spent the day between Buckton and Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

Moderate/strong south-westerly winds persisted on a largely sunny day. Seawatching highlights included two Gadwall and five Teal flying south, whilst 56 Common Scoter, a Great Northern Diver, 36 Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern flew north.

The Crane again toured the headland mid-morning; it overflew South Landing, the village and North Dykes, before flying low north-west over Bempton Cliffs RSPB. Additional sightings included single Little Ringed Plover and Whimbrel.

West of the Dykes, the Turtle Dove re-appeared at the feeding station at Bempton Cliffs.

A three hour morning seawatch produced four Common Scoter south and 14 north, 18 Manx Shearwater south and five north, two Sandwich Tern south and three north.

Around the headland were two Whimbrel, Barn Owl, two Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, two Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and nine Whitethroat.

The Turtle Dove still at Bempton, a Marsh Harrier near the MOD buildings, two Grey Partridge and a Corn Bunting at Buckton and pair of Tufted Duck on Buckton Pond.

The weather consisted of sunny intervals and a light westerly wind. Seawatching highlights included three Red-throated Divers, 115 Manx Shearwaters and two Grey Herons flying north, 22 Sandwich Terns, six Common Terns and an Arctic Tern.

The Crane once again flew north-west over Bempton Cliffs RSPB, where the Turtle Dove remained in residence. Single Hobby and Barnacle Goose were also seen at Bempton, whilst a Short-eared Owl lingered at Buckton.

A warm, sunny day with light south-south-easterly winds developing. Sightings on the headland included two Shelduck, single Wigeon and Tufted Duck, a Little Ringed Plover, one Ringed Plover, 17 Sandwich Terns, an adult Mediterranean Gull over Thornwick Pools, 183 Swifts moving south and a Grey Wagtail.

Odonata records included no fewer than 15 Red-veined Darters, including three females ovipositing. 

The weather consisted of sunny intervals, increasingly strong south-westerly winds and temperatures that reached 22 degrees C. Seawatching highlights included 91 Common Scoters flying north (55 south), 20 Manx Shearwaters, 76 Sandwich Terns north and a Common Tern flying in the same direction.

Single Wigeon and Teal were in residence. However, the day’s most notable record related to a breeding-plumaged Great White Egret that frequented North Marsh until mid-morning when it departed south.

A day of moderate/strong westerly winds, sunny intervals and temperatures reaching 19 degrees C. Seawatching was rewarded with 34 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, eight Manx Shearwaters and 21 Sandwich Terns.

The Crane once again flew east over Bempton Cliffs RSPB and later headed south over Old Fall.

A hot, sunny day with moderate westerly winds and temperatures reaching the mid-20s. During the seawatch, five Common Scoter, 18 Manx Shearwaters and 19 Sandwich Terns flew north. Sightings from Thornwick Pools again included male Red-veined Darter.

West of the Dykes, a Grasshopper Warbler was singing at Buckton.

A day of cloudless skies, temperatures that peaked at 26 degrees C and light westerly winds. Seawatching highlights included seven Manx Shearwaters, 97 Sandwich Terns and five Common Terns flying north. Sightings on the outer head included single Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Gadwall, a Little Ringed Plover, one Ringed Plover and a Dunlin.

West of the Dykes, a female Red-backed Shrike was located at the western end of Bempton Cliffs RSPB and a first-summer male Common Rosefinch was singing in the vicinity of Buckton Pond, with a Cuckoo nearby. Three Quail were singing in cliff top fields at Speeton.

Red-veined Darters were present at several sites, with 25 present in total, including three (including paired up female) at Buckton Pond.

Another sunny day, with light winds and temperatures peaking at 25 degrees C. During the seawatch, seven Common Scoter, six Manx Shearwaters, 42 Sandwich Terns and two Common Terns flew north. Single Wigeon and Dunlin again frequented Thornwick Pools, whilst a count at the Sand Martin colony at South Landing revealed 56 active nests.

West of the Dykes, 84 Swifts flew south-east over Bempton early evening.

A relatively dull morning, misty first thing with sunny spells developing later; winds were from the east and temperatures peaked at 19 degrees C. Seawatching was rewarded with 166 Common Scoters flying north (66 south), with 68 Manx Shearwaters, 32 Sandwich Terns and three Arctic Terns also north. In addition, a minimum of three White-beaked Dolphins also lingered offshore for at least one hour. 

Thornwick Pools hosted the Wigeon and a Little Ringed Plover, whilst a pair of Reed Warblers fed young at Greenacres.

It was a much cooler day, with light south-easterly winds, increased cloud cover with sunny intervals and temperatures peaking at 17 degrees C. During the seawatch 43 Common Scoters and six Manx Shearwaters flew north, whilst a Balearic Shearwater moved south.

Thornwick Pools attracted single Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper, whilst a Whimbrel frequented the beach at South Landing. A Cuckoo was present on nearby Beacon Hill.

A change in the weather, with light south-westerly initially, switching to north-westerly winds later; generally overcast, with a belt of light rain passing through in the middle of the day. During the seawatch, 125 Common Scoters flew north (with 56 off the headland), 25 Manx Shearwaters offshore, 19 Sandwich Terns north and an Arctic Tern headed south. Best of all, a pod of 12 White-beaked Dolphins made an appearance in the evening; initially seen off North Landing, they then fed off the Fog Station, before returning to the north side of the headland.

Single Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover were in residence, whilst 468 Swifts flew south past the Lighthouse between 0635-0800hrs. A Corn Bunting was present in the same area.

The weather consisted of moderate south-westerly winds, overcast skies and rain during the morning, whilst temperatures reached 17 degrees C. During the seawatch, 13 Manx Shearwaters and nine Sandwich Terns. 

Thornwick Pools attracted single Wigeon and Teal, a Grey Heron and individual Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Curlew.

In addition, a Sunfish was seen from a boat off South Landing.

After an overcast morning, the afternoon featured sunny intervals, whilst a moderate westerly wind developed. Seawatching highlights included two Red-throated Divers flying south, whilst a Little Egret, 25 Sandwich Terns and two Common Terns moved north. 

Elsewhere, sightings included a Tufted Duck, two Grey Herons and a Little Ringed Plover.

A day of blustery south-westerly winds and sunny intervals. Seawatching highlights included a Mute Swan flying south, 86 Common Scoter, 179 Manx Shearwaters and nine Sandwich Terns heading north, with one Arctic Tern south.

West of the Dykes, Buckton attracted a creamcrown Marsh Harrier.

It was an overcast day, with a light easterly breeze and temperatures that failed to exceed 15 degrees C. Thornwick Pools attracted an eclipse drake Mandarin Duck; still very much a local rarity with single figure records. Other sightings from Thornwick included the female Wigeon, an Oystercatcher and two Little Ringed Plovers. 

The weather consisted of overcast skies, spells of relatively light rain and moderate east-south-easterly winds. Such conditions prompted the northbound movement of 1333 Common Scoters, together with 89 Manx Shearwaters, 23 Sandwich Terns and three Bonxies, with four Arctic Skuas also recorded. 

A third-summer Yellow-legged Gull loafed on the Golf Course during the evening. Elsewhere, a ringing session resulted in 38 birds caught, including ten Whitethroats, seven Sedge Warblers and two Reed Warblers.

The weather was horrific, whilst the birding was brilliant! Very strong northerly winds, driving, heavy rain throughout and temperatures that ‘peaked’ at 11 degrees C.

However, a Black-browed Albatross sat on Bempton Cliffs RSPB meant those able to witness this unique occurrence hardly noticed the inclement weather. Initially seen flying around Staple Newk at 1225hrs, the bird drifted off to the north. However, it was eventually relocated on the sea again off Staple Newk, before flying back to the cliff top and landing amongst the Gannets. On view for over 30 minutes, it was spooked by an aggressive Gannet and looked like it was flying back out to sea. However, it  then turned back towards the colony, before drifting slowly north-west near to the base of the cliffs and disappearing out of view at c.1500hrs.

Considerably more mundane, a seawatch from South Landing yielded 190 Common Scoters, four Manx Shearwaters and a Bonxie flying north, with an Arctic Skua also offshore. Another Bonxie flew north at Bempton Cliffs.

A misty/foggy day, with periods of light rain and much lighter north-westerly winds. Birds moving north over the sea included 58 Common Scoter, 262 Fulmars, a single Manx Shearwater, one Golden Plover, three Sandwich Terns, a Bonxie and one Arctic Skua. 

The Wigeon remained on Thornwick Pools, where a Green Sandpiper represented the first reurning migrant.

Another cloudy day with some periods of thick fog. Wind was a light north westerly.

The morning sea watch produced 10 Manx Shearwater, 33 Sandwich Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 dark morph Arctic Skua and 83 Common Scoter.

On the land, a single drake Tufted Duck at Thornwick Pools and the lingering Green Sandpiper were the only noteworthy records.

Tufted Duck, Thornwick Pools by Andrew Allport.