An entertainingly busy day today, or rather morning, with a flurry of activity in the couple of hours after dawn producing several notable sightings and some good numbers of migrants. A first-year ring-tail Harrier species, seen several times between Hunmanby Gap and Primrose Valley (KC, MJP), as yet precludes positive identification (hopefully more to come on this bird), while a Red-backed Shrike at the Tip – the second of the year – was (unusually for the autumn) an adult female (CW et al.). A Firecrest (the first of the year) was with Goldcrests in Martin’s Ravine (MJP et al.), where a Yellow-browed Warbler was one of at least four in the area today, with others at Muston Sands, the Dams and Parish Wood. A total of 20 Goldcrests were recorded today (without the main areas being checked).
Red-backed Shrike (Ian Robinson)
Winds and conditions were favourable for visible migration and an excellent morning at both the Gap and Muston Sands produced 33 Tree Sparrows, 949 Meadow Pipits, a Lapland Bunting south (MJP), 39 Reed Buntings and 41 Siskins (with most of the high counts from the Gap); also at Muston Sands, unusually a Stonechat came in over the bay, fed for several minutes and then continued south.