A steady month, but with only one great bird. October started with a Marsh Harrier north over the bay on 1st. Two Ravens went south at Hunmanby Gap the same day. Another Marsh Harrier flew over Carr Naze on 2nd. The Cetti’s Warbler stayed all month. 0n 8th highlights from the Northern coastal area included “31 Skylarks, 25 Meadow Pipits, 3 Fieldfares and 2 Mistle Thrush in off. 1870 Pink-feet south in 19 skeins on broad front. Small influx of migrants in Top Scrub included 12 Robins, 5 Goldcrests, 10 Dunnocks, Chiffchaff, 18 Chaffinches etc.” Flocks of Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese flying south were often seen during the month, as is to be expected at this time of year. On 9th 3300 Pink-footed Geese were seen from Hunmanby Gap. A Jack Snipe showed very well at East Lea mid-month. Red throated Diver numbers continued to build on 11th with a minimum of 52 birds present across the bay. A Pintail was at Filey Dams the same day. An elusive Long tailed Duck was on the north side of Carr Naze on 12th. Six Pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the Brigg on 13th – 5 adults and a juvenile, briefly before flying off north. Many Bottle-nosed Dolphins were in the bay the same day. A probable Richard’s Pipit went south at Hunmanby Gap on 14th. A Great Egret went west at Hunmanby Gap on 16th. On 17th blustery south westerlies bought in birds pouring south along the clifftop at Hunmanby Gap in the morning. 1200 Siskin, 450 Goldfinch, 300 Tree Sparrow, 120 Redpoll, site record 86 Reed Bunting and a Filey day-record 47 Rock Pipits. A Great Egret landed at the Dams on 17th. On 18th 11 Barnacle Goose dropped in at Hunmanby Gap. A Firecrest was briefly at the main gate into St Oswalds on 19th. Huge numbers of Harlequin ladybirds were in Church Ravine the same day. On 20th a Velvet Scoter south, a Hen Harrier ringtail south and 3 Little Gull were at Hunmanby Gap. A Firecrest was in Top Scrub and a new Cettis’s Warbler was calling at Reighton ravine. The month’s star bird Red-flanked Bluetail was found in the Top Scrub and stayed for 3 days. 3 Ring Ouzels and 2 Willow Warblers were in the Top Fields on 21st. A Black Redstart was on the cliffside adjacent to the Tip and a Lesser Whitethroat in Parish Wood. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the top of Parish Wood on 22nd. A Red-rumped Swallow went south with 3 House Martin and a Swallow at Hunmanby Gap. A Great Egret flew south over Church Ravine. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Hunmanby Gap. On 23rd a Shore Lark, a major scarcity these days, flew north over cliffs at Hunmanby Gap. A Firecrest and Lesser Whitethroat were in Top Scrub. A soon to be long-staying Firecrest appeared in Parish Wood. A Black Redstart was at the farm from East Lea hide. On 24th a Marsh Harrier went south over Country Park and 25 Golden Plover were over the Top Fields. 3 Whooper Swans were eating ringer’s grain at East Lea. Yet another Red-rumped Swallow adult headed south over Hunmanby Gap half a mile inland on 25th. 3 Black Redstarts were in the bay corner late afternoon. A Great Egret went south over Primrose Valley. On 27th a Great Egret flew towards the Dams. On 29th an adult Mediterranean Gull was flycatching over Hunmanby Gap and a male Ring Ouzel was in the Gap scrub, with 30 Little Gull feeding midshore off Hunmanby Gap. The autumn’s first Waxwings came in off at Carr Naze, continuing west on 30th. On 31st over 400 Siskin went south at Hunmanby Gap plus 2 Snow Bunting and 213 Golden Plover in off the sea and west.
