18th August 2016

Light to moderate easterly winds with a mix of overcast skies and sunny intervals have dominated the last two days, bringing a few modest signs of continental immigration onto the land and some movement overhead. Today, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull followed the plough north of the sports pitches (MJP), a Grasshopper Warbler was in the Rocket Pole Field (MJP), and a juvenile Wheatear (the season’s first) was on the Brigg. On the sea, 18 Manx Shearwaters, six Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie, 40 Dunlin and two Greenshank went south this morning, while at the Dams, the Kingfisher was still present, Ruff numbers have risen to an impressive 20, and other counts included 17 Dunlin, two Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and the Black-tailed Godwit (many of which are lingering birds); two Ruff were also at East Lea. A Treecreeper visited a garden at Hunmanby Gap.

Yesterday (17th) saw a the season’s first Pied Flycatchers freshly arrived in the Top Scrub and Parish Wood, a Whinchat (also a first for the season) in the crop by Short Hedge and a Garden Warbler in Parish Wood, while 20 Willow Warblers (one of which was watched arriving in off), eight Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps were scattered in the northern coastal area. A similar cast was the Dams (with the Spotted Redshank still present), and 200 Common Scoter, two Arctic Skuas and a Little Egret were the best of the sea-watch.