An excellent start to the new month, especially on the sea, with an increasing NNE wind instantly providing this afternoon after an almost still morning. The early session was quiet but for two Balearic Shearwaters north (JS), but a later session from 1420hrs to dusk produced two Sabine’s Gulls north with Kittiwakes (the first of the year), a Great Northern Diver, 32 Red-throated Divers, two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, a Balearic Shearwater, 33 Sooty and 15 Manx Shearwaters, four Pomarine Skuas and 29 Arctic Skuas (MJP, RAB).
Variation in the Dams Dunlin flock, showing the shortest billed….
The Dams hosted two Jack Snipe, 25 Dunlin, two Ruff, three Water Rails, 25 Dunlin, 10 Common Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and four Curlews, while two Yellow-browed Warblers were in the area joining the Dams and East Lea (MJP). A further Yellow-brow, plus a Spotted Flycatcher and 70 Siskin were in the Top Scrub area (DL et al.), while a minimum of 80 Pink-feet passed through the area this morning.
… and the longest (Mark Pearson)
Visible migration at the Gap was a little quieter this morning, although three Little Egrets and 118 Siskins were among respectable tallies there; four Sooty Shearwaters and a Long-tailed Skua late afternoon may (KC) may have involved birds also seen from the Brigg.
Water Rail, Filey Dams (Mark Pearson)