Today’s highlight was the arrival of five Shorelarks in off the sea and onto the Top Fields, where they remained for at least the morning (MJP); at least two were still present in fields between the Tip and Newbiggin, with four there yesterday. Three Lapland Buntings were also in the Top Fields (MJP), five Snow Buntings were mobile between there and Carr Naze, and 14 Whooper Swans headed south-east (with three more over the Dams in the afternoon). Fieldfares arrived in good numbers, with at 650 into and around the northern coastal area, along with 110 Redwings, 215 Blackbirds, 60 Skylarks and 45 Meadow Pipits, while two Jack Snipe (MM) were at East Lea (with the long-staying Black-tailed Godwit at the Dams).
Snow Buntings, Carr Naze (John Price)
A Lapland Bunting, a Ring Ouzel and two Crossbills were in the Gristhorpe Bay area yesterday (JH), when productive vismigging at the Gap involved 273 Siskins south, five Scaup, four Goldeneye, nine Whooper Swans, a mealy-type Redpoll and a late Swallow (KC, NC, WS), with a Woodcock over the Royal Oak crossing at dusk. Two Scaup north were the best of the sea today, while a Long-tailed Duck and the Arctic Tern were the best of yesterday (JS, CW).
Shorelarks, near Newbiggin yesterday (John Harwood)