Three Barnacle Geese went south at the Gap on an otherwise very quiet day today, while yesterday’s (19th) highlights were a summer-plumage Black-tailed Godwit at East Lea and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose venturing over to the Gap.
Black-tailed Godwit, East Lea (Mark Pearson)
16th was somewhat busier, the highlight being a Quail in song at Gristhorpe Bay (MJP), plus 14 Barnacle Geese and a Marsh Harrier south at the Gap, the Brent on the Brigg, and a interesting ‘flash-fall’ as a storm front hit mid-pm: small numbers of suddenly grounded passerines on the clifftop to the north of Carr Naze included a very late female Brambling, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Spotted Flycatcher and at least 370 swifts along the line of the storm. A second Spotted Flycatcher was in top Scrub, while another Marsh Harrier was at Newbiggin, the Velvet Scoter was still off the Gap, and interesting breeding records included both Yellowhammer and Yellow Wagtail in the Gristhorpe Bay area.