Long-eared Owl, Top Scrub (Mark Pearson)
A north-north-easterly airflow with lots of rain (and intermittent breaks) made for some decent local birding, the star of the show being a Long-eared Owl which – after arriving fresh from the continent – had the decency to fly straight into the ringing team’s nets this evening. Two Short-eared Owls also arrived in-off early afternoon, and at least 200 Bramblings were recorded in the northern coastal area.
Yellow-browed Warblers were well represented, with at least seven in the area (four Coutry Park area, three Hunmanby Gap), while a Slavonian Grebe, a Great Northern Diver, 25 Red-throated Divers, three Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Gull and single figures of Great and Arctic Skuas were the best of the sea.
Yellow-browed Warbler (14th), Top Scrub (Pete Dunn)
A locally very notable count of 39 Pintails led a decent movement of wildfowl, which also included 250 Wigeon and 300 Teal as well as three Red-breasted Mergansers and 70 Pink-footed Geese. a total of ten Swallows and three House Martins passed through, while the Gap had a similar cast with the addition of a further two Little Gulls.
Yesterday (14th), four Yellow-browed Warblers were in the Top Scrub (two of which were trapped), a Mute Swan and five rock Pipits were the best of a quiet vismig session at the Gap, with 13 Red-throated Divers and three Common Terns present there.