The Brown Booby on 4th was the year’s big surprise. After being seen off Flamborough the previous day it decided to do the right thing and perch on the Brigg in the early morning before loitering off Hunmanby Gap. Our biggest twitch for a while. On 1st both Godwit species at East Lea, with three Roseate Terns, a Black Tern north, two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, one Little Stint, and 1 juvenile Caspian Gull on Brigg. On 2nd the seabird feeding fest continued with thousands of auks dispersed. On 3rd the first good vizmig session of the autumn at Hunmanby Gap including 370 Mipits. The Brown Booby arrived on 4th and was seen on 5th also. On 8th at East Lea: Egyptian Goose, Turnstone 1, Ruff 2, Common Sand 1, Dunlin 14, Lapwing 148 and a Little Egret east. On 11th 655 Mipits went south at Hunmanby Gap high on a broad front with an estimated 15,000 birds feeding on Sprats in Filey Bay including 6000 Razorbill, 2,000 Guillemot, 3000 Herring Gull, 1500 Gannet, 1000 Kittiwake, 10s Common Tern, 24 Common Scoter, 22 Red throated Diver and 2 Arctic Skua. A day-record of 5,000 Herring Gulls off Filey seafront in the evening, with at least the same number of Razorbills & Guillemots, all close in. The first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn flew south over Carr Naze on 12th. A group of 20 Siskins were in the country park. On 13th a Great Shearwater was tracked north from Flamborough, Filey, Cornelian, Scarborough, and Long Nab early morning. A Redstart was in the eastern end of top scrub on 15th. On 17th two Long-tailed Skuas at Hunmanby Gap with 5 Pintail, and 6 Bottle-nosed Dolphins. On 19th one Osprey flew south inshore and a cream crown Marsh Harrier was at Hunmanby Gap. A Little Stint was at East Lea on 20th. A dead Minke was at Reighton Gap on 20th. On 21st 7280 Mipits and 999 Siskin and 755 Pink-footed Geese went south at Hunmanby Gap. Another fine morning’s vismig on 22nd with 1,450 Pink footed Goose and the first Lapland Bunting of the year south. 150 Little Gull fed offshore at Hunmanby Gap on 23rd. A fine sea-watch from Hunmanby Gap with highlights 152 Red throated Diver south, 1 Pomarine and 4 Arctic Skua, 1 Sooty, 1 Balearic and 7 Manx Shearwater north, a big arrival of Common Gull, mostly juveniles, with 930 north plus 1 Pintail and Bar tailed Godwit north and 3 Eider south. On 25th 300 Siskin, 110 Lesser Redpoll south and a Crossbill north at Hunmanby Gap. A Great White Egret was at Filey Dams. A Short-eared Owl on 26th at the top of Tip then off towards Gristhorpe bay. A Snow Bunting was on Carr Naze. Highlights of the morning’s vismig at Hunmanby Gap – 500 Siskin, 540 Meadow Pipit, 460 House Martin, 250 Goldfinch, 140 Lesser Redpoll, 70 Chaffinch and 30 Reed Bunting all south!! A late Swift headed inland over West Avenue on 28th. Our third Cattle Egret (and still untwitchable) flew west north of Hunmanby Gap. 200 Pink-feet went south at Hunmanby Gap.
