A break in the unrelenting wind and rain came with the first glorious sunshine for what feels like ages. The relaxed wind and clear skies didn't do us any favours on the birding front but the sea still produced 16
Balearic Shearwaters, three
Arctic Skuas, singles of
Bonxie and
Storm Petrel, a strong passage of c.160
Mediterranean Gulls and the first two
Guillemots since the colony dispersed at the end of last month. Land based passage was underwhelming with little more than a
Yellow Wagtail over Ferrybridge, singles figures of
Tree Pipit, 11
Wheatears, 10
Sand Martins and two
Swifts at the Bill and 8
Sanderling and 2
Little Gulls at Ferrybridge.
Little Gulls have been a semi-permanent feature at Ferrybridge in recent weeks - one of these two has been pretty well daily there although the other bird was today making its first appearance since 1st August © Pete Saunders: