A text from Dave (Reserve Warden) reported a Merlin over the entrance road today. Fields around here are now stubble and so plenty of larks and pipits, ideal Merlin hunting grounds, but they never hang around for long, so Dave was lucky indeed. Other highlights over the last few days have included a Black Redstart, a Whinchat and a Wheatear. Migrant Goldcrests can be heard calling around the car park and it would be difficult not to hear the other Gold - Goldfinch. Lots of wildflower seeds means lots of food and so lots of Goldfinch flocks.
Many hundreds of Gannets are keeping the cliffs alive and chicks are fledging daily. If you like Gannets (and who wouldn't), this is a good time of year to look for diving groups. Not necessarily from the reserve, but off Filey and Bridlington can be a good bet once you've enjoyed them at the reserve. Keep an eye further out to sea too, as south bound skuas (especially Arctics) sometimes come close in shore.