No recent sightings posts for a while so a bit of a summary of the last few weeks. Snow in the middle of February finally convinced the Desert Wheatear it was time to move on, but it proved to be one of the longest staying Desert Wheatears ever in the UK. Poor weather in mid February also brought one of the most amazing sightings you could imagine, that of a Bittern which spent the day sat in low scrub in the middle of the grassland. Would have been a hard bird to predict for the reserve year list!! The same weather also saw a mini invasion of Woodcock into coastal Yorkshire and the reserve didn't miss out, with as many as four birds present, but always hard to see as they prefer to sit tight until dusk.
Perhaps more expected was a report of a male Hen Harrier quartering the cliff top and more recently up to three Peregrines have regularly been seen over the reserve. A Short-eared Owl still hunts the grassland from time to time and we'd be lost without the daily Sparrowhawks visiting the car park and surrounds. Talking of which, the sound of Tree Sparrows in the car park is something to behold (unless the Sparrowhawk is around of course) and large numbers are using the feeders, joined by the odd Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. A Yellowhammer was a pleasant surprise drinking in a puddle in the car park during the week.
Keep an eye out overhead for flocks of Pink-footed Geese as they head back north from their East Anglian wintering grounds, a flock of 150 were seen in the week, and good numbers of Meadow Pipits will also be on the move over the next few weeks.
On the sea Red-throated Divers can usually be spotted and Porpoises are being seen most days, with many people getting really good views. Gannets and Fulmars have been back a while on the cliffs, Gannets in ever increasing hundreds and Guillemots are now settling down on the ledges. Happy to report too, the very first pioneer Puffins have also been seen, but this is still very early for them so if you do see them you will be lucky indeed.