We're all really excited ... we've just learned that a stonking 1,400 people came with us on this year's puffin patrols, or joined us for Tea with the Gannets. Just think of that, 1,400 people who we enthused about the amazing seabirds at Bempton Cliffs.
Can't wait for next year, but we'll have to go some to reach even more people.
If you went on either of these series of events and can think of a way we can make them even better, please let us know.
Amongst the hundreds of Goldfinches present around the reserve at the moment best sighting of the day was an albino bird found by Johnny and Rachael. Shows that almost every day new birds are moving through, as this individual would certainly have been noticed previously!
A couple of Wheatears and a single Whinchat were still present around the fence-lines near to the RAF station and calm conditions at the end of the day brought a fresh Chiffchaff and Goldcrest into the Dell. Two Curlews fed on the short turf inside the RAF station and a Buzzard heading west caused a little panic amongst the thousands of Herring Gulls taking advantage of freshly ploughed fields in the area.
Out to sea, a large fish shoal in Filey Bay is bringing the rare opportunity to see diving Gannets close at hand. If you're not lucky enough to see them from the viewpoints, head into Filey itself for this breath taking sight.
No posts for a while but happy to report that autumn is finally in full swing here. Over the last few days there have been small numbers of Whinchats, Wheatears, Yellow Wagtails and Chiffchaffs and a Swift today was a pleasant surprise. Waders are also regular right now, a bit unusual given that we have no 'wader water'. A Greenshank has been the best of these, but Curlew and Golden Plover are frequently seen.
Now for the hidden harrier. A radio tagged Hen Harrier, which left the Trough of Bowland on 6th Sept spent 10 days on the Headland, but was only seen three or four times. One of these was on the reserve, albeit for just a few seconds. The beauty of radio tracking is that we know where our Hen Harriers go when they leave the breeding grounds, but amazing that this bird managed to avoid birdwatchers so effectively!! It's now moved west towards Hawes, but worth keeping an eye out for as it may come back. Good luck.
It's all happening on the footpaths around the reserve.
We're so used to watching the cliffs for our fab wildlife - but in recent days, the footpaths have been swarming with all manner of things ... yellow wagtails, wheatears, stonechats and whinchats, frogs and toads, ladybirds and millipedes being regularly seen. There was a porpoise off the cliffs and a fox in the car park.
But, the highlight has to be the young hen narrier which flew over. It was a tagged bird, so we know it had flown down to the coast from the Forest of Bowland, in Lancashire. It's been seen in several spots around the area, so keep an eye out.
Mark Herman, who wrote and directed the films Brassed Off and Little Voice, was the subject of the My Yorkshire... feature in last Saturday's Yorkshire Post magazine.
When asked for his favourite walk or view, he said: "My favourite view is often from my seat at Hull City's KC stadium, although it can also just as often be my least favourite.
"Other than that, and more consistently pleasing," said the man who also adapted and directed The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for the screen, "probably Bempton Cliffs."
Thanks, Mark.