About Filey

It’s not unusual to see migrant warblers making first landfall on the long finger of rock extending out from the cliffs into the sea which is Filey Brigg, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Purple Sandpipers forage among the rocks in winter. Autumn is perhaps the best time to see Grey Seals here. Common Seals, despite the name are also seen but much less common. Harbour Porpoises are frequent. Late summer is the best time to watch for Minke Whale and Sei Whale has also been recorded. Bottle-nosed Dolphins occasionally pass the Brigg. Gristhorpe Cliff is the best place to see seals hauled out on the rocks.

Filey Bay is a great place in winter to look for Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebe and various sea duck. Velvet Scoter and Great Northern Divers are regular; Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes are also possibilities, and rarer Surf Scoter and King Eider have also been recorded.

Filey Dams Nature Reserve consists of freshwater lagoons with adjacent marsh and grazing land. Tree Sparrows and Barn Owls are resident and Reed Warblers breed.  Late summer may see a passing Hobby. Ruff and Greenshank often visit the pools in autumn while winter is a good time for watching Teal, Wigeon and Snipe from the hides. Mammals include Roe Deer, Fox and Water Vole. Great Crested Newts, along with Smooth and Palmate Newts, breed here. Plants include Toad Rush, Large Bittercress, Cuckoo Flower and Yellow Flag-iris.