May 2010 - Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Friday 21st: As I came into this world on this day all those years ago, I decided to treat myself: take the day off work and drive out to the East Yorkshire coast near Bridlington for some birding on a gloriously hot and sunny day! My aim was to enjoy the coastal birds and see some Puffins. So where are all the Puffins? When I got to the Reserve I heard tell that there had been two seen today... but try as I could, I didn't see them! Scanning the cliff-face amongst the Razorbills and Guillimots is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Maybe it's early in the breeding season and they are all underground in their burrows. But surely the males must be constantly on the wing to supply their mates with a meal? Maybe the majority of them haven't returned yet...it may prove more profitable to make a return visit during June/July? I also over-heard someone saying that the surrounding North Sea is too warm and this will have an adverse effect upon their preferred prey; sand-eels. Well, lets hope there's a turnaround in the Puffins' fortunes and they return in numbers to inspire awe and wonder for visitors to this splendid coastal NR.




But the cliff-faces were lined with hundreds of Guillimots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Gannets. I never cease to look in wonder at the Gannets, such a large and sleek bird. When they are fairly close, as was one bird that can be seen from the photo gathering nesting material...they are huge! I also found an area where all the Rock Pigeons seem to congregate in numbers for safety, though I didn't see any of their predators, Peregrine Falcons. Too soon in the breeding season, I suspect later when chicks are out and about then these masters of the sky will be cruising the skies.

The sea water looks unusually clear. From the cliff-tops I could clearly see beneath the surface to the bottom and in some circumstances, see the patterns made by the volcanic lava that was laid down millions of years ago and now hardened to form rock. As can be seen with the photo of the Guillimots at the base of the cliff, large amounts of lava has hardened to rock and little holes can be seen where once the air bubbles escaped the cooling lava.

As for Passerines, there were plenty away from the cliffs. Pied Wagtails, Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches and Goldfinches are very common around the feeders. Carrion Crows and Jackdaws are the Corvids in residence. Lots of Barn Swallows were evident. Sky Larks and Meadow Pipits were in good numbers...but the highlight was the close sighting of a Whitethroat....which proved to be the one that got away as I spent a good 30 mins stalking it to get a photo which never happened!

Sunday 13th June - addendum:

I have since heard that some Puffins have returned to Bempton Cliffs! A work colleague, Jayne went to the NR with her family over the last Bank Holiday and her father saw 20 Puffins!

May 2010 - Goldfinch touch-down again!

Saturday 15th: Once again the Goldfinch (a single this time) has landed on the niger-feeder. This too stayed for some minutes and Mel was quick to grab the camera and take a few snaps! It even spent some time looking in a bush close to the feeder. We are hoping that it may take up residence in the garden. But the lure of Sandra's Bird Cafe was too strong and after a while it took off towards her place!

A male Chaffinch was again here early yesterday evening and again Mel was on hand to take a couple of snaps. The female Chaffinch visited today mid-morning but no images are available for that.

As you would expect at this time of year, the garden is still busy with birds feeding and generally doing bird-things! Even the Jackdaws are regular visitors to the garden at the moment, taking monkey-nuts and eating crushed peanuts. We didn't get a supply of live mealworms this week until yesterday and so with stocks completely depleted, we started feeding the Blackbirds and Sparrows grated mild cheese and soaked-brown bread. The birds still take this but prefer live food which is much more nutritious. Mel managed to find a local supplier as a stop-gap measure and I collected the mealworms last Wednesday. But fortunately we received 500 grammes through the post yesterday and all is well.

May 2010 - And now...Goldfinches

Sunday 9th: Well...we've had the Greenfinch and the Chaffinch...now we have the Goldfinch! Yes we've had the odd Goldfinch touching-down in the garden once in a while, but today was the second day in succession that a pair of Goldfinches alighted onto the niger feeder...and stayed for more than 90 seconds!

They are the most picturesque of birds, second only the Puffins, you may know better. In fact they stayed for a full 5 minutes and looked as if they owned the place! Not a care in the world as they perched on the feeder, looking around. Other birds didn't seem to worry them except when the odd Starling got too close, and our garden is always busy with House Sparrows, Starlings, Wood Pigeons, Feral Pigeons, Blackbirds etc.

The Greenfinches are becoming more of a regular visitor these days as can be seen from the latest images taken by Melanie.These are fairly robust birds and will bully other slightly-built birds off the feeders!

A couple of Blue Tits have been resuming their visits recently and can often be seen on the peanut-feeder.

As usual the Blackbirds are still visiting the kitchen for mealworms along with a host of House Sparrows who tend to congregate in the bush just outside the back door. The female House Sparrows tend to be the more adventurous and are always hassling the Blackbirds when they are feeding! But we have noticed that a couple of male House Sparrows have now lucked-up courage and are joining their partners at the bowl of mealworms!

May 2010: Meanwhile....a Greenfinch!

Tuesday 4th: While the Blackbirds and House Sparrows have been the center of the action with their antics of flying into the kitchen (see previous posts), we have had a three visits in as many days from a male Greenfinch! As can be seen by the pics taken by Mel, he gorged himself on sunflower hearts. Greenfinches do tend to be messy feeders and you can quite clearly see the husks stuck to his beak! This Greenfinch has been today, last Sunday, Friday and last Thursday! Meanwhile all his mates will be around at "Sandra's Bird Cafe", just 200 yards around the corner! But we have also had a female chaffinch along with a male visiting on odd days. Unfortunately no images of these are available.

Since the Winter, we have had a steady number of Feral Pigeons visiting the bird table. It started with a couple and over the Winter, the numbers grew until we now have at least 8 or 9 regulars (all distinguishable by their colours\markings) that at specific times during the day, will visit the bird table. For instance, around 7am, a pair of white-come-brown Pigeons spend time on the table. As can be seen from the image below, they appear to be a pair as they always arrive and depart together. Of course the question arises: "are the Feral Pigeons, birds from the Town center, from someone's Pigeon loft in the local area..or are they countryside Feral Pigeons?" When out and about, I have only once seen a large congregation (apart from the town center), of Feral Pigeons, in the countryside and that was at North Cave.

May 2010 - Kirkmoor Planation Wood & news from the Garden

May 2nd: Strolling around my local wood, I can see that the Summer migrants have now arrived. I saw 3 male Blackcaps singing in different territories though no females. So, do the males return before the females and stake-out territories before the females arrive later? Answers would be appreciated. Of course, the early arrivals, the Chiffchaffs have laid claim to territories as long ago as late March and are in full voice! Willow Warblers are also back and their familiar song can also be heard. At least two have taken-up residence in the wood. Another question that intrigues me: do these migrants such as Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers return to the same site after flying 3,500 miles from Africa year after year? Or is it just chance that brings them to this little wood on the outskirts of Doncaster?

Bluebells now carpet the wood and for two weeks or so will provide a vivid blue colour to the wood. The local residents such as Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Blackbird and Wood Pigeon are as usual, fairly abundant. For such as small wood, it certainly contains a large variety of wildlife.

Meanwhile, in our garden, the birds are in full flow. The pair of Wood Pigeons that nested in the conifers, produced one fledgling. But after making its maiden appearance, was frightened by a local Squirrel and has not been seen since!

The Blackbirds - specifically the females - are constantly visiting the kitchen for mealworms, so much so that Melanie has now rationed them as we don't expect another delivery until Wednesday 5th! Once we open the back door then it becomes a constant procession of female Blackbirds (3 different individuals), 1 male Blackbird and a small group of House Sparrows!

Over this Bank Holiday weekend, Melanie could easily spend the entire day supervising the birds! She has to limit each bird to a reasonable number of mealworms as they tend to empty the bowl and leave none for the next visitor.

The female House Sparrows seem to be more forward than the males (who wait outside by the doorstep) and will fly in and hover waiting for the moment when they can seize the odd mealworm from under a Blackbirds beak! There has already been one Blackbird fledgling, that Mel photographed last Friday, but alas, this morning (Monday) she discovered its remains in the flower bed. Just the beak, a poo-pellet and some feathers are all that was one a Blackbird. It looks like the neighbourhood Sparrowhawk is back on the scene!