June 2012 - RSPB Bempton Cliffs & Seabird Cruise

Saturday 2nd: A 90 minute drive to the East Riding of Yorkshire and the RSPB NR at Bempton Cliffs was a perfect opportunity to test-out my new camera with its 35x zoom lens. This was Sandra's first visit to the NR and she was eager to see as much as possible. A "head-for-heights" is a must as the vantage points are at the cliff edge. Colonies of Gannets, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and of course... Puffins are clustered on the cliff faces.

Above: This Puffin was easily seen in a scope but just a small black and white speck on the cliff-side to the un-aided eye. The camera that Mel got me for my birthday easily zoomed onto the bird.

Getting there for 9:15am, we only had 4 hours or so to look around before leaving for Bridlington and the Seabird Cruise. Farmland and open fields enclose the NR as the variety of birds is numerous. First sightings were Tree Sparrows, a large colony is resident, Jackdaws abound and when we were eating our sandwiches, four Jackdaws congregated around us and Sandra fed some scraps of bread which they took.

Skylarks were continually flying upwards in the vertical line, all the time singing only to hover for around 30 seconds and then descending to a favourite perch for a few moments before dropping down amongst the tufts of grass and weed.

At the cliff edge as expected were hoards on Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes, clusted in their separate groups. Immature Gannets flew close to the cliffs and hung in the breeze in order to entice a mate. Many were already on nests perched precariously on the cliff-side.

The Puffins were harder to spot. There are considerably less in number than previous years and the ones that are here are hidden in crevices and burrows from predators. But they can be seen with careful scanning of the cliff-face. Finding them is another matter as trying to spot a Puffin amongst all the thousands of Guillemots and Razorbills is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.

 Razorbill perched on the cliff-side.

Bempton Cliffs

A 20-minute car journey later and we were in the holiday town of Bridlington. As you'd expect, the town was busy and 30 minutes later managed to park the car on the promenade! At the North Quay, we waited with others for our boat, the "Yorkshire Belle", which would take us on an RSPB cruise around the "Head" and to the foot of Bempton Cliffs for some sea-watching. It wasn't long before the boat was sighted emerging from around Flamborough Head on its return from the previous cruise.

RSPB cruise boat "Yorkshire Belle"

As you would expect, the boat was crowded with sightseers eager to experience the sights and sounds from offshore around Bridlington, Flamborough and Bempton Cliffs.

 Flamborough Head Lighthouse

We were warned by the RSPB Wardens on board, that the seas were very choppy and that anyone who would feel the slightest "queesy" should not board! Needless to say, everyone boarded and myself, Sandra and the other experienced the massive swells of the coastal seas!

 Bridlington Harbour

Two hours later, the "Belle" was back in Brid Harbour. An exhilarating sea cruise, very cold and damp and very, very choppy seas! Time for a meal: and what else but fish & chips at the quayside!

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!

June 2009 - Bempton Cliffs revisited - PUFFINS!

Tuesday 2nd, only 11 Puffins! Yes I took advantage of what the weatherman said was going to be; "the last of the hot sunny days", and went back to RSPB Bempton Cliffs as I had heard that some of these magical birds had returned in May.