Alberts Back !

Bempton Cliffs - 3.4.22

A notification pops up on the bird alert service that Albert the Black-browed Albatross has again turned up at the Gannet breeding colony at Staple Kewk, Bempton Cliffs for the third year running !...quickly a trip was organised for the next weather permitting opportunity.

As you would expect Albert is proving quite popular and as Staple Newk platform being quite small you need to get there quite early and get a spot. Arriving around 8.0am there's quite a gathering and they are already watching the albatross circulating the Gannet colony, now how's that for timing !

For the next hour or so we watch the albatross gliding along the cliffs looking suitable place to land, then after a short period take the air once more. The albatross finally lands on the cliff face out of sight remaining there for the remainder of the morning, so after a lot of waiting we decide it's a good time for a spot of lunch. After lunch we have a look around the reserve to see what's else about but being early in the season as you would expect apart from the Gannets it's still fairly quiet with a few Puffins and Razorbills.

Tired after being on the road since 3.30am we call it a day early afternoon and head home happy again to have see the wanderer from the southern oceans. Later that evening I check the bird information service and it would seem Albert was content to remain on his cliff resting spot for the remainder of the day until early evening so no other opportunities missed, some times you take a chance !

Black-browed Albatross

In this image the gull is pecking the back of the albatross who it sees as a threat !

This image was used by the The Independent newspaper in a feature on the albatross that's unlikely ever to return to the Southern Oceans where it's naturally found.

Albert's Back !

RSPB Bempton Cliffs - 5.7.21

So I get a text message..."the Black-browed Albatross is back"...I'm up at Malham photographing the Peregrines that had recently fledged, I'm never in the right location.

It was around this time last year that a Black-brown Albatross was see on the cliffs around 4.30pm at Bempton, I was sat in the carpark having a last bite to eat before setting off for home, as the phone signal is intermittent at Bempton it was only when I got home that I'd found out I had missed out seeing this rare ocean wanderer from the southern hemisphere. Rewind twelve months on and the BBA is back again at Bempton but only staying for a day and again seen over the last few days.

Should I or should I ?....well I did ! 

It's a 1.0am early start as the last time I visited I was turned away as the carpark was full at 9.0am. Arriving in the carpark at 3.30am there are already a few cars but its still dark so I grab a couple of hours sleep before I venture down to the cliffs. It's 6.45am and there's already a crowed both birders and togs on the look out along the grass cliff occupied by part of the Gannet colony but thats all long range stuff heading down to Staple Newk managing one of the last spots platform, now the wait

The call goes out..."Albatross" it's picked up coming from the direction of Flamborough, closer and closer it's glides up and down the cliff looking to land only to be sent packing back the aggressive Gannets. And thats the action over the next hour and intermittently for the rest of the morning until it departs north towards Filey.

Happy with the images after a couple of dips (missed opportunities) but I can feel another trip on the cards in a few weeks !

Black-browed Albatross