Return to Bempton

RSPB Bempton Cliffs - 21.7.21

With the disappointment of the Farne Islands still shut to the public for the remainder of the year it's a return to Bempton cliffs before the auk breeding season ends in the next few weeks. It's a great day to be out and about with a light breeze blue sky's the order of the day, having said that the strong sunlights not going to help getting any decent images.

Lock down is well and truly over with the carpark full at 9.30am and people queuing to to pay to access the reserve a few maybe even hoping to see an Albutross. RSPB Bempton Cliff not having hides is one of the few reserves that seem to be back to normal, there's even toilets, tea and coffee available...cracking ! onwards down to the cliffs.

Work in progress

Northern Gannet

It's Cuckoo Time

North England - 20.6.20

Cuckoo one of the UK's iconic birds of summer are only around for a short time in May and June and becoming very uncommon usually and only detected by distant calling, so when I had the opportunity to photograph these scares birds I jumped at the chance.

It's 4.30am when I set off in light drizzle not the conditions I was hoping for but at least the forecast isn't for blue sky's and sun, diffused light with light cloud being preferred contions. Having arrived at my destination it's a short 30 minuet walk to a marshy field favoured by Cuckoo's, Sedge and Reed Warbler are singing not surprising the Cuckoo's are evident in this location, in the distance I can hear the first bird calling which increases my excitement levels for whats to likely to unfold over the next few hours.

Now in place and gear all set up the waiting starts but its not to long before a female Cuckoo makes an appearance, now usually when there's a female about there's usually a male not too far away, not one but two ! The action starts with the female trying to feed but both male birds are more occupied chasing the female.

I've taken hundreds of shots so I'm trying something different managing some images where both male and female birds are being mobbed by a number of Reed Buntings and a Sedge Warbler, the action is spectacular far more than my expectations. All too soon my times up and the birds loose interest dispersing to nearby woodland.

This has to be one of my highlights of the year to date and what better way to get back out with the camera after the Covid lock down.

By the time I write this blog post the Cuckoo's will no doubt be long gone on their return to Africa, see you next year.

Male Cuckoo

Female Cuckoo

Female Cuckoo being mobbed by a Sedge Warbler

So Close to A Black Browed Albatross

RSPB Bempton Cliffs - 2.7.20

Well its been some months since I was last out with the camera due to travel restrictions related to Corvid 19, so with all my planned trips up to the Farne Isle in Northumberland cancelled until next year the next best is a trip over to Bempton Cliffs on Yorkshires east coast.

RSPB Bempton with over 500,000 breeding sea birds has the largest mainland Gannet colony in the UK including large numbers of Razorbills, Guillemots and to lesser extent Puffins. Its a little over a 90 minuets drive to Bempton so we set off around 7.30am to arrive around 9.0am in ample time before the car park fills up.

Carking up toilets are the first priority followed by the obligatory images of the resident Tree Sparrows to be found on the reception building, then it's the short walk down across the field to the first viewing platform overlooking the cliffs. It's maybe two years since may last visit, the sights, the sounds and smell always amaze and being a weekday people numbers are quite low not like my last visit where its so busy viewing was just impossible.

Today I'm using the 7D2 and the 500 with the 1.4 extender just to give that little extra reach, its not all action as I'm looking for that shot where the bird is sat on the end of a rock which will stand out from the sea in the distance. Whilst the Gannet numbers healthy enough Razorbills and Guillemots especially Puffins don't seem to be as plentiful as my last visit.

Razorbill

Having watched this Razorbill for half an hour going through some wing flapping and yawning it gave some different photo opportunities than the usual sat on a rock pose

Northern Gannet

Gannets always provide give a good subject albeit on the day the light winds didn't give those hanging shots just as they land. Below are some general flight shots with the 100-400 lens

Fulmar

Resident cliff breeder superficially looking like a gull but in fact a Petrol, a bird of the open sea.

Guillemot

Now here's a bird you can spend time photographing with little success, zooming built like with images missing either a head or tail missing or just plainly out of focus !

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrows can be found in and around the reception building utilising nest boxes provided on the side of the building.

Now you may be wondering about the blog title, here's the story.

It's late in the afternoon around 4.30pm and after a long day we are sat in the car enjoying a coffee and a bite to eat, no rush just relaxing then around 5.0pm we decide to head for home, now my iPhone 6 not being the latest model isn't getting any reception, if I had I would have seen a report on BirdGuides of a Black Browed Albatross which had been picked up in amongst the Gannet colony no more than 600 meters away from where we are sat, it's only when we get home I see the report, what a missed opportunity !

With my "twitching" days way behind me I'm not really inclined for an immediate return visit. You've all seen the images from a brief visit of the Albatross the following morning, and some crackers too, but thats all history now. Happy birding.