randombirder

A trip that will live long in the memory.  Thankfully Albert had returned after a few days out to sea.  Always a gamble as the black-browed albatross has a tendency to disappear at the most inconvenient moments. It was quite an anxious wait of around five hours while viewing from the Grandstand, that was until one keen albatross-eyed birder managed to pick out Albert loafing distantly way out to sea - it was actually impressive how he managed to get onto it.  Over the course of around an hour, we watched it as it slowly made it towards the cliffs settling once again on sea further along the coastline toward North Landing. I decided to wander down and stopped at the New Roll-up Viewpoint.  The albatross was flying again and making its way toward the cliff face.  Over the next half an hour or so, this monstrous sea-bird wheeled around the stack flying past on a single occasion, appearing to wait for clearance to land before finally touching down on top of the cli...

It was always going to be a long shot to have had 'Albert' the Albatross make an appearance on the rugged cliff-face of Bempton for a third consecutive day but it didn't detract from what was an excellent day at one of our finest RSPB reserves in England. An early start arriving at Speeton from where the long cliff-top walk starts. Taking in the views across the bay out to Filey and beyond under a moody grey skies. The walk from Speeton to Bempton takes around two hours largely spent hugging the cliff-tops providing plenty of opportunities to pick out a wandering seabird.  I didn't encounter a soul for at least an hour. Commonly seen well out to sea coursing over the waves, the Northern Gannet is a majestic seabird, and observing them at close quarters was an absolute privilege.  Many were seen collecting nesting material - this one deciding that perhaps one trip was enough. An unexpected bonus was...

This part of East Yorkshire is absolutely spectacular.  The rugged cliff faces that stretch out from Flambrough Head up to Bempton and beyond provide the stage for a dramatic and breath-taking seabird spectacle. The viewpoints overlooking the cliffs give the public grandstand views across the cliff-face, the home to thousands of seabirds. Incredible numbers of  Kittwake ,  Razorbill ,  Guillemot  and  Gannet  swirling around this epic landscape. The trip started at midday Saturday, a spontaneous decision to head away and by five, we arrived at the Lighthouse car park at Flamborough.  I made tracks immediately to connect with the male Black-headed Bunting that sat out in the open on a gloomy afternoon, preening, roosting, before making a dash to the top of the hedge-line where it paused briefly before disappearing into the adjacent field. I then disappeared as the weather was closing in.  Heading back to the car park where the fem...