Reed Bunting - Bempton Cliffs
Guillemot - Bempton Cliffs
Tree Sparrow - Bempton Cliffs
Grasshopper Warbler - Bempton Cliffs
Gannet - Bempton Cliffs
Gannet - Bempton Cliffs
Meadow Pipit - Bempton Cliffs
Fulmar - Bempton Cliffs
Fulmar - Bempton Cliffs
Puffin - Bempton Cliffs
Kittiwake & Puffin - Bempton Cliffs
Kittiwake - Bempton Cliffs
Razorbill - Bempton Cliffs
Fulmar - Bempton Cliffs
Puffin & Fulmar - Bempton Cliffs
Kittiwake - Bempton Cliffs
More images on website
June 1st
Waved Abigail away on the coach for a school trip to Germany at 0600, hitched the caravan onto the car and away up to Filey for a four day break. The journey was uneventful and once pitched at our chosen site in Filey, purchased fish & chips to eat on the Brigg then a walk to see what was about. Good views of Fulmar, Kitiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar and Gannet. Large numbers of Tree Sparrow were noticeable around the fields bordering the caravan site.
June 2nd
Today was very hot and sunny and a visit to Bempton Cliffs planned. Interesting to see a number of local Warwickshire birders have visited during the week! I doubt my photo's will be in their league though! Again, large numbers of Tree Sparrow were noted with Corn Bunting and a lone Grasshopper Warbler. The cliffs were as always a fantastic sight - "takes your breath away!". Vast numbers of Gannet, Razorbill, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Fulmar and Rock Dove entertained us and it was not long before we spotted the first Puffins - a bird I had not seen for over 15 years! so long overdue. A couple of Shags were noted. Bempton Cliffs is really worth a visit, words and mediocre pics do not do it justice - get out there! Only disappointment was the visitor centre which the RSPB website advertises as providing snacks, light meals etc. but none were available! Only crisps and ice cream!
Late afternoon, we popped in to the small water reserve at Filey Dams. Usual common suspects, but also a Hobby.
June 3rd
Raptor day! We visited the raptor watchpoint at Wykeham Forest and spent over 4hours looking at the sky! Superb Mistle Thrush on the path leading to the watchpoint, which had super high backed and comfortable wooden benches! A Buzzard species was soon located but the jury remained out over ID! However a couple of Common Buzzard stirred interest and then a very distant Goshawk interacting with Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. After several hours, a Honey Buzzard appeared giving excellent views and two Turtle Doves gave a brief fly past. The best was yet to come with a really close encounter with a Goshawk displaying very nicely. Where was my camera? Heather had borrowed it to take some pictures of the woodland flowers! Bless.
June 4th
The temperatures had dropped dramatically and the wind was biting, making it feel like winter so decided to visit Whitby. Nothing much to see bird wise, but the chance for Heather to obtain some retail therapy! A visit to Robin Hood's Bay reminded me of the typical "honeypot" attraction but a check over the Kittiwake on the water produced a male and female Eider and two Sandwich Terns.
Fish and Chips in the evening and a very "bracing" walk on Filey Brigg was a challenge to safety, (understatement!), but did not yield anything further.
June 5th
Caravan attached and homeward bound. A hunting Barn Owl on the Wolds was a pleasing sight. At home, a quick flick through various websites indicated that Steve Seal, Dave Hutton and Richard Dawkins had all been to Bempton this week and some super images posted on their respective websites. Well done lads, pity I missed you.
Sightings (78 bird species in total):
Dabchick; Gannet; Cormorant; Shag; Heron; Mute Swan; Greylag Goose; Canada Goose; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Eider; Sparrowhawk; Goshawk; Honey Buzzard; Buzzard; Hobby; Kestrel; Pheasant; Red Legged Partridge; Coot; Moorhen; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; Fulmar; Kittiwake; Common Gull; Herring Gull; LBB Gull; Sandwich Tern; Puffin; Guillemot; Razorbill; Rock Dove;Stock Dove; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Turtle Dove; Cuckoo; Swift; Skylark; Sand Martin; Swallow; House Martin; Rock Pipit; Meadow Pipit; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Wren; Robin; Blackbird; Song Thrush; Mistle Thrush; Grasshopper Warbler; Sedge Warbler; Reed Warbler; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; Whitethroat; Long Tailed Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Starling; Magpie; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Rook; House Sparrow; Tree Sparrow; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Bullfinch; Linnet; Corn Bunting; Yellowhammer; Reed Bunting; Barn Owl.
Waved Abigail away on the coach for a school trip to Germany at 0600, hitched the caravan onto the car and away up to Filey for a four day break. The journey was uneventful and once pitched at our chosen site in Filey, purchased fish & chips to eat on the Brigg then a walk to see what was about. Good views of Fulmar, Kitiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar and Gannet. Large numbers of Tree Sparrow were noticeable around the fields bordering the caravan site.
June 2nd
Today was very hot and sunny and a visit to Bempton Cliffs planned. Interesting to see a number of local Warwickshire birders have visited during the week! I doubt my photo's will be in their league though! Again, large numbers of Tree Sparrow were noted with Corn Bunting and a lone Grasshopper Warbler. The cliffs were as always a fantastic sight - "takes your breath away!". Vast numbers of Gannet, Razorbill, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Fulmar and Rock Dove entertained us and it was not long before we spotted the first Puffins - a bird I had not seen for over 15 years! so long overdue. A couple of Shags were noted. Bempton Cliffs is really worth a visit, words and mediocre pics do not do it justice - get out there! Only disappointment was the visitor centre which the RSPB website advertises as providing snacks, light meals etc. but none were available! Only crisps and ice cream!
Late afternoon, we popped in to the small water reserve at Filey Dams. Usual common suspects, but also a Hobby.
June 3rd
Raptor day! We visited the raptor watchpoint at Wykeham Forest and spent over 4hours looking at the sky! Superb Mistle Thrush on the path leading to the watchpoint, which had super high backed and comfortable wooden benches! A Buzzard species was soon located but the jury remained out over ID! However a couple of Common Buzzard stirred interest and then a very distant Goshawk interacting with Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. After several hours, a Honey Buzzard appeared giving excellent views and two Turtle Doves gave a brief fly past. The best was yet to come with a really close encounter with a Goshawk displaying very nicely. Where was my camera? Heather had borrowed it to take some pictures of the woodland flowers! Bless.
June 4th
The temperatures had dropped dramatically and the wind was biting, making it feel like winter so decided to visit Whitby. Nothing much to see bird wise, but the chance for Heather to obtain some retail therapy! A visit to Robin Hood's Bay reminded me of the typical "honeypot" attraction but a check over the Kittiwake on the water produced a male and female Eider and two Sandwich Terns.
Fish and Chips in the evening and a very "bracing" walk on Filey Brigg was a challenge to safety, (understatement!), but did not yield anything further.
June 5th
Caravan attached and homeward bound. A hunting Barn Owl on the Wolds was a pleasing sight. At home, a quick flick through various websites indicated that Steve Seal, Dave Hutton and Richard Dawkins had all been to Bempton this week and some super images posted on their respective websites. Well done lads, pity I missed you.
Sightings (78 bird species in total):
Dabchick; Gannet; Cormorant; Shag; Heron; Mute Swan; Greylag Goose; Canada Goose; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Eider; Sparrowhawk; Goshawk; Honey Buzzard; Buzzard; Hobby; Kestrel; Pheasant; Red Legged Partridge; Coot; Moorhen; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; Fulmar; Kittiwake; Common Gull; Herring Gull; LBB Gull; Sandwich Tern; Puffin; Guillemot; Razorbill; Rock Dove;Stock Dove; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Turtle Dove; Cuckoo; Swift; Skylark; Sand Martin; Swallow; House Martin; Rock Pipit; Meadow Pipit; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Wren; Robin; Blackbird; Song Thrush; Mistle Thrush; Grasshopper Warbler; Sedge Warbler; Reed Warbler; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; Whitethroat; Long Tailed Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Starling; Magpie; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Rook; House Sparrow; Tree Sparrow; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Bullfinch; Linnet; Corn Bunting; Yellowhammer; Reed Bunting; Barn Owl.
More images on Website
Hi to you !
ReplyDeletea spendid website ! very good photos I too have much interest in birding I live at Stamford Bridge and this year ( I have re-kindled my birding passion) have spotted red kite, sparrowhawk , buzzard, nitejar and Goshawk
regards David robinson
Hi David
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your kind comments. Bempton is a superb place with really good photo opportunities. We had it on a good day, though. Glad you have a returning interest - you have seen some good birds. Good luck and feel free to return to the blog or indeed my website at any time.
Regards
Kevin