Oops! This is not going according to plan.....!
Today dawned rather grey with regular hints of drizzle, so I decided to take a circular walk and find some displaced birds. I walked to Buckton, followed Hoddy Cows Lane to Buckton Cliffs, along RSPB Bempton Cliffs and back to Bempton (c4miles). Buckton pond held a Common Snipe, with a Yellow Browed Warbler, several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the surrounding trees. Hoddy Cows Lane seemed full of Thrushes with Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwings in good numbers. Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were moving as well. Ringing was taking place near the Heligoland trap so I didn't check this area. Along the cliffs it was the Gannets that gained my attention but numerous groups of Little Gulls were moving south. As I approached the RSPB Sea Bird Centre, a large number of birders were spread out along the nature trail trying to locate the Eastern Crowned Warbler but this may now have departed. They were rewarded with an Arctic Warbler, Yellow Browed Warblers, Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs and Brambling. I didn't join the group but did see five Brambling (m&f) at the feeding station. Cliff Lane to Bempton was unremarkable!
On the Ledge
It's a hard life bringing up a Guga!
Bottoms Up!
Differing Ages
cFirst Year
cSecond Year
cFourth Year
Neighbours from Hell?
And Flight!
Fabulous study in Gannets Kevin ... was surprised to see still around, thought they migrated ... realise that I know next to nothing of their life cycle!
ReplyDeleteThank you Wendy. Some of the first time breeders still have Guga and they may not fledge the cliffs until mid November. The Gannets do tend to leave the cliffs during November, December and return end of January.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that info Kevin ... so a few more weeks of sightings then, good to follow the babies ' progress!
ReplyDelete