Puffin with something to "Puffin" about!
The cliffs didn't call me this morning - they positively shouted at me! The weather was fantastic, the birds were fantastic, the visitors were fantastic, the whole reserve oozed "fantastic"! March is not yet out but the famous "Bempton 8" (Puffin; Guillemot; Razorbill; Fulmar; Gannet; Kittiwake; Herring Gull and Shag) were all showing very well in the warm sunshine! Add to that "bonuses" such as a 1st winter Glaucous Gull (making two tours of the reserve), two Short-eared Owls; two White Wagtails and regular Peregrine sightings!
Todays Sightings
Seeing Puffins on the cliffs is always a pleasure but seeing them collecting materials for their nests, deep in the chalk is a pure delight!
Puffins being Puffins!
Guillemots
Guillemots are monomorphic in that they show little or no differences between sexes. However, this is a male Bridled Guillemot. The bridled Guillemot is however, a mutant, which apparently depends on a single gene difference and is distinguished by a white circle around the eye continuing backwards as a line towards the region of the nape. c2% of Guillemots at Bempton are bridled!
So, how do I know this bird is a male? Simple..........................!
Bridled Guillemot (left) with Common Guillemot
Razorbills
Love is definitely in the air!
Kittiwakes
Gannet
Fulmar
Herring Gull
Shag below Bartlett Nab (c400feet!)
