RSPB Bempton Cliffs - 30th April 2017

Puffin

My call to the cliffs this morning was good and early giving me time to have a look around the reserve before duties called. The day was sunny but a cold easterly wind did its very best to blow everyone west! The seabird numbers are still increasing towards the expected 250,000 but everyone's favourite, the Puffin was playing hard to find and did so all day. Grandstand was the best bet for Puffins where a well known nest enabled views of incubating birds, but elsewhere it was flight or sea views.

Puffins

Some birds are already on an egg including Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffin. These numbers will increase over the next couple of weeks.

Bridled Guillemot on Egg

Gannets are still gathering materials for nest improvements and gifts for their beloved!

While others chill out!

A large number of immature Gannets can be seen, these are first / second year birds

Guillemot

Razorbill

Fulmar

Kittiwake

Herring Gull

Elsewhere on the reserve,

Goldfinch

Tree Sparrow

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

The Bempton "Eight" Seabirds - helping to give an insight into their relative sizes!

And finally, today's sightings