An Autumn "Wow" Day on Bempton Cliffs! - 7th October 2018

Barred Warbler in Bempton Dell

The weather was good and the birds were very good! Sunny intervals with increasing cloud but the wind was changing back to a moderate westerly. The only downside was that I could only stay until lunch time! Top birds for me were year ticks of Brambling and Yellow Browed Warbler but the grand finale was just before I had to leave with a life tick of Barred Warbler in the Dell! Migration was also evident with almost constant fly overs of Bramblings, Redwings, Fieldfares and Skylarks. The cliffs and sea showed a reduction in Gannets but Gugas are still evident - some ready to fledge but others still in their downy white feathers. A few Kittiwakes flew through, Rock Pipits on the cliffs and a Peregrine fly past.

My first birds of the day were five Brambling in the Dell (year tick)

Gannets are the most numerous birds on the cliffs with Gugas almost ready to fledge

but others still in white downy plumage with their black feathers showing through

Mature Gannets still impress

Two Stonechats were on the fence posts near Jubilee Corner viewpoint

Another look around the Dell produced this Yellow Browed Warbler(year tick), one of several on the reserve

Best is last! My final bird of the day was a life tick in the form of a Barred Warbler! This bird had been trapped and ringed by warden Dave Aitken and was due for release. Now, I do not like to photograph birds in the hand, so I hoped that it would hang around once released. It did!