Puffin
What a glorious spring day on the cliffs today - blue sky, sunshine, light breeze and uniquely warm! Indeed, only the second day this year that it was comfortable in polo shirt sleeves! Loads of visitors all with individual agendas of birds to see and I think that most went home happy. It was my second wildlife walk today with four lovely clients, all achieving excellent views of of the birds they had come to see!
The cliffs are full of action with most species on eggs, others still mating and a great deal of gathering nesting materials. The nature trail and dell areas were remarkably quiet of passerines, perhaps the most interesting being a Sedge Warbler in full song on the "hedge path" towards the cliffs. Sightings also included Hobby, Tree Pipit and Marsh Harrier, all of which I failed to see!
Todays sightings
Walking towards the cliffs, you cannot fail to miss the Tree Sparrows
Meadow Pipit
Linnets are notoriously difficult to photograph, so well pleased with these!
It was really nice to see and hear this Sedge Warbler on the "hedge" path leading down to the cliffs!
Now that the Guillemots and Razorbills are laying eggs, it is inevitable that predators such as Herring Gulls and Carrion Crows will take some eggs. Luckily these birds will be able to lay another one so all is not lost. Close to Bartlett Nab viewpoint, is a Herring Gulls dining table!
Herring Gulls (building up an appetite?!)
Did the Puffins show well today? Sort of!
I jest! They did show well, just not all of the time!
Me and my shadow!
Ministry of silly walks / positions!
At a nest site
Gannets
Guillemots
Management hierarchy also occurs on the cliffs - the lower down you are the more likely you are to be sh*t on! Keep your head down and carry on!
Razorbill
Busy Kittiwake
What will you discover?
What great photos! Thank you for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteI am new to birding and planning a visit to Bempton to see the Birds. Of course I would love to see a puffin but have no knowledge how I might do that. Any special tips please would be very much appreciated. Thanks in anticipation of your kind help. Regards jed
ReplyDeleteThe first platform you go to, will, after a very short wait, offer up a Puffin or two. The big, bright orange feet are the best things to look for. Once you've spotted one Puffin, you'll see dozens.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I should have said the first platform at the bottom of the path, or those to the left.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jed I have just returned from holiday. There are six viewpoints all of which should enable you to see variable numbers of Puffins, plus of course, all of the other breeding birds. Speak to the viewpoint volunteers who will give you assistance if required. Have a good trip.
ReplyDelete