Bempton Cliffs - 23rd June 2019

Fulmar

A pleasant overcast day, very mild but humid with a threat of rain and thunderstorms later. Thankfully this held off until late evening. A very busy day on the cliffs with several coach groups combining with the usual visitors, indeed my wildlife walk was well populated with seven guests!

All of the breeding seabirds were on view today, much to the delight of the visitors. It is becoming easier to spot the chicks on the ledges with Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Herring Gull, Jackdaw and Tree Sparrow in the fields and even the Puffling near Grandstand popped close to it's nest tunnel entrance as if to say hello! It is still very noticeable that there are large number of non-breeders of all species on the ledges.

Todays Sightings

I'll start off with the "cute" factor as everyone admires the chicks!

Razorbill

Guillemot

"I wonder what's around that corner?"

The chicks of Razorbills and Guillemots are known as "Jumplings" due to the fact that at the tender age of three weeks, they jump, flightless from the ledges, into the sea! Here the male birds collect their jumpling and swim out to sea, continuing day and night, while teaching the jumpling the life skills necessary to survive.

Kittiwake

Gannets (with Guga of varying age)

Gannets lay one egg each year. It takes c45days to incubate and a further c90days until the Guga fledges!

Herring Gull

Jackdaw

Adult Birds

And yes, the Puffins showed off well! Did you know that one of the collective name for a group of Puffins is a circus? This one certainly made me feel rather dizzy!

Razorbills

"Up a bit, up a bit, aaaaah yes just there!"

"Come on, give us a kiss!"

It's a great sound on the cliffs just now - this is one of the backing groups!

"If we could just evict the Puffins, this would be an ideal home!"

Year 2 Gannet

Year 3 Gannet

Year 4 Gannet

The "love" fish! A gift for my beloved! Usually passes between the two birds for a long period of time before being consumed!

Fulmars

And finally, one of the enigmatic Tree Sparrows

As always, "Keep 'em Peeled!"

Scarborough, Castle Headland Peregrines - 20th June 2019

A good walk around Scalby Mills, OAT and Peasholm Park did not, as expected, produce any interesting birds! However, the Peregrines on Castle Headland were showing and it was good to see how the young bird had grown since my last visit.

I was rather impressed to capture the adult birds shadow as it took flight from its watchpoint above the nest scrape!

Supporting cast in the form of Pied Wagtail

And passing Razorbill

Around Kilnsea Wetlands - 18th June 2019

Swallow

We hadn't been down towards Spurn for over a year so we decided to have a wander today. Because dogs are not allowed onto the peninsula, we wandered around Kilnsea Wetlands, Canal Scrape, the triangle and Sammy's Point. Knowing that migration has not started yet, it was year ticks and these were obtained in Avocet, Black Tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Knot Sandwich Tern and Little Tern. A lovely mild but humid day with increasing cloud during the afternoon threatened thunder, but we escaped! Oh! It was also low tide!

Photographically, nothing special, just whatever took my fancy and came within camera range!

Little Egret

Shelduck

Avocet

Sedge Warbler

Bathing Linnet

Swallows

We will return later in the year!