Bempton Cliffs - 22nd September 2019

Gannet bowing indicating nest / site ownership

A very pleasant autumnal day with plenty of sunshine and an increasing south easterly blow.

A good day for seeing wildlife on land, cliffs, sea and in the air. This is what was seen throughout the day:

My job is done!

I arrived back here in April, waited for my partner, mated, shared incubation of our egg for c45days, serviced our Guga for c90 days until it fledged! I think I'm now entitled to some "me" time!

There are still good numbers of Gannets with Guga's on the cliffs but these (near Bartlett Nab are probably the youngest at c 10/11 weeks meaning they still have c20 days until they fledge!

It takes five years for a Gannet to mature into adult plumage. We are now seeing all age groups on the reserve! The darker they are, the younger they are.

Year 1 Gannet

Year 3 Gannets

Year 4 Gannets

Year 5+ Gannet (Mature)

Gannets can be quarrelsome birds both on and off the cliffs! Here two Gannets have a squabble on the sea

There are still a few Fulmars about

Greater Black Backed Gull

Keep 'em peeled!

A Pleasant Hour at East Lea Reserve, Filey - 19th September 2019.

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly

My day started with a walk around the Bempton circuit, a four mile walk, which today was very quiet and nothing motivated me enough to raise my camera! Messages started coming out of a Little Stint at Filey Dams, (year tick), but I was a long way from home and no transport. It was not until late afternoon that I managed to get to Filey, by which time the Stint had moved from showing well at the Dams to very distant at East Lea! But I did get my tick!

East Lea is a private members only reserve managed by Filey Bird Observatory and Group HERE

Arriving at East Lea, birds present included Spoonbill, Dunlin (3), Ruff, Bar Tailed Godwit and the distant speck of the Little Stint.

At least I was able to capture some images, even though most were distant!

Bar Tailed Godwit

Spoonbill

I don't normally take images of Dragonflies, (to fast, small and I don't know what they are!) but this Migrant Hawker begged to be captured!

And now, my images become "record shots"!

Little Stint

Little Stint with Dunlin

Ruff, Little Stint and Dunlin

Bar Tailed Godwit and Ruff

Not a bad hour, warm sunshine, good birds long may it continue!

"Barred" from Bempton! - 15th September 2019

Barred Warbler, Bempton Dell

No, I haven't been "barred" (yet!), but I refer to the bird - a fantastic Barred Warbler found by Trev C in Bempton Dell! A very skulky bird, disappearing for long periods before feeding on the elderberries.

Today started mild and bright but dulled up in the afternoon with rain arriving about 1500hrs. The wind also increased but from the west meaning migration would be limited. On the cliffs, we still have Gannets, Fulmars and Shags below, but it is noticeable that the birds are quickly thinning out.

So, what else was about today?

On the nature trail, a Stonechat was nice to see

Several Blackcaps fed well in the dell area

Standing on Bartlett Nab viewpoint, Kittiwake movement, mainly Tarrocks, were moving north in groups of 6 - 20 with c500 passing in an hour!

You cannot fail to miss the Gannets on the cliffs, on the sea and in flight with thousands still present. Their young (Gugas) are still in varying stages of development. Could this Guga be the youngest? Seen from Bartlett Nab.

Allopreening Gannet pair

Gannet life on Staple Newk

One of my favourite birds, the Fulmar

Keep 'em peeled!