Previously “Diary of a Birding Medic”; “Rugby Birder”; "Bempton Birder”. All views expressed in this blog are my OWN and do not represent the opinions or policies of any organisations or entities whatsoever with whom I have been, am now or will be affiliated. Reference to Bempton Cliffs in NO way promotes the organisation known as RSPB Bempton Cliffs, but rather the FREEdom of the cliffs.

Monday, 9 September 2019

Glorious Gannets at Bempton Cliffs - 9th September 2019

Ol' Blue Eyes!

It was a non-birding weekend with various events to attend so I missed out on my volunteering stint on Bempton Cliffs on Sunday. Indeed, I spent Sunday assisting Heather with a fund raising event in the dead centre of Scarborough. Well, Dean Road cemetery to be precise. Apart from wandering around the amazing grave stones, I did find a Rose Ringed (Ring Necked) Parakeet!

This morning I felt the need to feel the breeze so headed up to the cliffs! My intention was to scan the seas in order to find some of the seabirds that other birders report along our coast. Obviously there were Gannets, Fulmars, Shag, Cormorant, Herring Gull and Great Black Backed Gulls but I failed to spot (as usual) any Skuas or Shearwaters et al!

I don't do "specs" in the distance!

Below the cliffs, Steve Race (Yorkshire Coast Nature) was running one of his diving Gannets trips for photographers and it would have been rude not to take advantage of this scene (from dry land due to mal de mer)!



Who can resist a Gannet portrait? Not me!


Jewels in the Crown?




Gugas are fledging from the cliffs, thus severing ties with their parents. You see them exercising their wings on the ledges, you see them on the water and now in flight around the colony. However, I have not yet captured one fledging the cliffs!




Year 1 Gannets







Year 2 Gannet


An enjoyable couple of hours of "me" time!

Keep 'em peeled!
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)