Bridlington Harbour - 26th February 2020

Purple Sandpiper

We have a market stall (selling greetings cards, my photographic cards and Avon products) on Bridlington Market every Wednesday and Saturday (well worth a visit!) giving me the opportunity of wandering around Bridlington Harbour to see what is about. Today, rarely for this time of year, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the wind was much reduced! It would of been rude not to capture the moments!

I have seen Kittiwakes this year, distant off Bempton Cliffs, but now they are beginning to return to their nest sites around the harbour and have been seen checking out the ledges in the town.

Purple Sandpipers were in good numbers at high tide with c30 birds being seen on the harbour walls and rocks.

The ever present Turnstone

Redshank are numerous, seen here with a Dunlin

Dunlin

Redshank

Lunch is served!

Early starts on the market often enable some fantastic sunrises to be captured. Today, I was busy erecting the stall so missed the sun coming up over the horizon. However, it was still spectacular an hour later.

And finally, two iconic figures of Brid Harbour, the Pirate ship and Yorkshire Belle

Bempton Cliffs - 23rd February 2020

Fulmar

Not a bad day on the cliffs today, a dull grey morning with some light rain, becoming brighter with sunny periods as the wind got stronger. It was a good day for birds but only the Gannets, Fulmars and Herring Gulls remained on the cliffs. Out on the sea and in flight were Guillemots, Razorbills and my first Kittiwakes of the season. Of the eight main breeding birds at Bempton (Gannet; Shag; Fulmar; Herring Gull; Kittiwake; Guillemot; Razorbill and puffin), I have seen all except Puffin this year. It is also nice to see Shags gaining their breeding crests. Harbour Porpoise were seen and a Weasel dashed along the cliff top.

So what else did we see today? Todays Sightings

It is always nice to see the unexpected and today a year two Gannet paid a visit! Normally, year one and two Gannets prefer the west coast of Africa and the Bay of Biscay in their first two years, but always a pleasure to see.

I tried to capture some of the Gannets flying over the surf as a change

As the wind increased, the birds in flight slowed down but didn't quite "hang" in the air! Not complaining though!

Fulmars

Did someone mention chips?

Herring Gulls

Gannet Life

A gift for my beloved!

Magnificent Gannets in flight

And one of the ever present Jackdaws

With bird numbers increasing daily, what will you discover?

Keep 'em peeled!