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.

Saturday, 2 May 2020

Exercise Walks in May 2020

Barn Owl

How fantastic and cheering to see these rainbow stones around the villages! Apparently there are 22 to find and have been produced and distributed by the children of key workers attending Bempton School. Very well done!


My walks incorporate a route of just under four miles and encompass arable farmland, coastal cliffs and grassland. Basically it is my birdwatching patch, an area that I have wandered since moving to Bempton.

The hedgerows seem to be holding breeding territories of many Common Whitethroats



With Goldfinches



Yellowhammers



And Reed Buntings


Song Thrushes sing out from the higher branches



A pair of Grey Partridges roam the area and you never know where you will see them! Always flighty and distant!


Several Barn Owls can be spotted around Bempton and Buckton, always a pleasure!







In good Julie Andrews fashion "The [cliffs] are alive with the sound of [seabirds] (and, of course, sight and smells!). All of the breeding seabirds are present, with eggs being seen of Gannets, Guillemots and Razorbills. Mating is often observed and there is a lot of nest making / repairs being carried out.

The recent dry spell dried up the mud required for nest lining, but a few heavy periods of rain has now helped. The Kittiwakes are making the most of it.







And the Gannets are ragging the vegetation and taking clumps back to their partners as a gift of endearment, and ultimately being incorporated into the nest.





Some birds succumb and die for varied reasons, but bodies are cleared quickly by scavengers, in this case, an immature Greater Black-backed Gull.




Guillemot


Razorbills



Love them or hate them, Herring Gulls are fantastically adaptable birds! Those that breed on the cliffs, have probably never seen a chip in their lives!





And finally, some of the fantastic colours and views







Please, please, please act responsibly and always follow the governments current guidelines relating to Covid-19. All visitor facilities at Bempton Cliffs are currently closed. Police do patrol the area.

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