Thinking of Thomas Hood and John Keats and a pleasant surprise on my walk from Bempton to Bempton Cliffs, 6th November 2020

 

Looking out of the window this morning, you could be forgiven for returning to the duvet and having a pyjama day! Certainly, it was a morning that might have you thinking of Thomas Hood's famous ode - November:

No sun - no moon!
No morn - no noon -
No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day -
No sky - no earthly view -
No distance looking blue -
No road - no street - no 't'other side the way' -
No end to any Row -
No indications where the Crescents go -
No top to any steeple -
No recognitions of familiar people -
No courtesies for showing 'em -
No knowing 'em -
No travelling at all - no locomotion,
No inkling of the way - no notion -
'No go' - by land or ocean -
No mail - no post -
No news from any foreign coast -
No Park - no Ring - no afternoon gentility -
No company - no nobility -
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds, -
November!

(Thomas Hood)

Or you could embrace the morning and venture out with a camera and relish the atmospherics of a foggy November day! This was my choice and I embraced the challenges. It was obvious that the fog would be...

...to clear!

Fog and mist give you a different outlook on the world around you. It gives the mundane a new life. It has an odour of the land to enjoy, albeit today being scented by last nights fireworks and the Cliff Lane pig farm!

Please embrace November!

A little brightness turned my thoughts to Kohn Keats and "...of mists and mellow fruitfulness..."

Bird wise, a good number of Blackbirds and winter Thrushes were seen in the hedgerows. Down on the cliffs, Fulmar numbers had increased and a few Gannets flew through. Best of all was hearing the sound of "guttural growling" as I approached and the sight of hundreds of winter plumaged Guillemots on the ledges! The first of many winter visits that cannot be predicted as to when, how many and how long they will stay!

Guillemots in the Mist!

As I write this blog page at 1100hrs, the fog is burning off, a few sunny intervals and patches of blue sky can be seen. The atmosphere has been lost!

RSPB Bempton Cliffs reserve and car park is open to facilitate local exercise. The visitor centre and facilities are closed until at least 2nd December 2020.

Please stay safe and follow all current government guidelines.