Another organised visit meeting up with Dan and Jeanette at Bempton Cliffs RSPB today,resulted in a cracking day out,with us also visiting nearby Flamborough and Hornsea Mere.
After driving through the fairly quiet roads up to Bempton,we met up with our friends Dan and Jeanette,got all our gear together and headed over towards New Roll Up and Staple Newk to see if Albert was still present after his overnight stay.
Unfortunately he was sat on the sea and could be made out as a very distant black blob sat about a mile and a half away....buggar.
We waited around for a couple of hours,but he didn't budge and enough was enough and we headed back to the car.
All was not lost though,as i saw a couple of juvenile Whinchat and a lovely juvenile Marsh Harrier on the way back to the car.
A trip over to nearby Flamborough for lunch and a mooch around,saw some lovely Grey Seals being seen in Selwick's Bay and a couple of Wheatear to keep interest going,but it was just lovely to sit here and watch the sea,scenery and the Seals.
After enjoying our time at Flamborough,our last port of call,or so we thought,was Hornsea Mere,to look at the visiting flock of Little Gulls.On the way,a roadside Hobby at Lisset broke the journey up nicely.
These birds visit here every late summer and counts can be into the thousands,which can make for a very impressive sight indeed.
Today,we timed the visit just right,as between 20 - 30 individuals decided to fly in and rest/preen on one of the piers at the sailing club,giving some absolutely superb views.The juveniles were just gorgeous,reminding me of juvenile Red-necked Phaloropes,with that neat head pattern and monochrome plumage.Their Tern like contact calls were great to hear also.
Whilst watching the Gulls,l heard some commotion coming from some Black-headed gulls and immediately noticed a Honey Buzzard heading south across from where we were stood,talk about being in the right place at the right time.The bird gave some nice scope views,as it tried to turn around and peck at the Jackdaws chasing it,giving great chance to see the birds long neck and then eventually lost it over the village,with the Jackdaws still in hot pursuit.
Other bits seen here,included 4 Common Sandpiper and 2 eclipse Drake Pintail,which added to all the other great sightings for the day.
After the excitement of the cracking Buzzard,a quick post onto Birdguides and Twitter and then.....the Albatross was back at Bempton.We made a quick decision between us to head back there.
After arriving back at Bempton for the second time today,Albert was still there this time and distant views were enjoyed from just past Staple Newk as he preened and looked like he was going to settle for the night,just then a Gannet flew in and a bit of a fall out ensued and he flew.
I ran back to Staple Newk where Tracey and Dan were getting some superb views of him as he flew around below us,what a bird!!!.
We watched and tried to get some photos of this stonker as he wheeled around for at least 20 minutes,before flying down lower to the water and heading out to sea and that was that.It was really great to see him flying low over the sea,with those long,bowed wings and distinctive flight.
Well today was just superb and it is always great to find something nice and seeing the Albatross so well again,really was the icing on the cake again,bird of the year and a lifetime in my book!.
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| Morning View Of Staple Newk,Bempton Cliffs RSPB. |
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| Moulting Juvenile Gannet. |
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| Just Beautiful Birds,Of Which I Will Never Tire Of Watching. |
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| Selwick's Bay,Flamborough Head. |
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| The Yorkshire Belle,Bempton Bound At Selwick's Bay. |
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| Albert. |
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| Female Smooth Newt. |
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