Having spent two nights in a tent last weekend - to say 'sleeping in a tent' would be a bit strong - I was granted permission for a few days away to indulge in some birding and photography. My original plan was to go to Scotland, but in the end I couldn't find the energy for the long drive, so headed for East Yorkshire and the seabird city of Bempton Cliffs instead. As regular readers will know, I enjoy seeing rare birds, of course, but a seabird colony takes some beating as birding experiences go. Bempton has accessibility going for it as well - no weather dependent or expensive boat rides to worry about. I arrived in late afternoon in perfect light and went back again the next morning. So if you don't like Gannets, look away now. And if you like Puffins, come back later.
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| Gannet, Bempton Cliffs |
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| Gannet is the star bird at Bempton for me - the only mainland colony in England |
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| This bird put on a fine display |
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| Everything about this bird is smart - note the yellow trim on the webbed feet |
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| The last thing you want to see if you're a fish |
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| A carpet of Red Campion on the clifftop makes for an attractive foreground |
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| Another displaying bird |
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| And a pair here in evening light |
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| Another pair the following morning |
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| Gannet with Filey Brigg in the background |
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| 250,000 seabirds nest on the cliffs at Bempton |
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| The clifftop is also a great location for flight photography |
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| This bird was stalling as it came in to land |
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| An immature bird |
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| An adult in close-up |
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| Many of the breeding locations look precarious... |
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| ..this at Staple Newk perhaps the most precarious of all |
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