Bempton Cliffs

 

It’s a fortnight ago since I went to Bempton Cliffs to see “Albert” the Black-browed Albatross. I arrived at 6am and left at 5pm in those eleven hours I stood in the same spot (I probably moved less than a meter) on Staple Newk, the best vantage point (or so I was told) to see “Albert”. However, in those eleven hours “Albert” did not show once but I did get some images of the other birds that adorn those cliffs.

Thousands of Gannets nest on the cliffs each year.

This one is coming in to land.

Love is in the air

But there are also battles going on both on the cliffs.

And in the sea.

I like the way this young Gannet is checking out the assembled crowd.

A near miss.

We were lucky this wasn’t any closer to us.

This youngster wants to be fed.

Hovering just above the cliff.

Kittiwake also nest on the cliffs. This youngster is using the wind to slow it down before it lands on the cliff.

I think the markings on the young birds look great.

An adult Kittiwake calling.

Fulmar use the thermals to glide over the cliffs.

A flyby by a Peregrine.

With all of the birds around there are bound to be feathers, I couldn’t resist.

I had a drive…

 …to South Shields the other day primarily to see the Snow Buntings that have been there for a while now. They did show a few times but were very flightily flying off if anyone on the pier got too close. A bird that wasn’t bothered at all about people was a very obliging Turnstone that was on the pier wall and posed for pictures. A pair of Eider Duck was also nice to see, as was a Pipit in the dunes. The sea was quite wild with massive white horses breaking near the shore and looked great through the long lens I had on the camera. 

Snow Bunting

Turnstone

Male Eider Duck

Diving Male Eider Duck

Female Eider Duck

Pipit

The sea was a bit choppy

Gull fighting the wind and waves

Finally Mull Part 7

As I said in an earlier Blog, what attracts people to Mull is the wildlife. Therefore, while I was there I was lucky enough to book a couple of trips on the Lady Jane with Mull Charters. It was one of the best experiences ever with brilliant close views of White-tailed Eagle it has got to be on your to do list if you are on Mull. Here are just a few of the images I took.

Rubbish image I know but it is the first time I have seen two White-tailed Eagles and an Otter together. I mentioned in my previous Blog that I had seen a distant Otter this is it.

Two WTE in a tree they are probably waiting for the Lady Jane to set sail, I am sure I have images of these birds taken from the boat.

While out on the boat we came across these seals with pups.

I thought I would finish this series of Blogs with a sunset taken looking across the Sound of Mull (we didn’t get many)