Straight Outta Bempton

Yesterday's post was all about the 'tross, but of course there were plenty of other seabirds at Bempton with the breeding ledges and cliff faces starting to build up. The sight, sound and smell of a seabird colony is just one of those evocative birding experiences that make you smile, though many of the other similar experiences seem to revolve around roosting behaviour, like: wintering geese flying out from and back in to roost, wader flocks flying back from roosting to tidal mudflats, and Starling murmurations. Seabird colonies are different in that there is a constant stream of birds coming and going, a constant hustle and bustle - no wonder they're sometimes referred to as 'seabird cities'.

Whilst numbers are still building, there were already masses of Gannets, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and a fair few Puffins. Fulmars were constantly patrolling, and whilst not seabirds there were masses of Rock/Feral Pigeons on the cliff faces. I didn't take much notice of the other gulls knocking about, but there were a couple of Shags on the water.

Here's a few clips and shots to round off the day.

Birders - Birds

Photographing stuff in the garden on Wednesday, out mothing Wednesday night and out with the family all day yesterday, getting home well after dark. So - loads to catch up on over the next few days/posts.

Today though I was at the Bird Fair all day. Good to meet and chat with Gary 'Newton Beadnell Birding Stringer' Woodburn and Iain 'Druridge Pools' Robson, and a number of Leics. faces, like Colin Towe, Mark Andrews, Graham Finch and Mark Rossell (apologies to those I missed etc etc). Mainly though, the crack centered around the beer tent with a number of Birdfair Bitters downed in the company of John 'Drunkbirder Freebie Blagging Media Whore' Hague, Andy 'Llama' Mackay and Dave 'Teaboy' Gray. Lots of obtuse conversation about non-birdy stuff, sniping about wildlife cameramen who make you feel queasy when on the wrong side of the lens, and mainly lots of laughs. A good 3 hours whiled away around a plastic table.

I did spend a bit of time in the various marquees, and spent some money on non beer/birding items. Finally got around to getting a couple of books that have been notable ommissions from my pathetically small library - British Hoverflies by Stubbs and Dragnoflies of Britain and Europe by Dijkstra/Lewington. The BWP stand is showing the new Lewington micro book as due for publication in early 2012 - looking forward to that one.

Felt obliged to look at some birds before heading home, so dropped into Eyebrook Res for a quick look. Loads of mud. And water. A quick scan with bins revealed lots of Ringed Plovers, a few juv Ruffs and the odd Dunlin. Also loads of Lapwings. Got the scope out and confirmed that the bins were right and couldn't see anything more exciting and gave up quickly. Lazy bastard. Everything too far to photograph as usual.

So in lieu of any decent photos from today, but to maintain the unfamiliar birdyness of this post, here are some photos and vidclips from our grand day out at Scarborough yesterday.

A classic natural Kittiwake colony

Greedy fat bastard

juv Herring Gull

Herring Gulls

Great Black-backed Gull

Turnstone

Cliff City

I finished my business at the Yorkshire beverage filling plant late afternoon, and made a snap decision on which way to head. I had thought earlier in the week about heading to Blacktoft Sands or Spurn, and I'd even thought of heading to Frampton to yeartick Oriental Pratincole but thankfully that had the decency to depart on Wednesday. I decided I wanted something more instant but nonetheless impressive, and headed over to Bempton Cliffs.

There's nothing like the amazing sight, evocative sound and frankly disgusting smell of a seabird breeding colony. It's a heaving metropolis - high rise accomodation and overpopulated.

Thousands of Razorbills, Guillemots, Gannets, Kittiwakes, fewer Fulmar, and .. hang on - where's the fecking Puffins! I only saw a handful dotted about on the stacks - undoubtedly a few thousand were underground sitting tight with the other half out at sea.

Guillemots

Razorbills

Compare and contrast

Gannets

Kittiwake

The cliff-top meadows and margins were also alive with singing Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Tree Sparrows, Reed Buntings, and best of all Corn Buntings - haven't seen or heard one for a good few years, shame they were camera shy. Also Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler in full song. Absolutely loads of Red Campion, and that was alive with hundreds of geometers flitting about - the only one I watched long enough for it to settle was a Rivulet.

Jackdaw

Tree Sparrow

Whitethroat

Kestrel

A superbly relaxing and pleasant couple of hours. There were not many people about whilst I was there, but as I left a load of 'mature' women arrived for a guided evening walk.