Seabirds at Bempton - an annual pilgrimage

12:56 PM | Posted by | | Edit Post
As the title suggests this is my once yearly visit to Bempton Cliffs. I am sat here asking myself the question of why? why make the 3 hour journey to the otherside of the country to see 6 species of seabirds? - no less- no more, just the same 6.

Fulmar, Northern Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin and Kitiwake

Is it to generate 6 guaranteed year ticks to my birding list - possibly. Is it because I can get some fairly easy in-flight shots - again possibly (but this realy does depend on the weather), or is it just because its a fabulous place to visit - probably.

Still not fully sure, but anyway here are the results of pilgrimage 2012

please click on an image to maximise the resolution 

Bempton Vistors centre

breeding ledges being taken up 

low tide  along the coast 

every crevice utilised 

the weather turns for the worse

The real stars of the day
Atlantic Puffin


Gannet


Razorbill


Guillemot

Fulmar

Kittiwake

This year however there was one suprise, just down the coast at Flambrough a bird had shown up in a small wooded copse close to the cliffs. A possible Atlas Flycatcher. To be honest a week on and after much debate the birds true identity is still somewhat of a mystery. Some say Pied Flycacher x Collored Flycatcher hybrid, others say Iberian Pied Flycatcher, some really dont think it is the first ever visit of an Atlas Pied Flycatcher..... while others do

To be honest we may never know, but it was a smart bird to see and I am glad I took time out to catch a sighting of the latest UK mystery











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