Bempton Cliffs, North Yorkshire

Gannet Morus bassanus

Tuesday 6 May 

Leaving Darlington after breakfast to start our two-day drive back to Warsash we arrived for our four plus hour visit to Bempton Cliffs on the North Yorkshire coast just after 11 and what a fabulous birding visit it was.  Expecting vey few cars given that school and work were now back n full swing following the bank Holiday, most surprised to see that on arrival we were directed to the half-full field being used as an overflow  to the already full overflow car park!  Hundreds present but given the length of the cliffs all well spread out and a pleasure to be at this magnificent birding site in glorious sunshine and just a slight breeze. Entering the site of the RSPB reserve a pair of Barn Swallows and a Dunnock and then to the car park where we soon encountered a Woodpigeon and passing Carrion Crow.

Just a small section of Bempton Cliffs, North Yorkshire

Heading off towards to take the path to the northern viewing points we had more Barn Swallows overhead and a Moorhen with two very young chicks on a pond to our right. Even as I approached the cliff path nothing but a cloud of Gannets and Kittiwakes in the air and then, at the first viewing point, the sight of the hundreds of Gannets, Kittiwakes, Razorbills and Guillemots; the first two in the air and at their nesting sites on the cliffs and headland whilst the latter two were either at or flying to their nests or resting on the sea below.

Gannet Morus bassanus

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

Guillemot Uria aalge

Razorbill Alca torda

However, it was the further viewing point that I finally found the only Fulmar I was to see and even the with its head tucked in as it, presumably, incubated its egg.  And almost next to it a Bridled Guillemot with white head markings looking just like a pair of spectacles. Also present were numerous Jackdaws foraging on the grassy slopes pls scores of resting Rock Doves, Feral Pigeons returning to their original habitat!

Bridled Guillemot Uria aalge

Moving on to the first of the southern viewing points we found more of the same plus an eventual resting Puffin.  Leaving jenny at the seats I then made the extra walk to the further viewing point and stopped as a small brown bird flew up onto the fence and revealed itself as a Tree Sparrow, my first sighting the UK for many a month if not year.  A total of three and me thinking they might even be my "bird of the day!"  However, when informing a near by birder with his long range lens he pointed out that not only was he photographing a couple on the fence post in front of him but that Tree Sparrows were in abundance at this site with the trees next to the Visitors Centre hosting a number of nest boxes all adopted by these lovely little birds.  They were every where and certainly a thriving colony.

Puffin Fratercula arctica

Continuing on to the last viewing point I duly found numerous Puffins but all undertaking their circular flight out and back over the sea to their nesting burrows.  Again, lots of Gannets and Kittiwakes but only one Shag found on the rocks below.

The lonely Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Back to the former viewing point to collect Jenny then the walk back to the Visitors Centre where, on the way, we encountered more Tree Sparrows along with Blackbird, Skylark, Linnet and Wren. A couple of Barn Swallows up above and a singing Sedge Warbler in the hedge to our left. Once settled at the picnic tables I took a few steps to the boundary fence overlooking the meadow, bushes and coast where first a cock Pheasant put in an appearance and then I could concentrate of the foraging Sedge Warbler immediately in front of me and the Lesser Whitethroat on the brambles to the nearby left.  Excellent views of both.  Meanwhile, off to the right, a Reed Bunting.

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

taking a short walk to the "Owl Viewing" point we quickly found more Pheasants and a close Sedge Warbler.  

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus  schoenobaenus

Just below on a small tree a visiting Woodpigeon led to the sighting of a male Chaffinch. Of the upper right on a ploughed area a large Brown Hare and as we were about to depart a couple of Short-eared Owls arrived to quarter the back of the area.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

Making our way back to the car park field we stopped at the feeding station to see many nest boxes and maybe a dozen or more Tree Sparrows making use of the feeders. A couple of Goldfinches were in the neighbouring trees then, as we exited the field,  first a Greenfinch then a Common Whitethroat atop a small tree.  At the end of the exit drive a Collared Dove and a Starling on the roof of a a house and in the field to the left a hovering Kestrel.

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

What a fabulous visit and the memory of all those Gannets, Kittiwakes, Razorbills and Guillemots and, especially, the Lesser Whitethroat and Tree Sparrows. A final tally of 33 species including five new additions for the year.

One of the many Gannet Morus bassanus colonies on the cliffs

Birds seen:

Pheasant, Fulmar, Gannet, Shag, Kestrel, Moorhen, Herring Gull, Kittiwake, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Short-eared Owl, Skylark, Barn Swallow, Wren, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus  schoenobaenus

Male Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla resting on the sea

Razorbill Alca torda

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