Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough

[rolf]

Great place to visit for cliff walks and birding.

First pictures are beautiful Gannets and a Kittiwake flying over one of the Gannet colonies, then a Puffin, then a couple of Razorbills, then away from the cliffs, a singing Whitethroat.

I can also heartily recommend the North Star Hotel at North Landing Flamborough, 2 star, very comfortable, friendly and good food, if you're a big eater, you'll love it. it's within a couple of hundred yards from the cliffs and you can start your cliff walks there.

[rolf]

Here's a Cormorant catching a small fish and a view.

[Catherine]

Super photos, Rolf! Was it cold?

[rolf]

Not really Catherine, around 12 degrees most of the time, but very windy.

[rolf]

This one shows how small the Puffins are, compared to pretty much everything else on the cliff.

[Catherine]

Rolf, 12c is COLD to a female!

It's just as well they have colourful bills or they would be very difficult to see!

[rolf]

I found that their little orange feet helped.

[rolf]

Here are a couple of birds I spotted in a little village pnd not far from Bempton, not very good shots, a Yellow Wagtail, Greenshank and A plover os some sort, not had time to check which.

[Catherine]

Doesn't look like any Plover pics I can see on RSPB site. The white line from Bill through eye is not shown on any I can see!

Will keep looking!

[Catherine]

Try Common Sandpiper, Little Stint, Knot (though looks browner than one), sanderling......?

[rolf]

Thanks Catherine, had it confirmed over the weekend by a couple of members of the Berkshire Ornithological Club, Common Sandpiper, although the body patterning is unusual.

[Catherine]

It certainly was hard to identify positively! I looked through every wee bird like that on the RSPB site and another!

Glad you've had it ID'd properly though.

Very pretty little bird!

[rolf]

What clinched it was the bobbing action of the rear, mentioned in the description on my Birds of the Western Paliarctic program, obviously the photos don't show this, but was very distinctive, what led me down the plover route was its size compared to the Greenshank.