Saturday 21st March 2015. After a week on Shetland and only I week back in the “land of the living”, I thought I had experienced enough wind to last me at least till the autumn. No such luck. It was blowing a gale today at the RSPB Reserve at Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire Coast. At least the gale had stirred-up the sea birds and Gannets were really playing around in the wind, seemingly enjoying themselves, putting on a fantastic show for the cameras. Already plenty of birds back on the chalk cliffs, with many Gannet, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag and Fulmar.
Prior to Bempton we had spent an hour or so at Scarborough with Kittiwake in the harbour, Peregrine and a few Mediterranean Gulls. After several hours at Bempton, we moved off in the late afternoon and stopped on our way home via Kelk Beck, near Harpham for another long staying bird, a Black-bellied Dipper. This is the Northern (Scandinavian) race of our “Brown-bellied” form. This was only my second Black-bellied Dipper, so it was well worth the visit and very obliging too. Along with a few other year ticks during the day, including Mediterranean Gull at Scarborough, my year list is now on 154.
Black-bellied Dipper – Above three images – Kelk Beck, Harpham, Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Gannet – This pair regularly take-up residence on the top of this rocky crag. Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Gannet – Above six images – Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Great Gannets!
Nice ‘contrast piping’ on their feet, as well.
400 F5.6 lens – no 500m!!!