Having spent a nice relaxing week up at Spurn Bird Observatory catching up with friends that we hadn't seen in ages, Arjun and I decided that if Albert was seen on the day of our departure it would be rude not to go up and at least attempt to see it and so after a brief stop at Kilnsea Wetlands for Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sand, Ruff and Spoonbills we headed up the coast on the windy country roads to Bempton Cliffs. We arrived not long after 1050 and stepped out the car to the sound of Tree Sparrows, House Sparrows, and singing Corn Bunting. We headed down towards the cliffs and set about scanning through the gannets. Eventually Arjun picked Albert out sat on the cliff. It was quite easy to see once you had found it as it stood out like a soar thumb in and amongst the adult gannets with its dark black back and white stomach easily on show. All this time while Kittiwake and Gannet were soaring above us and Tree Sparrows flew over. A flock of Common Scoter where flying around the base of the cliffs but then I noticed a dark cloud approaching from inland and so we started to walk towards the view point that over looked where the Albert was sitting. The smell of fish and the sound of Kittiwakes and Gannets filled the air as all of a sudden the heavens opened and some of the heaviest rain I have ever been stood in feel. We got an absolute soaking on perhaps one of the most exposed areas of cliff face in the UK. It was horrible, but was it going to be worth it? Above: Kittiwake After the soaking a lot of the Gannets started to get up and have a fly around to dry themselves off. They would cruise past the view point so close you could have reached out and given them a high five as they effortlessly glided around on the air currents. Kittiwakes did the same and the days first Puffins, Shags and Fulmar's flew in and out of the cliffs collecting nesting material and food for their young. In fact some of the Gannets were so bold that from time to time they would land on the cliff right in front of the viewing platforms to collect bits of grass for their nests. It was honestly an incredible all round experience and something I had never seen or experienced before! Above: Gannet Photo collection Below: Fulmar Above: Puffin with food and Gannets All of a sudden out of nowhere. Albert appeared at eye level gliding upon the cliff literally meters from us and this is what he continued to do for the next 30 odd minutes. To the pure excitement of the total soaked group of people on the cliffs. There was a real buzz about the place whilst it was showing and I have to admit It was amazing. I have never seen anything like it. The long thin Black Wings, the hint of black eye liner. Ever thing about it was pristine. He glided round and round in circles sometimes coming so close that my camera refused to focus on it or so close that you couldn't even fit the whole bird in the picture. After 10 minutes of flying around he then landed temporarily on the cliff next to us, before being pushed off by some squabbling gannets and sending him right next to us where he tried to land again. Unfortunately this time a gust of wind mean 't that his landing was unsuccessful and eventually he gave up and slowly headed down the cliff towards the gannets the were now gathering on the water. Eventually that was where he ended up and he went from giving ridiculously thrilling views to just about being visible sat on the sea perhaps half a mile out from the cliff. (I will warn you now that by no means are all the photo's below to look at, they are more here for me, but please feel free to look to skip if you get bored of looking at full frame uncropped Albert photo's ;) ) Yes, I took almost 250 photo's of Albert and only managed to get it down to 70 but it was just such a surreal experience. I was watching the bird for most the time after I took these photo's as he glided around effortlessly. Once he had headed out to sea I set about watching and photographing the locals with plenty of Kittiwake and Gannets performing equally as well. For the next 20 or so minutes we watched the birds around the view point before deciding to make our way back with another Thunder storm imminent. Above: Gannets Below: Kittiwakes Above: Fulmar (& Gannet) As we headed back along the cliff I noticed a vole shoot across the path in front of us before being immediately pursued by a bounding, leaping weasel which ran about as if we weren't even there hot on the scent of its prey. There was no one else around on the cliff bar us the Weasel, singing Corn Bunting and Tree Sparrows. Incredible. Eventually it ran off into the undergrowth in search of its prey! (Weasel pictured below) And so just as we got back to the visitor centre the heavens opened once more and the rains came tumbling down as the clouds rolled over the hills.
I honestly don't think either of us could have believed our luck. The now symbolic Samuel casual twitch worked a treat. Albert becomes my 252nd species of Bird seen in Britain. The car journey back down the M62, M18 and M1 was full of joy even despite the less than ideal traffic and flooding conditions as we reflected on what was an incredible trip to Spurn rounded off by one of the best birds I have ever seen. Now back to London for the first time since early June!
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AuthorI have been a birder since I was 8 however only really started to be able to go out to places by myself in Summer 2016 (Blame the parents) My blogs will be from all over the place, but mainly from RSPB Rainham Marshes and Totteridge Valley! Photography done by Samuel Levy aged 21. ArchivesCategories |