We saw these beak fencing Gannets at Bempton Cliffs today. It’s part of their mating ritual. He later went fishing and came back with a gift of fish. It seemed to work, as I had to delete the ensuing video rather than become known as an avian pornographer. I reminded Julia that I bought her favourite – smoked mackerel – earlier in the week. According to her answer it seems that gifts of fish don’t have the same significance in the human world.
Some of the birds are on the cliffs, but most of the auks (including around a dozen puffins) are content to sit on the sea for the moment.
Have to be quick, as I need to post this before midnight. Here are a few other pictures.
It was a good day and the telescope came in useful for looking out to sea. Those Puffins were miles away!
I really must take a trip to Bempton Cliffs! Your video is wonderful and the photos of all the other birds you saw there make me wish I had the time to go and see them this week! The only time I have seen Gannets is when we were on holiday in County Kerry in 2005; it was thrilling watching them diving for fish!
When the kids were small we stayed at Reighton Sands – while we were collecting fossils on the beach a flock of Gannets flew along the coast and started fishing in front of us. Magic.
We went in July last year, which was towards the end of the season. It is well worth a visit. 🙂
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So, smoked mackerel didn’t work? 🙂 A good day of birding, and I love the beak-fencing gannets. Nice video!
Thanks. I tried fish pie tonight. The fact I’m sitting here typing indicates that fish might not be the way to a woman’s heart.
Try salmon with mushroom sauce. 🙂
Sounds good! 🙂
Very nice gannet movie. They are handsome elegant birds. I’ll try a sardine on Mrs T and see what ensues.
Thanks, we thought we might be a bit early but it seems the Gannets are early too.
Having failed with smoked mackerel I’m thinking of flowers.
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What pictures and what a place for seeing birds! And Julia is right about that fish 😉
🙂
Your video beats my equine stills. 🙂
Thank you Derrick. It was lucky Julia spotted them amongst the hundreds of birds.
So Julia plays a similar role to Jackie in pointing out what we might otherwise miss. 🙂
Yes. It was the photo/video that made the day, and she was also the first of us to spot the puffins out at sea. Sometimes I feel I am only there to drive, carry and provide comic interludes. 😉
🙂 As you know, I don’t even do the driving
🙂
The fencing gannets and the screeching gull are great.
Thank you. It was another case of waiting patiently and taking lots of pictures. 🙂