After leaving Flamborough Head we drove for ten minutes and ended up at Bempton Cliffs, where we were even luckier with the Puffins. From our first viewpoint we managed to pick a couple out but someone told us the try the next one down. That proved to have some excellent views, and we didn’t even need binoculars. The blur in one picture is a blade of grass.
We also saw the usual suspects (Rock Dives, Herring Gulls, Jackdaws, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Razorbills and Guillemots) and there were good numbers of immature Gannets, including chicks.
As you can probably tell, the day was becoming dull again after the sunshine so we didn’t hang around too long.
We rounded off with excellent fish and chips at the Fishpan in Scarborough. It’s never disappointed us yet, unlike some of the posher places we’ve tried.
We were home for 8.30 pm and exactly 12 hours later I dropped Julia off at work. She’s salvaged an old PE bench from the school skip and we restored it to live with a drop of glue and half-a-dozen screws. It’s nearly as good as new now, though there’s quite a bit of chewibg gum to dislodge from underneath.
After that it was off to the doctor for a blood test and on to blogging. Which brings us bang up to date.
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Fabulous pictures, Simon! I must have a trip up the Yorkshire coast one of these days! We do have Kittiwakes nesting in Lowestoft but I’ve never had the time to stop and photograph them.
That’s always the way! I’ve never taken pictures of the ones that nest at Scarborough castle – always a case of “next time”. 🙂
Bridlington, Flamborough, Bempton, Scarborough, Whitby, North York Noors Railway and Goathloand (aka Aidensfield)…
A wonderful area! The last time we were there was 1997!! You might be interested in Mike’s blog. He’s very amusing and visited Whitby, NYMRailway and Goathland recently . http://bitaboutbritain.com/train-heartbeat/
I’ll give it a read later – lot of catching up to do!
Great puffin shots.
We were lucky to find cooperative Puffins.
I’d like to see some puffins in person. Yours are quite something and very cute and puffiny.
We are lucky having them within a two hour drive – the Gannets are majestic, but the Puffins
always make the day seem brighter. 🙂
The photos get better and better, Quercus. Love the puffins and bird photos from Bempton Cliffs.
Thanks, I’m just getting back into practice. And a good subject helps. 🙂
puffins are gorgeous! absolutely one of my favorite animals. you are so lucky to have seen them in nature 🙂
I can only say yes to that. 🙂
Oh I am so jealous too. I have never gotten that close to a Puffin. Gannets, Razorbills and Guillemots yes, but Puffins and Kittiwakes, oh my. Just gorgeous.
I was a bit surprised when I looked over the edge of the viewing platform. I wasn’t expecting anything so close. In fact I was carrying a telescope! 🙂
Jealous, jealous, jealous. We were in Kirkwall way too early for puffins a year ago (okay it was April), and often wanted to go back in summer. Maybe, but your post shows we can maybe get to see them a wee bit closer. Thanks so much!!!
There’s always something to see at Bempton during the nesting season, though you need to time the Puffin visit for when they are out of the burrows. At this time of year there’s plenty to smell too!
Puffins have got to be on my top ten creatures of Earth!!
Yes, same here. My favourite two are probably pork and beef. Sorry, pigs and cows. 🙂
lol
🙂
Well done – for the pics, and for getting up to date 🙂
Ah, when I mentioned “up to date” I may have been a touch optimistic. 🙂
🙂