Seabird Galore (Including Mega Rare Bird)!

 Seabird Galore (Including Mega Rare Bird)!

We arrived at 5:00 in the morning in hopes of catching a glimpse of the rare Black-Browed Albatross. We talked to some birders who said they'd seen it from Staple Newk Viewpoint not too long ago. We headed straight down there when I spotted a Linnet as it yipped away in a bush. Not too long after, a Meadow Pipit showed brilliantly on a post before parachuting down. We continued down the rough track when we came to a sudden halt. Less than ten meters away was a female Roe Deer on the hillside opposite. In the meantime, we ignored all the seabirds and just targeted the albatross. When we arrived, we met a man who said he'd seen it briefly a few minutes ago. We waited for just a few minutes when a huge bird with black wings and a black brow appear right in front of us. Luckily, within just a few minutes of arrival, we'd seen the Albatross. It is thought to be the only Albatross in the Northern Hemisphere. They should be in the South Atlantic but has somehow made it into the North Sea. It has been in the North Sea for more than seven years. It was seen being chased out of Denmark by five White-Tailed Eagles before it was seen here. It has been a Bempton Cliffs for two years (appeared in June 2021) though it did disappear in the Winter. It soon headed out to sea. We saw a Grey Seal surface above the water before dipping back down. We then viewed the other seabirds. A shag kept flying below us and fulmars occasionally flew right in front of us. Kittiwakes could be heard calling; Gannets landed less than two meters away and Guillemots surfaced the water in huge number and nested on what was often called the "Elephant's Head". Puffins occasionally flew by, giving close views of their beak and face whilst a pair of Razorbills had nested really close with eggs. We then headed to the cafe deck where I saw my first Sedge Warbler of the year. We asked an RSPB staff member about Corn Buntings so he said he'd alert us when one was spotted. Soon enough, another RSPB staff member came on deck to tell me that the man had seen some. I legged it as fast as I could to go see them and luckily, I managed to catch them flying. We then went over to Staple Newk to see the albatross again. I looked through a ladies scope and saw it. A tiny speck in the ocean is what it looked like. It had lost all of its magnificence. We asked somebody where to see some of the warblers and yellowhammer. He mentioned the Dell, a part of the reserve in the car park. We headed over there and soon after came across a Lesser Whitethroat as it sung away on the top of the bush. We continued farther and met Trevor and Will who showed us a Garden Warbler as it flew in a hedge, being chased by a female Blackcap. We waited for a bit and then managed to see the Black-Browed Albatross for a final time as it flew over Grandstand Viewpoint. What a cracking bird to end the trip! We then headed to St Aidan's which will be featured in another post.