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Showing posts with the label Black-browed Albatross

A Cruise Onboard The Yorkshire Belle!

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 A Cruise Onboard The Yorkshire Belle! We arrived on North Pier in Bridlington Harbour waiting for our cruise to arrive and take us on a voyage around the cliffs from there to Jubilee Viewpoint at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, a 3 hour sail.  We went on at 4:30pm, hoping to see some lifers. In a little while, Kittiwakes, Gannets and 5 Common Scoters were seen. We then passed South Landing Beach and saw 3 Whimbrel as they flew low over the sea past the ship. The first lifer of the cruise. We then went past Flamborough Head's YWT seawatching hide where seals and shags put on a show. We then passed Staple Newk Viewpoint where we got a nice view of the Black-Browed Albatross from below, on the cliff. Then, near Bartlett Viewpoint, we managed to spot the small fin of a Harbour Porpoise over and over again on our way there and back. On our travel back we saw quite a few Fulmars and throughout the voyage, Puffins showed in huge flocks fairly close to the ship. The Yorkshire Belle made me feel...

Mega Rarity and Passage Waders!

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  Mega Rarity and Passage Waders! We arrived at 5:30am at Wandale Farm to see the Turkestan Shrike, a mega rarity. To get there, we parked in the car park at RSPB Bempton Cliffs- location pinned to post named 'Seabird Galore (and Mega Rarity)'- and walked out past Staple Newk Viewpoint until we got to the end of the clifftop fence. On the way, someone let me get a nice glimpse of the Black-Browed Albatross as it rested on the cliff within the colony of Gannets. Opposite the end of the fenceline is a flattened out path through some crops. Walk through that until you reach the top of the hill. From there, you should see lots of birders and that's where you go. If the birders aren't present yet, then walk along the path on top of the hill. The farmer might have parked his car there and it's opposite that. If the car is also absent, then just go to the other side of the hill and then down towards an old barn. That's where we met up with a ton of other birders. We al...

Seabird Galore (Including Mega Rare Bird)!

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 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 ...