The Red-tailed Shrike had been at Bempton cliffs since 28th June and we really wanted to get up there to tick another lifer, the problem is getting us all available, and also the 220 miles drive means we have to think about it.
We all love Bempton so as soon as we were able to go, we arrange to meet up at Brians's house at 2am to set off on the trip. while waiting for Brian we get a year tick when we hear a Tawny Owl calling so off to a good start to the day.
It should off taken 4 hours but the A1 overnight closures mean a detour puts another hour on the trip and we never arrived till 7am.
Brian drops us off near the track up to Wandale farm to save my old legs a bit of walking, while he then drove on to the reserve car park.
The walk up the track is a fair way and we are not too sure if we are in the right place but we carry on and soon the farm comes into view.
As soon as we arrive around the back of the farm the bird is showing only a few yards away from us, what a little poser it is as it flies from bush to bush then back again, so another lifer ticked, then the bad news when the farmer holds his hand out for a tenner, couldn't quite make out why we had to pay him a tenner maybe a bucket I could go along with so people could put in what they could, but that's life.
After an hour or so we head up the track to Bempton to watch the wonderful Gannets flying at eye level as we head down to the platforms where we get to watch plenty of Razorbill, Guillemot, Fulmar, Kittiwake, and a single Shag on the rocks.
No sign of the Albatross while we were here but we saw it last year so not too much of a disappointment. A few Puffins were nesting on the rocks and we see a Puffling in the hole with the mum, always so nice to watch all these birds swarming all around the cliffs.
So a cracking trip and we also got to see all the Tree Sparrows that are here.
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| Red-tail Shrike |
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| The twitch |
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| Some of the Puffins |
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| Tree Sparrow |
