Seymour Birdies Diary: My First Visit to Bempton Cliffs

28th May 2021

Although Bempton Cliffs has been on my radar for a long long time, this is the first time that I have visited this most famous reserve. As soon as we stepped out of the car for a well earned cup of tea we were rewarded with the chirruping of sparrows. Not House Sparrows though, as although Bempton is renowned for its sea birds it is also host to a thriving colony of Tree Sparrows which are centred on the car park.

However, they can also be found collecting nest material and food on the cliffs.

There were also plenty of Linnets around and the Jackdaws were amazingly tame, presumably because they are often fed by the visitors.

I used to photograph Fulmar Petrels on Fair Isle back in the 70s and more recently at Hunstanton, but never tire of their effortless gliding around the cliff faces making the most of the updrafts. Just look at those delicate pastel shades on their backs.

Kittiwakes were present in good numbers and the air was filled with their eerie calls. They have such friendly faces and also have lovely black feet.

But I particularly like their "dipped in ink" wing tips.

And then for the kings of the cliff, the Gannets. Like many sea birds they are not the most elegant birds on land, but have a fantastic striking face.

Here you can see that they have brought in fishing debris for nest material.

However, once in the air they become the most majestic flyers just cruising up and down the cliff face. I have always loved that orangey blush on the head ever since I saw my first Gannet in London Zoo in the 1950s.

Young gannets are brown all over and take seven years to attain the distinctive white adult plumage. Personally I find the intermediate stages very photogenic.