Happy Holidays.

Merry Christmas to you all, and thank you for visiting my page in the last year. It's great to know that people like to connect with my blog and leave comments. They are all read, and it means an awful lot to me. I am aiming to get out a lot more in 2026, so I hope I can bring you more regular posts than in 2025. I am also looking to do something exciting next year, that will involve video as well as pictures. So please stay tuned for updates as I have them.

As it is pretty cold here at the moment, I've chosen to add some pictures of warmer times for my last post of the year. These pictures were taken at RSPB Bempton Cliffs back in May, when I was walking about in shorts and a t-shirt. How I long for these warmer days, and some quality birds. 

Puffin

Gannet

Juvenile Gannets - Salthouse

Standing on the beach at Salthouse on a windy October day is great for viewing passing sea birds. There were lots of Gannets passing at some distance, but some of the younger birds were trying their luck much closer in. These birds are large, but the plumage is really interesting as a juvenile. They look so dark compared to the adults, and it will take a few years before their plumage turns to that of the white adult birds.

A juvenile Gannet putting on a nice show for me from the shingle beach.

This is my favourite view of the bird. You can see the wing markings nice and clearly.

An adult bird taken at Bempton earlier in the year for comparison.

Gannets - Bempton Cliffs

I'm sure there are other good places to view Gannets in the UK, but I've not yet visited them where you can get so close. The cliffs at Bempton allow you to get at eye level with them as they soar on the thermals, and when they land on the rocks you can look down on them. It's quite a unique feel. I've been to the Farne Islands quite a few times, but there are not many Gannets there, and they are usually above you when they are flying. Bempton has a more intimate feel. 

I hope this video works. I recorded a short video on my phone so that you could hear the sounds.

Northern Gannet 

This is a 3 year old immature adult bird. It will eventually become all white like the adult birds.

RSPB Bempton Cliffs

Last month I made a visit to Bempton cliffs with a couple of my birding friends. We were hoping to see the Black-browed Albatross that had been in the around for a couple of a few weeks. Unfortunately on the morning we went, it had decided to go AWOL, and wasn't seen at all that day. It has since returned, but is very hit and miss. I'm hoping to see it one day, but will leave it for a while just at the moment.

Meanwhile, there was plenty to see on the rocks and sea below. Gannets galore, plus the usual Guillemots, Razzorbills and Kittiwakes. It was a hot day, which was a bonus, as the near 3 hour journey would have been really miserable in the rain. Just a reminder that not every twitch is successful, but I guess that's part of the fun.

Not an Albatross, but part of the same family, a Fulmar in flight and good light.

Gannets were plentiful.

Ever wondered what a sleeping Guillemot looks like? 👇

Kittiwakes were noisy on the cliffs.

There were not too many Puffins left.

 

Bempton Cliffs. (Again)

I couldn't resist posting some more of my pictures from Bempton Cliffs. The sound and smells on the East coast were quite breathtaking and at times eye watering. As I've mentioned before, it was the Gannet that I really came to see, and there were plenty around both in the air and on the rocks.

Plenty here sat on nests. Its a shame to see so much rubbish on the rock. Discarded fishing nets and ropes seem to be the most popular nesting material.

Kittiwake in a bit of a foul mood.

And looking a little more content.

Meadow Pipit on a lookout post.

Tree Sparrow near the visitor centre.

Gannets

The Gannets were the real reason for my longing to go to Bempton Cliffs this year. Such a stunning looking bird and even better when there are thousands of them soaring along the cliff tops.
I wasn't disappointed with what I saw and in fact it surpassed my expectations. I just wish it had been a little warmer and the light better, but I guess you can't have everything. It's certainly somewhere I will go back to, and maybe just stare in wonder again at one of natures finest spectacles.

Bempton

Some more pictures from Bempton Cliffs. The cliff top paths allowed us to get very close to all the birds, but it was the Gannets that really stole the show for me. I spent a lot of time trying to get good flight shots, but then I also found myself concentrating on the birds that were sat on the rocky cliffs.

A Gannet giving me the eye.

 

And in flight.



A Guillemot possibly with a Sand Eel .

A very good looking Razorbill.



And applying the breaks for landing.