Roger, David and I set off for
Flamborough Head to hopefully see a Atlas Flycatcher, which was also being
reported as a Pied/Collared Flycatcher hybrid.
Whilst it was not certain as to its identity, despite it being trapped,
two tail feathers had been obtained and should prove its authenticity. With this is mind and news of an Atlas
Flycatcher in northern Spain we did decided that we should make an effort to
see it.
When we arrived it had not
been seen, so we decided to go to Bempton Cliffs for the auks. On route to Bempton a message was received
stating that there had been no sign this morning. We got ready at Bempton to walk out to the
cliff top when the phone went again stating that the flycatcher was now
showing. We decided to return to
Flamborough as it was only a few minutes away.
When we got back to
Flamborough it had been lost again but it was not too long before it was
relocated and we managed to get reasonable views as it fed at eye-level in the
trees. It was certainly an interesting
bird with a large white blaze across the forehead and more white in the closed
wing. The black upperparts also appeared
very dense giving a sharp contrast between the upperparts and the white parts. Hopefully we will have made the right
decision in going.
We arrived back at Bempton and
walked south along the cliff top and viewed the birds from the two view
points. Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks
were all numerous with most of the auks being Guillemot but we did also see at
least ten Razorbill and circa fifty Puffing.
The Gannets were actively collecting nesting material from the cliff top
and the Kittiwakes were very weary of both a juvenile and adult Peregrines that
were patrolling the cliff top. We spent
a very enjoyable two hours here having some magnificent views of the birds.
Fulamr
Gannet with nesting material
Gannets collecting nesting material
Gannet above the cliff
Gannet over the cliff top
Gannet over the cliff top
Juvenile Peregrine
Adult Peregrine
Adult Kittiwake
Kittiwakes
Razorbill
Razorbill
Razorbill
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Tree Sparrow
From Bempton we headed off
home calling at Budby Common in Nottinghamshire to break the journey. We weren’t sure where to go but did
eventually arrive at the common and superb heath land habitat. It being late afternoon it was rather quiet
but we did have some good views of a Tree Pipit.
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