I've been up north to Lancashire and Cumbria to help with some gull fieldwork. We're trying to work out what's happening to the declining populations of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Gull colony at Walney Island
Looking for nests
These ones are a bit young :o)
And so are these...
Walney Lighthouse
Ah! A gull that's the right size for ringing
Up in the hills
Feels odd to see 'seagulls' breeding on a moor top
Today I've been to Bempton Cliffs, on Yorkshire's east coast. Took a lot of photos; deleted a lot of photos. Here are the excuses: camera ignorance; too much sun; birds too white; birds too fast; grass too long; sun in wrong direction. Etc etc etc.
Whingeing aside, it was fantastic. As we arrived, a party of schoolchildren was doing the same. 'Wowwwww!' they went, which is the correct response. The air was full of birds of different sizes; it's hard to get a feel for the height of the cliffs, but the tiny specks on the sea below - auks and Kittiwakes - give an idea of scale.
The sight of Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets and Kittiwakes wedged onto tiny ledges, high above jagged rocks and rushing waves, never fails to boggle the brain.
There's a constant racket of raucous calls.
'Kitti weeeekkk!'
'Raaaarrrrrhhhhhh!'
'Gah gah gah gah!'
'Klaaaaa kla kla kla kla kla!'
The most common human 'call' is 'Is that a Puffin?'
It also smells a bit, but you get used to that quickly.
Here's Bempton, the movie (with sound). Prepare to be underwhelmed by my camera work once more...
Decided to head to Norfolk today, starting at Cley. When we left home, the weather was bright and sunny, but on the coast it was decidedly overcast and starting to rain. With the promise of Shorelarks on the shingle bank, we pressed on regardless.
The nine larks were in exactly the same place where Darren had seen his first a few years ago. They fed among the pebbles and weeds and were pretty confiding, and the sun came out. The first-winter Glaucous Gull also appeared on the sea not far out. Which was great but I'd left my camera in the car, not wanting to get it wet. C'est la vie...
Waxwings
These Waxwings were in a hedge by the A149 (coast road), just east of Holkham. They were also quite showy but the road got in the way. The sun was still out and the birds did a bit of insect-catching as well as berry-gobbling.
Fulmar
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull
On the way home, we stopped at Hunstanton with the express intention of photographing the Fulmars that nest on the cliffs there! The skies were clear and the sun was in the right direction, so it was fun trying to get shots of the birds in flight.
Waxwings
Fulmar
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull
Cot Valley
Maritime heath, Porthgwarra
View from Nanquidno
'Ciao!' said the Choughs. Two seen at Nanquidno, then Cot (where these record shots were taken)
Stonechat, Nanquidno
'Fall' of Meadow Pipits after torrential rain at Beachside
Comma, Polgigga
Red Admiral, Polgigga
(click on this one for extra detail)
The ubiquitous Clouded Yellow - dozens seen during the week (this one at Nanquidno)
Speckled Wood, Polgigga
Corn Cockle
Cornflower
Poppy
The Firecrest tree, Cot Valley
Wryneck record shot, Porthgwarra
Juvenile Herring Gull
Adult Herring Gull
The ubiquitous Buzzard
Longhorn cow having a scratch, Nanquidno
