Blogs

I have spent the past week at home for my father's 60th birthday celebrations and have been greeted back to the reserve with the strongest south-westerly wind imaginable! Last night, I walked down to the beach at the bottom of the reserve and was held back against the railings of the gate whilst...

This is summary of July's birds on the reserve from our resident expert Ken Croft... "The thriving sea-bird colony gave visitors a spectacular display this month with Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull all frantically...

There were four Razorbills loitering around the Puffin burrow entrance, trying to scrounge the Sand Eels!! This lil' fella was very quick - they stood no chance to get them :-).

As I write this, my lovely colleague Dr Ellie Owen is on a chilly, windy island off the west coast of Scotland, probably half way down a cliff suspended on a rope. Terrifying! She has been there since April, and will pretty much stay there, separated from family and friends apart from the occasional...

pair

Fowlsheugh - on the edge

11 May 2011. These two Razorbills on Bempton Cliffs gave a lovely display of "postural mimicry" during courtship

One of the loveliest sights you can see here at Bempton at the moment is that of large groups or 'charms' of goldfinch congregating on plant seed heads. On the reserve itself we have swathes of thistle heads that these colourful little birds seem to love. Neighbouring the reserve (and bordered...

Did you know that Bempton Cliffs Reserve is part of a 4-5 mile circular walk encompassing cliff top habitat, farmland habitat, the village of Buckton and the village of Bempton? It's a wonderful way to experience a wide range of different birds and wildlife as well as getting a bit of exercise and...

We’re pleased to announce the hatching of four baby swallow chicks at the Bempton Cliffs visitor centre. The youngsters, now a couple of days old, are typically hungry and rather vocal about it! Many people are starting their visit to Bempton staring up into the rafters of the porch where the nest...

We saw some great birds on our trip to Skomer. In fact it started well before we had even left the mainland as there were swallows nesting in the public toilets at St Martins which is the small cove where you get the boat. Anywhere else you would be in danger of being arrested for hanging about by public...

Razorbill at rest on Bempton Cliffs taken with a Panasonic FZ38 May 31st 2010

Everyones favourite the Puffin taken May 31st at Bempton Cliffs along side a Razorbill

Standoff between herring gull and a razorbill picture was taken 31.5.10

Hello! Well I am back for another season, and it is well underway. I have been extremely busy setting up the seabird monitoring plots at England's largest seabird colony Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head and organising an army of enthusiastic volunteers! Well where do I start.... a lot has...

Taken at Fowlsheugh on 29/03/2010

Both types of Gillies with the odd razor, taken at Troup Head

'Wow' and 'amazing' are words often over used, but last Wednesday I couldn't stop them from continually spilling out of my mouth in my excitment at seeing so many seabirds and their fluffy chicks. You see I was at our Bempton Cliffs nature reserve , and was bowled over by the whole...