Trip reports

Coach Trip - Bempton Cliffs & Flamborough Head

Dave Dobson, Derby RSPB Local Group

Saturday, 20 June 2009

The weather was variable from rain showers to bright sunshine. A total of 72 species were seen, including some on the journey.
Manx shearwaters passing Flamborough Head were a good start to the seabird lists but the Gannets, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins at Bempton enabled everyone to get good views of birds we usually only see in the distance. Swifts, Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins were flying over the fields while the song of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits filled the air. A few warblers were seen or heard including Grasshopper Warbler and Blackcap. Goldfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting completed the list but the final bird, a Barn Owl hunting over the fields at Flamborough Head as we were about to leave, gave a fitting end to a good days birdwatching.
The highlight was the bird spectacle of Bempton with thousands of seabirds nesting on the cliffs but Grasshopper Warbler at Bempton and Barn Owl at Flamborough Head would be on most people's personal highlight.