Trip reports

Glorious Bempton

John Whitehurst

Sunday, 1 May 2011

April was so dry and sunny that we couldn't really believe that the glorious weather would carry on into May, but it did and even the threatened cold easterly winds failed to materialise. So Bempton could not have been more perfect and the photographers among us were in seventh heaven. All the expected seabirds showed well. Although there were only a few puffins, they could be seen well, with a little patience. And it wasn't just the expected seabirds that thrilled. Common redstart, redpoll, corn bunting, grasshopper warbler and even wryneck were all seen by some members of the group.
For an added variety of birds -as if we really needed it!- we called in at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's reserve at North Cave on the way home to watch breeding avocets together with many other waders and ducks and lesser whitethroat singing everywhere.
A long day but well worth the effort.