STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

My Diary

A weekend in Bempton. Day 2.

The Saturday started with me leaving the hotel at 6 in the morning, with Allan and Steve already out, walking the fields and cliff tops around the village of Flamborough. I drove about but could not find them, so I headed back to the cliff top at Bempton, and set up where the Gannets were best seen yesterday afternoon. A Peregrine Falcon left the cliff face, from a place hidden from view, and circled the bay, returning low to where it alighted from. This happened 3 times, and despite the early morning gloom, a few images were taken. There were a few early watchers arriving, and I stayed until 7.30, before leaving, driving back to the hotel for breakfast. Steve and Allan had seen a Barn Owl, as well as some Shags on the cliff face, and it was decided over breakfast that we should return to the cliffs at Bempton, which is where we spent the morning, photographing the sea birds that make the cliff face their home for the breeding season. We met Richard Bedford and Amanda Hayes, whom were both busy photographing the Gannets, and had a chat with them throughout the morning. Richard was instrumental in my taking up this hobby, as his flight shots of the birds he encounters are fantastic. These can be seen on his web site, which can be found on my “links” section on my “home” page. They are well worth a look, and he also supplies tips and help to us learners. It was great to meet Amanda, whom posts some excellent images on “Bird guides”, and is Richards’s partner. How lucky to have a partner who shares the same hobby. Sorry Amanda, we never found your hat during our boat trip, and we were right below the spot where you lost it over the cliff. We said our goodbyes, as we had to travel to Bridlington, for our RSPB Puffin and Gannet cruise, which left the harbour at 4.30 pm. Why we had to arrive at the harbour at 2.30 is a little puzzling, but Mike was in charge of that. The boat trip was okay, but a little gripe here towards the RSPB. Why there was a need to pack 154 people on board was a little disappointing, I know the commercial need is there, but being so cramped was a downer on the trip. It was very difficult to use the camera, and there were plenty of cameras on board. We came across Gannets plunge diving, only the 3rd time in 3 years that this has been experienced we were told by the RSPB commentator. So why did we steam past, with a brief pause to get a glimpse. We could have drifted closer so that a few pictures could be taken. Also, on board an RSPB Puffin and Gannet cruise we get a violinist strumming away, and then on the way back comes round with his begging bowl, or hat in this case. Come on RSPB, what’s all that about. A little less commercial and a bit more into providing the punter with what they want please. That said we did get some good views of the birds, but not a lot different from the views we got up on top of the cliffs looking down onto the ledges. I suppose it was worth going on, to say you would not go again. Now if you could get your own boat, with a skipper who would do as you asked, then the photo opportunities would be excellent. We needed the boat to stop for a bit, so the Auks would swim past the boat, instead of steaming through at full speed, scattering the Auks in all directions. Okay, gripe finished. We landed back at Bridlington, with the sounds of the fiddle ringing in our ear, and by way of our return taxi, we made our way back to the hotel. The landlady was very accommodating, and although we were 40 minutes late for dinner, she never minded, and produced an excellent meal, with a few drinks in the bar afterwards, and then of to bed to watch the football highlights. I never got to half time on the first match before I was asleep.