It’s been a very wet and windy start to the week here at Bempton but despite this there has still been plenty to see both on the cliffs and around the rest of the reserve.
For starters the Gannets are still here and in surprisingly high numbers for this time of the year. Having said this, numbers are beginning to fluctuate on a daily basis. A sure sign they are thinking of leaving us for a winter out at sea now that the last few chicks have begun to fledge.
Our Peregrine Falcons are still showing well and Rock Pipits are also in evidence on the cliffs.
Also, thanks to the strong winds we had earlier this week our trickle of migrants has become a steady stream and its set to get even better as the winter season progresses.
Once again we have seen Brambling fuelling up in the feeding station; however, their numbers have increased since last week with up to eight individuals under the feeders at once and many more passing overhead as they make their way inland. Redwings are also becoming more noticeable with small flocks of birds feeding on berries in the Dell and in the bushes around the car park and Nature Trail.
(Image:Redwing - Jenna Berry)
Spending a few minutes overlooking the Dell can also produce other migratory goodies such as Goldcrest. These minuscule sprites have descended on the reserve by the bucket load and at times it has seemed as though every bush contains one of these tiny passerines.
Goldcrests are not known for being shy and are usually very easy to observe especially when they are preoccupied with hunting insects. The milder weather we experienced on Thursday prompted the airborne dispersal of hundreds upon hundreds of spiderlings which left trails of shining spider silk all over the reserve. The ensuing feast allowed for incredibly close viewings of Goldcrests, some of which were not much more than touching distance away, as they went about snatching up each and every spider they could find. This in addition to their constant high pitched chatter makes the Goldcrest a fairly easy bird to locate despite their diminutive size. Don’t forget to check through flocks of Goldcrest for visiting Firecrests which are just as tiny but much more strikingly marked. No one has yet had the pleasure of finding a Firecrest at Bempton this winter but with individuals being found just a few miles down the coast there’s every chance that one of these little gems could turn up here just as they have done in previous winters.
(Image:Goldcrest - Jenna Berry)
Other migrants to have reached Bempton this week include the first Fieldfares of the season, a pair of late Blackcaps, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskins, Redpolls and newly arrived Short Eared Owls. We didn’t think it would be long before we were seeing the return of these beautiful birds.
Offshore activity has been steady with Great Skua being seen along with the occasional pod of Harbour Porpoise and a flock Brent Geese making their way north up the coast.
Over the coming weeks we will be bidding farewell to our nesting Gannets and we shall look forward to seeing a rise in the number of migratory birds using Bempton as a mush needed pit stop.
This includes the Short Eared Owls and now that we have seen our first individuals of the season it shouldn’t be long before they are making regular appearances over the fields by the visitor centre and reminding us of what a fantastic place Bempton is during the winter when the breeding seabirds have gone.
By Jenna Berry