Bridled Guillemot in golden light!
My intention was to be at RSPB Bempton Cliffs in order to capture a fantastic sunset! Well, I was on the cliffs............but the sunset failed to materialise, hidden by thick cloud over in the direction of Scarborough! However, all was not lost as I did manage to capture some scenes before the sun was lost:
The three Auk species at Bempton - Puffin, Guillemot and Razorbill:
Most of the birds at Bempton are now on egg including these Guillemots. Guillemots generally pair for life and return to the same nest ledges every year. Their eggs are quite unique in that each one is different - a bit like human fingerprints and snow flakes! If a Guillemot pair lose an egg, they are able to lay further eggs, but only raise one young.
Razorbill with egg:
It was a great pleasure to locate a Bridled Guillemot (c2% of Guillemots at Bempton are Bridled, a trait that increases further north) with a chick (known as a "jumpling" because after three weeks on the ledge, the chick will jump off the cliff into the water, accompanied by the male bird, then will swim far out to sea).
And finally, the gorgeous gape of a Bridled Guillemot