What a brilliant time of year, all the seabirds are back and busy, spring migrants are making their first landfall on the cliffs and occasionally the sun even feels warm!
So over the last couple of weeks a lot has been happening. Are you sitting comfortably? OK, so gannet pair 33 were the first pair, yet again, to lay their egg and others have now followed their lead. Much easier, though to see gannets flying in all directions with beaks full of grass, padding out last year's nest.
Kittiwakes will be starting the same thing any day now, an amazing sight with hundreds of birds all busily ripping up beakfuls of grass and mud. Lots of noisy guillemots and razorbills too and yes, puffins are quite easy to spot as well - couldn't not mention them!
Rarest bird of the last few weeks was a brief fly over by a crane - far too brief I should add, also a snow bunting stopped off on the cliff path and seemed blissfully unaware of people walking past it.
Swallows, wheatears and chiffchaffs have all added the that spring feel, but best of all was the barn owl sighting by our retail manager, Nick. Saw one, noticed another one hunting behind it which was great, but was then stunned to see yet another hunting nearby! Must be plenty to eat.
Lots of brown hares around and about so keep an eye out and do take time to sit at our new feeding station. Judging by the noise they're making the tree sparrows are enjoying it.
Stop press: Alpine swift reported today!
as you say ian bempton looking great again with all the sea birds back on the cliffs and the feeding station
looking great agin
john witty voulntter at bempton cliffs and love it stil 15 years now