After a couple of days on the cliff tops at Bempton we went on an RSPB Puffins and Gannets cruise out from Bridlington on the Yorkshire Belle. Covid restrictions meant it wasn't totally full and it was a very calm day, if a bit cloudy. Our previous visits have been too early in the year for the boat trips so we were very much looking forward to this one.
We were told that many of the Auks had headed back out to sea and there weren't that many passing close to the boat
A couple of Puffins
Followed by a couple Razorbills.
A Shag.
Gannet on it's long take off run.
Guillemots
A posing Puffin.
Then one of the spotters on the top deck said they'd seen the Albatross, so off we went for a closer look.
With the calm sea the boat could drift along side the Albatross and watch as it preened.
Not forgetting the distant relative a Fulmar posing beautifully.
Then the long process of getting airborne.
What had disturbed the Albatross and all the other birds was the appearance of a Great Skua. I was on the wrong part of the boat to get a clear shot but it does tell the story.
I had thought I had been lucking getting the distant shots of the Black-browed Albatross from the cliffs but this was incredible and what I've shared is only a few of the pictures taken. Also previous boat trips hadn't seen it.
Then it was back to what the trip was supposed to be about, diving Gannets, I'll post the results of that in Part 2
Hi Pete,
Thanks for the comments, I hope my diving Gannet pictures are as good.
Best Wishes,
Trevor