Bempton Cliffs 2009

Ollie · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 02:54 PM

Hi all,

Yesterday Ben, (Tormentil) myself and another friend Dave went to Bempton Cliffs for the day to photograph the seabirds.

We were lucky and unlucky with the weather which may seem strange but to explain. The weather was very bright and sunny and very windy. It was all to easy to blow the whites on the birds due to the bright light. The lenses also had a job locking on to the subjects at times due to lack of contrast between birds and the bright backgrounds, and it was one heck of a job trying to hand hold the 400mm lenses whilst being buffeted by the very strong winds. My arms ached by the time we left and I can usually hand hold the 400mm with no trouble.

However the wind did help us in the fact that it was coming in from the sea and the birds were having to fight against it to stop themselves being pushed into the cliffs as they came in to land. This slowed them up a little making it a little easier to get in flight shots

We had a cracking day and I'm still sorting through over 2000 images I took.

Here are just a small selection. Hope you enjoy them. Bempton is a great day out, and I would highly recommend a visit within the next month or so.

Click the images twice to see the full sized image.

Gannet

Gannet

Guillemots

Puffin

Kittiwake

Puffin

Ruth Daniel · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 03:02 PM

Wow,stunning images Roger....I love the first Puffin!

I bet it was a bit chilly on the E coast yesterday in this wind!
We're going to RSPB South Stack next month to see the sea birds there.....how were the Puffin numbers there?
Thanks for sharing your super shots!

Richard G. · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 04:18 PM

Nice set Roger, hope there's more to come..

Chris Hawes · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 04:26 PM

They're great pictures Roger! I was at Bempton yesterday too - I wonder if we met? However I was only there for an hour or so, not as long as I'd like.

diggleken · #5 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel

Wow,stunning images Roger....I love the first Puffin!

I bet it was a bit chilly on the E coast yesterday in this wind!
We're going to RSPB South Stack next month to see the sea birds there.....how were the Puffin numbers there?
Thanks for sharing your super shots!

Totally fab pics indeed!
Puffin numbers have been poor there for a while I believe Ruth, so interesting to see what you get at South Stack - hopefully including Choughs and Peregrines, plus lots skulking in the scrub - Cettis near Valley too?

Ken

Ollie · #6 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the comments.

Ruth the Puffin numbers seemed to be slightly up on last year but saying that it's hard to judge when you only pay one visit a year.

Chris we maybe did see you as we spoke to most people we met and we were there from 9am until around 4:30pm

Fourwings · #7 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 05:49 PM

Thats a superb set of images Roger, I'm hoping some better weather is forcast again soon so I can have a day there.
Puffin is a bird I'd really like to photograph.

Tormentil · #8 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 05:58 PM

As Roger said It was a bit breezy to say the least and it did make hand-holding our eqpt a tad difficult at times. And boy was it cold !!!

However, it was a great day out and I've managed to get my 1800 shots down to 97. Here's a few samples....

Fulmar

Herring Gull

Guillemot

Puffin

Whitethroat

DavyG · #9 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 06:00 PM

Stunning set of images Roger, the Gannets and Puffins especially.

Ben, your pics are excellent also, the Whitethroat is amazing.

We're off to the Farne Islands again in July, I'll have to look at a map to see how close we'll be to Bempton Cliffs.

Dave

Colarris · #10 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 06:03 PM

Lovely pics, you should send them to the Springwatch programme when it starts

denn · #11 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 07:46 PM

i think one word say's it all. "WOW"
denn.

Ollie · #12 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Great set of images Ben.

Thanks for the comments everyone

Dogghound · #13 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 08:22 PM

Was the whitethroat by the dell near the car park? I was monitoring a pair there last week. I had a lesser whitethroat too. Bempton never has millions of puffins but I think its gearing up to be a better year this year, last year alot of individuals were in poor condition and alot did not breed. This year the signs are more positive. Great set of images guys im glad you enjoyed the reserve.

Tormentil · #14 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Was the whitethroat by the dell near the car park?

If you mean where the picnic benches are, then yes. We were sat having our sarnies when we spotted it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

.......last year a lot of individuals were in poor condition and alot did not breed. This year the signs are more positive.

Certainly seemed more Puffins this year, or was it because the wind conditions made them "stand off" before landing on the cliffs, that allowed a better shot of them ? 'cause they're quite nippy fliers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

....im glad you enjoyed the reserve...

Bempton is a great place to visit, whatever time of year. Even if it's just a stroll along the cliffs in winter, it's an exhilarating experience.

pressld2 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 11:16 PM

Fantastic shots gents!

Two weeks to go for me and you've really whetted my appetite!

Davy, I'm doing the Farne Islands on the 27th (weather permitting) and Bempton on the 28th. According to Autoroute it's 157 miles from Seahouses to Bempton.

Dave P.

Tormentil · #16 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

Fantastic shots gents!

Thanks Dave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

I'm doing .... Bempton on the 28th.

I've nowt on (at the moment) for that date, so if you want some company just PM me.

pressld2 · #17 (**permalink**) 13-05-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentil

I've nowt on (at the moment) for that date, so if you want some company just PM me.

Thanks Ben, that would be wonderful! I'll PM you this evening...

Dave P.

Hobjob · #18 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 09:22 AM

Lovely shots Roger and Ben - but where are the tree sparrows???

Tormentil · #19 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 10:16 AM

Just fer you, the only, quickly grabbed, shot that I got of one, and it's 'orrible.

Tormentil · #20 (**permalink**) 30-05-2009, 07:15 PM

Went back to Bempton Cliffs on Thursday (28th) with Roger (Ollie), where we met up with Dave (pressld2). A great day was had, despite it being overcast for most of the day; and there wasn't a breath of wind.

At one point I left Dave & Roger at Staple Newk and wandered to New Roll Up (these are viewing points), to stretch the legs a bit. It was whilst at New Roll Up, that I saw a bit of coastal corrosion in action, when about 200 yards away, a great chunk of the cliff fell into the oggin.

Got a couple of shots of this happening, but unfortunately, had my long lens on, when I could have done with a wide angle one for good coverage.

First there was a small rock slide....

Followed 2 mins later by this massive column of rock teetering over....

With the 400mm lens on I could only get the top 20/30 feet in shot and this column must have been around 100ft high.

Quite a spectacular sight it was.

Here's a couple of shots from that day.

Herring Gull - Larus argentatus

Fulmar - Fulmaris glacialis

Rock Dove - Columba livia

Ollie · #21 (**permalink**) 30-05-2009, 08:22 PM

There's no wonder we heard the rumble at Staple Newk Ben and all the birds panicked and took flight. That's a fair old chunk of cliff face that fell.

pressld2 · #22 (**permalink**) 30-05-2009, 09:25 PM

Must have been an incredible sight Ben! It sounded like thunder where Roger and me were, a good half a mile away.

Love your other shots too. So far I've only done a very quick scan through my Bempton photos as I'm still editing the ones from Northumberland and the Farnes, but I did get a nice tree sparrow without realising it! I thought it was a house sparrow when I took it but after re-reading this thread and seeing yours from your previous visit I realised it was a tree sparrow...

He takes my year list to 124.

It'll be a few days until I get round to sorting the rest of my Bempton photos but I'll post them here when I do.

Dave P.