Burton Agnes Snowdrops and an Early Trip to Bempton

 After an overnight frost, we pulled up into Burton Agnes Hall car park in bright, clear sun at 11.00 am.  We had come with friends Brian and Heather to visit the magnificent snowdrop walk.  As usual the woodlands were thick with them and the main challenge for me was to select compositions from the mass.  Soon it was time to indulge in some lunch before heading off to Bempton.  Although it is early for a first visit, there is always a frisson on anticipation.  Gannets were plentiful, but none on the cliffs; they were all gliding past.  Fulmars, on the other hand, were on the cliffs but perching under overhangs and ledges and out of site as they so often do.  They were indulging in their usual pastime though flying out over the sea in a loop before swooping back in out of site and challenging the photographer to lock on in that brief moment when they are visible.  Feral pigeons were plentiful but I could see no rock doves among them.  Brian and I wandered along to join the twitchers looking for the lapland buntings, but we arrived late on in the afternoon when they weren't cooperating.  Back at the visitor centre there were large numbers of tree sparrows at the feeding station but the light was now very poor so photography was difficult.

All too soon it was time to take our leave but we had the pleasure of fish and chips at Papa's on the way home to look forward to.

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Fulmar

Tree Sparrow

A Yorkshire Day Out

Not having been to see the snowdrops at Burton Agnes for a few years a visit was overdue.  On arrival it was time for coffee and cake before investigation the snowdrop walk.  As usual there were swathes of plants all in the peak of condition.  It was a joy to walk amongst them  and I enjoyed photographing both wide views and closeups.

After a cup of tea we decided to continue on to Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve.  I was not expecting many birds but felt that a walk along the cliffs would be invigorating nonetheless.  How wrong I was!  The cliffs were a hive of activity. Plenty of gannets were cruising along the edge of the cliffs and out at sea and substantial numbers were settled on the vertiginous cliffs along with hundreds of guillemots that had already returned from their winter sojourn at sea.  There were a few razorbills and puffins have yet to return.  Kittiwakes were present in good numbers and fulmars were plentiful performing their usual trick of flying out from the cliff and quickly back again, making them challenging to photograph.
It was cold on the cliff top so we headed over to Flamborough thinking of our evening meal.  As we were rather early for our booking we drove to North Landing for a while before enjoying an excellent meal at The Seabirds Bar and Restaurant.

Snowdrops at Burton Agnes

Having enjoyed the snowdrops at Burton Agnes so much last year we headed back over the Humber Bridge last Friday with friends Brian and Heather to repeat the experience.  Despite a dull wet start we were optimistic that the weather would clear.  We were right and the sun even came out for a brief spell in the afternoon.  We arrived in plenty of time and began our visit with a welcome coffee before heading out to view the snowdrops and photograph them.  As last year the display was magnificent with the woodland being carpeted with them.  After an hour in the cold it was time for a warming lunch of butternut squash and paprika soup for heading back to Beverley and then home for excellent fish and chips.

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