Gannets Galore.

Yesterday morning saw me on a bright and breezy cliff top at Yorkshire's RSPB Bempton Cliffs reserve.  As good friends and fellow wildlife photographers Dave and Roger and myself made our way down to the cliffs we were greeted by the cacophonous  onomatopoeic cries of the hundreds of kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs accompanied by the more guttural calls of the large numbers of gannets as they cruised along the cliffs often at eye level.  Some of them were skillfully hanging in the wind as they came in to land on the grassy top of the cliffs to collect nesting material which they then carried to their chosen spot lower down.  Although there were plenty of gannets and kittiwakes fulmars were few and far between whilst auks were scarce; we only saw a handful of guillemots and no razorbills or puffins.  It would seem that they didn't appreciate the windy conditions and were resting out at sea.  We spent a happy day, however, and returned home with full memory cards. A great day out in good company.

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Fulmar

Fulmar

Fulmar

Gannet collecting nesting material

Gannet domesticity; two different nests

The same birds engaged in a territorial dispute

Gannet

Using the feet as air brakes

Carrying nesting material

Gannet

Gannet

Air brakes on

Herring gull

Herring gull

Herring gull

Jackdaw

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwakes on nests

Kittiwake pair

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Displaying Grebes at the Country Park

I decided on another visit to the country par this afternoon, as the weather had brightened up somewhat and the sea fret burnt off.  I still wanted photographs of the water vole on the water cress so set off full of anticipation.  On my way there I was bowled over with the mix of colours provided by the bright greens of the hawthorn, brilliant yellows of the amazing displays of daffodils and pinks of the cherry blossom. Again, I didn't succeed with the voles but as I arrived I spotted one of the foxes that are resident on the island at the park.  It stood as bold as brass eyeing me confidently before turning and wandering off into the undergrowth.  Next up was a sparrowhawk sitting in a tree above the car park.  A bit far away for my 100-400 but I managed shots nonetheless.  Not only were the chiffchaffs singing again today, but I was successfully captured on on 'film'!  On the lake the grebes were in evidence and displayed well, although somewhat distant, and a coot was busily carrying nesting material.  As I returned to the car I came across a couple of unusually  confiding oystercatchers which allowed several minutes of excellent photography.  A wonderful couple of hours.

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Chiffchaff

Fox

Fox

Great crested Grebe

Displaying Grebes

Displaying Grebes

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Peacock.

Pussy Willow.

Sparrowhawk

My First Summer Visitor.

I had planned to go to Bempton this week for the cliff nesting birds but with the grey skies that were forecast for the week it has been called off.  Instead I decided to stay close to home and visited Cleethorpes Country Park, hoping to get shots of the water voles sitting on the water cress beds; it was not to be, however, although I did get pleasing pictures.  It was also good to have several good sightings of the kingfisher and to hear my first summer visitor, a chiffchaff.  Blackthorn was well in flower and several toads were busily mating.

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Signs of Spring at Walesby Woodlands.

Dog walking with Jet again this afternoon.  As it was such pleasant weather, we fancied going a little further from home so took our lunch and a flask and headed to Market Rasen to walk in Walesby Woodlands.  The gorse was coming into flower well now and the air was full of its heady coconut scent; wonderful!!  Bumble and honey bees were busy feeding off the rich nectar from the flowers.  Betterflies were plentiful and we spotted several brimstones, a comma and peacocks.  It was good to find coltsfoot and celandine in flower.

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Seville, Day 7: The Bull Ring and the Museo des Belles Artes.

Again a lazy start after the late finish yesterday.  We wandered down to the bull ring for a tour with Beth.  It all looks very Spanish and I am sure a bullfight would be colourful and spectacular, but not for me I think.  In the afternoon Beth had to go to work so we made our final visit for the trip; to the Museo de Bellas Artes.  This is housed in the magnificent Convento de la Merced Calsada.  The exhibits are arranged chronologically from the medieval period to the 20th Century.  There are works by El Greco, Pacheco, Velazquez, Zurbaran and Murillo.  The building itself is magnificent and just as worth seeing as the art.  Well worth the visit though.  Our day and, sadly, our holiday, finished with a wonderful meal with Beth and Hannah - yes more tapas! - at the wonderful Chunga's (La Chunga), close to their flat.  The food was excellent, a quirky take on the usual tapas with sweets to die for.  Excellent service and value; as much as the 4 of us could eat for 40 euros.  No wonder the two of them are regulars.

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