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Showing posts with the label RSPB

Winter in Filey and Bempton Cliffs

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  Last January Alan fancied a couple days staying near Filey and Bempton so that we could see the sea birds on the cliffs. We stayed in some rather odd accommodation and arrived late in the afternoon so that when we took the dog for a walk on the beach in Filey the sun was already going down. Early the next morning we got to Bempton and walked down to the cliff edge to look at the birds. The light was glorious but it was absolutely freezing and we couldn't stay out long before we lost the feeling in our hands. When the RSPB centre opened we warmed ourselves with much needed coffee and buns.

An excursion to Bempton Cliffs

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  After a gap of a year and a half where I have woefully neglected this blog, I have decided to write a post. It was more a case of having a lot of photos I didn't know what to do with, so I decided this might be an appropriate repository. I am not really a bird photographer, but as my partner Alan enjoys a bit of bird watching, I armed myself with a long lens a little while ago so that I could take a few snaps for him. We went to Bempton Cliffs in South Yorkshire at the beginning of May when the bird breeding season was getting under way. This is the place to go if you want to renew your faith in the natural world. The birds cover every available nook and cranny of the cliffs and the air is loud with their raucous cries. It is carefully managed by the RSPB with a good car park and visitor centre, so not exactly wild, but I don't think the birds care about that. The cliffs are home to a large gannet colony. Always impressive birds which were flying past in squadrons like pelica

The Lodge at Sandy

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Last weekend we visited the Lodge in Sandy, the RSPB headquarters. We had not been there before and I was surprised that there was such a large area of heathland in Bedfordshire. We were lucky to see a couple of firecrests, but not close enough to photograph. The day was the last of autumn with some glorious sunshine falling on the remains of the leaves.