We had a trip to Bridlington and checked the trip times for the Yorkshire Belle, a boat that regularly visits Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs. We joined the trip to Breil Newk scheduled for 2:00 pm. The sea was calm and the skies blue, a mild, lovely day for a trip to the cliffs. The skipper warned us that on the south side of the headland marine birds are much scarcer than in the north side, and this was indeed remarkable. Going north we met a few flocks of Kittiwakes flying north and a raft of Common Scoters which seemed to find it hard to settle, some Shags and Herring gulls, but as soon as we turned around the headland hundreds of birds surrounded the boat: Guillemots, Razorbills, fair numbers of Puffins and Kittiwakes, with a few Fulmars and Gannets. Clouds of auks whirred around us, diving or flying overhead to and from their nests on the cliff ledges. The sight of the lighthouse on the headland with the clouds of kittiwakes flying over the sea (above) was most amazing.
The number of urban Kittiwakes in Bridlington appear to be increasing. Many windowsills and ledges had several pairs and some nests were under construction.
The colony on the outer harbour wall had many more pairs than last year.
A street sign
This Herring gull had a spacious nest site atop a bay window. At least three chicks could be seen at some point.
A fledgling Starling by the harbour following its busy parent
A small group of Kittiwakes flying north
A boat feeding the seabirds.
Common Scoter raft by the south side of the headland.
Breil Newk
Flamborough new Lighthouse
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