Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society

With

Scarborough Wildlife

Looking at Puffins and Shearwaters

Having had an interest in birds most of my life and having grown up walking the cliff tops at Bempton and Flamborough and always been captivated by the seabird spectacular, and looking out into the North Sea, the temptation to get out there amongst the birds  was always an ambition.

Today and for some years now the RSPB through the local East Yorkshire RSPB Members Group have successfully run cruises on board the Yorkshire Belle leaving Bridlington Harbour to head out around Flamborough Head, North to Bempton and Buckton in May, June and July to do just that.  I am fortunate to be a regular volunteer member of the RSPB team on board.  If you have undergone one of these cruises you will understand my enthusiasm, if you haven't then why not consider it?

We pass close to the cliff, home of over 200,000 breeding birds, an enthralling experience, where we are in the thick of these Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Gannets, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Shags and Gulls flying  between their feeding grounds and the cliffs.  The sight and sounds are to be appreciated.  Puffins and the other Auks swim around the boat.  The photographic opportunities are many and full commentary is provided throughout the cruise, we even look at the geological make up of the cliff and have thrilling views of the coastline. Later in the year in late August and September , we change emphasis and head out off Flamborough Head for up to three miles to get into the North Sea to look for  migrating seabirds as they pass through the North Sea on their long journeys.  We still see Gannets, Auks and Gulls but our aim is to locate Shearwaters and Skuas.  We "chum" (a mixture of fish to attract feeding seabirds) off the end of the boat and regularly see Artic and Great Skuas and occasionally long tailed and Pomarine Skuas. In some years we can see large flocks of migrating Little Gulls and on one trip a Sabines Gull was thrilling.

We regularly see Manx and Sooty Shearwaters.  Sooties are incredible they often fly into the chum-line and sit on the sea to allow good views and opportunities to photograph a more unusual bird at close  quarters.  Harbour Porpoise are  a regular sighting, and occasionally a Minke Whale is recorded.  We see Red Throated Divers, occasionally Phalaropes, in maybe, a Red Necked Grebe, the list is variable, as these are cruises to look at migrating seabirds, but occasionally we see passerines coming into Flamborough from across the sea as well.

By Geoff Edmond

Want to see Puffins 

To the birdwatchers and photographers amongst you, I am sure many of you will have visited the RSPB reserve at Bempton to watch the wonderful seabird spectacular, but have you ever thought of viewing the cliffs from the sea? 

Starting from 23rd May through to 11th July the RSPB is running cruises from Bridlington Harbour to do just that, on a Saturday or Sunday.

The cruises are run by the RSPB with assistance from the East Yorkshire RSPB members group there are volunteers on board together with an experienced guide to provide you with a full commentary and help with bird identification. I am one of the regular volunteers.

We sail from Bridlington below Flamborough Head and north to Bempton, each cruise last 3-3 ½ hrs. and you will be surrounded by thousands of seabirds, including Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins and Gannets - wonderful photographic opportunities present themselves. The cliffs at Bempton and Flamborough provide breeding ledges for over 200,000 birds. Puffins swim around the boat, many birds are seen on the water and flying to and from the cliffs. The scenery is exciting and of interest to anyone with an interest in geology to look at the rock formations.

In late summer the emphasis changes but the cruises continue, this is a good time to look for Migrating seabirds as they pass over the North Sea on their long journeys, these cruises head from Bridlington out to sea off Flamborough Head where you can see Gannets, Gulls, Auks, and at this time of year Terns and hopefully Skuas, Artic and Great are regularly seen, occasionally we are lucky enough to see Pomarine and Long Tailed Skuas as well. We also "chum" of the end of the boat (a smelly concoction of fish to attract feeding birds to come in close) and hopefully attract close views of Sooty and Manx Shearwaters. These cruises again last about 3 ½ hours. We regularly see Harbour Porpoise and in some years Minke Whale has been recorded as well.

The Yorkshire Belle our vessel for the day carries 150 visitors on each RSPB Cruise, there is covered and outside seating, a bar serving hot and cold drinks and there are toilets on board, and it has a very helpful, enthusiastic crew on board.

By Geoff Edmond