For the last few days I've been back over on the coast, primarily on family duties, but with a couple of birdy sessions (and nice runs) thrown in for good measure.
Snow Buntings
Of these, both were along the clifftop at Bempton and Buckton - the second being a guided walk led by Will and I for the lovely volunteer team at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. We started leading these almost-monthly walks early last year, after I wanted a to find way of continuing to contribute, in whatever small way, to the great work of the reserve after moving to York (and thus being unable to carry out my seabird productivity monitoring).
A small proportion of the Corn Bunting totals...
They've been a real joy to lead, and the volunteer team at the reserve really are a lovely bunch - they do so much to keep this legendary, flagship reserve ticking (and excelling) in its various ways, especially visitor engagement. God knows how many thousands of hours they clock up between them, but I'm in awe of their efforts, and make a great place even greater.
Anyway, so to the birds... there's a lot up there right now. The Buckton clifftop and neighbouring stubble fields in particular are absolutely alive with flocks of passerines, and that's where we focused our efforts. Of the highlights here, the minimum 250 Corn Buntings were outstanding (and maybe the largest flock I've seen in Yorkshire?), with 24 Snow Buntings, 35 Yellowhammers, 25 Rock Pipits, 130 Linnets, 250 Starlings and more;
while raptors here included Hen Harrier, Peregrines, Sparrowhawks, buzzards and Kestrels. With thousands of Guillemots (including one obvious nominate bird), plus Gannets, Fulmars, Red-throated Divers and other seabirds on our other side, it's quite the spectacle up there right now.
