Bempton seabirds and Blacktoft Spoonbills

Spending the week volunteering for the RSPB at Blacktoft sands (Humberside) gave me a week to get a decent Spoonbill picture. Despite the bird coming realy close to the hides (see top photo!) I didnt get that many that made me think "Wow" My favourite shot is probably the one shown above the Grey Heron, this was taken when the bird was at the front of the nearest island (about 1/3 as close again as the nearest island shown in the top picture). Waders on the reserve included 6 Green Sands, 3 Greenshank, 12 Spotted Redshank, 113 Black tailed Godwit, 35+ Dunlin etc. 2 Spoonbills became one, One Spoonbill dissapeared, it returned with its friend (After a days absence), and another one joined them...

A week volunteering at Blacktofr offered the perfect oppertunity to pay a long overdue return visit to Bempton cliffs to pay homage to the many thousands of nesting seabirds. Having not seen a Puffin for 5 years (and missing them on Anglesey, last year) this offered the chance for my first ever pictures, provided through the magic of digiscoping! Despite some of the birds being realy close, getting pictures wasn't always easy. Part of the problem was getting the correct angle on the bird and adjusting the scope to the right height, whilst avoiding any tall vegetation and safety railings! Speaking with the watchpoint volunteers (those who show exited children (and adults) the location of the puffins, and help the public understand the differences between a Guillemot and a Razorbill etc) it was clear we had chosen a good "Puffin day" "Sometimes you can come and you just dont see them, other days you arrive and there are lots"