Bempton's supporting cast

As well as Gannets (for which more images will come soon) and Fulmars, there is a variety of other birds at Bempton Cliffs RSPB to keep you entertained and the shutter button pressed. The cliffs provide a home to thousands of breeding pairs of Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and one of the characteristic features of this great site is the smell and sound of this endearing gull species. Auk species present on the cliffs include Puffin (not photographed this year), Guillemot (Uria aalge) and Razorbill (Alca torda). Whilst these tend to be difficult to photograph at the site, there is always a handful of opportunities including flight shots as the fly past at great speed.

Kittiwakes fighting

 1/1250s, f6.3, ISO 200 @ 420mm

Guillemot preening

1/640s, f5.6, ISO 200 @ 420mm

Guillemot in flight

1/1250s, f5.6, ISO 200 @ 420mm

Razorbill in flight

1/1600s, f5.6, ISO 200 @ 300mm

The other common birds at the site that will almost certainly offer photographic opportunities are Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), which nest in the visitor centre at the entrance to the reserve (my images this year were some young birds at the feeding station next to the centre), Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) which can be seen everywhere from the cliff side to eating picnic leftovers in the reserve car park and Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), which patrol the cliff top in search of easy pickings.

Tree Sparrow

1/1000s, f5, ISO 200 @ 420mm

Tree Sparrow

1/1000s, f5, ISO 200 @ 420mm

Tree Sparrow

1/800s, f5, ISO 200 @ 420mm

Jackdaw

1/1000s, f6.3, ISO 200 @ 420mm, - 2/3 exposure bias

Herring Gull

1/1250s, f6.3, ISO 200 @ 420mm, - 2/3 exposure bias