Posted by szekiat chan on September 10, 2008 at 5:47 AM
I've just found out I have the rest of the week and next week off and was thinking of heading down to Bempton Cliffs having seen all the marvelous shots posted here. I'm just wondering if i'm a bit too late now in terms of catching the bird life, and also having been in London all the time i've been in the uk, where exactly in the Bempton area i should head for. Taking a stab in the dark, i'd say that the RSPB reserve would be a good place to start, but i'd appreciate any input from regulars or locals or anyone for that matter!
Thanks a million guys (and gals!)!!! szekiat
Posted by Mike Smith on September 10, 2008 at 7:54 AM
Too late, the birds have now generally moved off the cliffs, you may luck into the odd lingering gannet and the resident fulmars and thats about it. July is generally regarded as the last month for auk and tern breeding colonies and August for Gannets
On a brighter note we are now in the wader and small passerine passage period, keep an eye on the Birguides website for hotspots and expect to join a huge gathering of white canon 500 f4s and telescopes.......... or just study a map and pick out un-developed headlands likely to hold scrubby bushes and spend some time discovering your own birds.
Mike
Posted by szekiat chan on September 10, 2008 at 9:05 AM
thanks for the heads up mike, and for saving me a trip down. will look for other areas instead!
Posted by Mike Smith on September 10, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Where are you based now, still London?
Posted by szekiat chan on September 10, 2008 at 2:29 PM
yeah, still in london unfortunately... will be for the next year at least. S. London's alright for birding i guess. Not too many places to do proper photography without a bunch of people crowding in on you though. still, i make do
Posted by Rob Howard on September 10, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Hi Szekiat,
Agree with Mike. Bempton has "finished" for want of a better phrase. "Bempton Cliffs" is the RSPB reserve. As you are based in London, why not travel upto the North Norfolk coast? I was up there last week, although still a little slow there were Waders and Geese coming in more and more each day. And if the weather is right ANYTHING could show up!! Titchwell was OK, Salthouse was very quiet. Other than that the week before I was down in Kent although I never took my gear as it was a familt break, I saw plenty of Wheatears on the fields near Hythe and Romney Marsh certainly looks good.
HTH
Rob
Posted by szekiat chan on September 11, 2008 at 8:29 AM
definitely hitting the marshes in kent. Thats a regular for me. Was just thinking of doing a bit of a road trip thing. Norfolk u say? Might just do that!
Discussion
6 repliesThanks a million guys (and gals!)!!!
On a brighter note we are now in the wader and small passerine passage period, keep an eye on the Birguides website for hotspots and expect to join a huge gathering of white canon 500 f4s and telescopes.......... or just study a map and pick out un-developed headlands likely to hold scrubby bushes and spend some time discovering your own birds.
Mike
Agree with Mike. Bempton has "finished" for want of a better phrase. "Bempton Cliffs" is the RSPB reserve. As you are based in London, why not travel upto the North Norfolk coast? I was up there last week, although still a little slow there were Waders and Geese coming in more and more each day. And if the weather is right ANYTHING could show up!! Titchwell was OK, Salthouse was very quiet. Other than that the week before I was down in Kent although I never took my gear as it was a familt break, I saw plenty of Wheatears on the fields near Hythe and Romney Marsh certainly looks good.
HTH
Rob