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A Pilgrimage, A Cliff Face, A Black-browed Albatross - 11/06/22

After what can only be deemed as a successful twitch the day prior, I was praying that I hadn't used up all my luck as today was the big one. Having ummed and arred about whether to go, I caved in and booked a £65 train ticket to Bempton Cliffs in the hope of seeing Albert - what can only be described as a bucket list bird. Having booked the ticket a week in advance, I had been keeping a keen eye out on news of the bird. Reports that it was only seen at 7:30 am the previous day and failing to return certainly had me nervous for the following day.

Finally D-Day had come around and I arose at 5am to gather my things and head to Liverpool Lime Street bracing for the 4 and a half hours and 3 trains ahead. Well on the way to Bempton by now, the first reports of the morning were negative - which only served to increase my nervousness. Would all this time and money be for nothing? However, at around 10 am news came through that the bird was back at its faithful cliff by staple news viewpoint. Being an hour away from Bempton station by now, my spirits rose and tension built as I constantly checked the clock. After what felt like an age, I finally arrived at Bempton station before running the mile or so to the reserve in heat with a back pack and a tripod in hand. Upon arrival at the visitor centre, the news was positive so I marched even further towards Staple Newk. However, the news was negative when I got to the viewpoint, before another birder suggested walking to a group gathered further down the cliffs to view Albert who was supposedly sleeping on the cliff below the viewpoint (and was therefore out of sight). Hopefully, I took this advice and walked towards the group who informed me that the bird was showing fairly distantly on the cliff. Relieved, I glimpsed the bird in a gentleman's scope before training my own on the bird. To say I was over the moon was a statement! After being envious of everybody else connecting with Albert for (quite literally years) I had finally connected with my first ever Black-browed Albatross! 


Black-browed Albatross

After admiring Albert for over an hour perched on the cliff, I decided to have a proper look around the reserve - having connected with the main target. I enjoyed spectacular views of all the breeding birds at Bempton - including my first ever Puffins. Due to my home being hours away from any reserves with cliff breeding birds, this was my first time at a reserve like Bempton and it truly delivered. The thousands of Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Gannets and Fulmars was a truly spectacular sight to behold.

Puffin


Gannets


Guillemots


Kittiwakes


Fulmar


Razorbill amongst the flowers

Another nice addition to both the day's list and my year list were the many Tree Sparrows that frequent the cliffs and the feeders. A Chiffchaff in the Dell was also welcome. 

After a relaxed lunch in the visitor centre, I decided to head back down to the viewpoint in the hope's of seeing the Albatross fly again. After patiently waiting for well over an hour, Albert did the kind thing and treated us to frequent flights around the viewpoint - showing truly brilliantly! What a bird! It was certainly hard to drag myself away, but with the train home already booked I couldn't take any risks so had to say goodbye to Albert. A Peregrine Falcon waved me off with a flight along the cliffs as I walked back to the visitor centre. What a day! The long journey home was thankfully a happy one - before me and my mates took to the clubs for a night out as soon as I got back to Liverpool!

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