Sun, rain, mud, sun, rain, bird, home

Sum up your day in 7 words. I just did.

An alpine swift was reported Friday evening at Bempton. After 9am in the morning it was again reported. So off I went. Although it was Saturday traffic was light and I made good time. Met Alan Whitehead and his dog; walked with a chap called Peter to show him the orchids. Didn't see the swift. Saw some common swifts and added  to my orchid photo album for this year.  Got soaked on the way back to the car. Checked the bee orchid in the car park. Still present but going over.

Alan W said he'd seen the swift distantly well west of the reserve. Blue skies returned and I set off again. 'Go west, old man!'

Earlier I had chatted to a fellow photographer - more skilled than I - about lenses and stuff. Some of what he had to say prompted me to experiment for the day and so all today's photos were taken with the image stabilizer switched off. This chap suggested they can cause more issues than they solve. I'm quite pleased with the results.

Gannet

I walked on and on. Distracted myself from back pain by taking more shots. Puffins next:

Puffin Puffin Puffin Fulmars and Kittiwakes:

Fulmar That's nice. Fulmar having a doze in her back garden!

Kittiwake Baby kittiwakes are quite attractive compared with some gull youngsters... What do you call them? Kittens?

Kittiwake Catching kittiwakes in flight is tricky so these two of the same bird were very pleasing - image stabilizer still off by the way:

Kittiwake Kittiwake It's not easy to take a bad picture of a gannet provided it's in focus. They are so easy at Bempton. Quite thrilled with today's haul.

Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Finally this cheeky jackdaw was by my car as I packed up to go home.

Jackdaw Oh yes, I did finally get near to the triangulation point at TA 171748 - a little blue triangle on the OS map. I was exhausted. I set off back. It was getting late. I kept turning to watch what the other  birders were doing. Suddenly over the cliff edge I saw a very large swift. I followed it for maybe 15 seconds until it dipped below the clifftop. A man was dancing and waving his arms. He'd seen it at last. And so had I!! Alpine swift 382. Then it rained again. Well, that's birding.

382 UK life; 115 Yorks year list; 241 UK year list.