Bridlington Bird Watching

On my way home from my Bempton Cliffs workshop, I decided to go the long way round to see how those sweet little Sand Martins were getting on.

I went armed with photo gear that allowed me to zoom in closer this time so the pictures are better than the last set I got - you really can see their sweet little peepers peeping.

Apparently, they're also known as "Bank Martins," - nothing to do with Barclays or HSBC, just referring to where they make their nests. That said, there used to be a private London bank called "Martins Bank" - funnily enough its symbol was, "The Grasshopper." Go figure.

Anyway, I make no excuses for the level of cuteness of these gorgeous little souls.

Bank Martin chicks in their nestBank Martins looking out of their nest hole
Sand Martins are smaller than their blue-plumaged House Martin cousins. They tend to arrive and leave sooner than them too. 

Every year they fly thousands of miles to Africa. How they manage to remember where they're going is beyond me. I struggle to remember where I parked my car some days. They really are marvellous little miracles. 

Why do they migrate? Well, they go where the food and weather is good for them. 
Sand Martin
Sand Martin chick looking out of the nest hole
Sand Martin Chicks in their hole
Sand Martin chick in their nest hole

I spotted a Yellow Wagtail!

I've seen the black and white ones (Pied Wagtails) and the Grey Wagtails (who confusingly have yellow on them) but never a YELLOW wagtail! This was a lovely Brucey bonus just above where the Sand Martins nests holes were. It looks like a youngster as it's not fully bright yellow yet. But such a beautiful bird.

Wagtails really do wag their tails - although it's less a "wag" and more of a bobbing up and down like a seesaw motion.

Why do Wagtails wag their tails? Because they can't wag their beaks. (groan) I'll get my coat.

Actually, there's theories floating around - like communication, wafting insects, deterring predators, but nobody knows for sure. I kind of hope we never find out as I love a weird and wonderful nature mystery.

Yellow Wagtail
Of course it wouldn't be the seaside without the Gulls.

Those Black Headed Gulls that don't have black heads - in this case it's because they have the plumage to indicate that they're non-breeding adults. A bit like me. 
Black Headed Gull in flight over the sea

And now for something completely different...


It was early evening when I was making my way home and I spotted a beautiful hare enjoying the warm sunlight in a field. A wonderful way to end a day of enjoying wild encounters at Bridlington.
Brown hare laying in the grass

See the Gannets I met at Bempton Cliffs on the same trip
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