Greetings, fellow wildlife aficionados! Allow me to share the thrilling tale of an audacious journey I recently embarked on, right here from my cosy nook in Lancashire. Now, I might not be David Attenborough, but I do fancy myself as a bit of an adventurer – armed not with a swashbuckling sword but my trusty Nikon camera and a pocket full of sweets (a fellow’s got to eat, right?).
The destination? Bempton Cliffs, where more than half a million seabirds gather every year to nest between April and August. You’d think it would be impossible to stand out amidst such crowd, but let me tell you, the Tree Sparrows we encountered gave those seabirds a run for their money.
Now, I’ve seen my fair share of sparrows, typically House Sparrows, flitting around my garden, but spotting Tree Sparrows was like spotting a rare diamond in a bed of common stones. Why the excitement, you ask? Well, Tree Sparrows have been facing a bit of a population kerfuffle since the 1970s, and their numbers have significantly dwindled. So, seeing them in Bempton, chirping away in their little quintessential, chestnut-crowned glory was a treat to the eyes and the heart.
I remember walking past the throngs of gannets, puffins, and kittiwakes, who put on quite the show with their boisterous calls and airborne acrobatics. But, much like a true wildlife photographer, it was the quiet corners that called to me. The hidden gems, if you will. That’s where I spotted the first Tree Sparrow, its white cheeks and black cheek spot standing out amidst the foliage.
Imagine being the Wallflower at a massive beach party, where everyone is trying to outdo each other with their plumage or the size of the fish they just caught. Here, you’re perched quietly, watching the world go by – pretty much like the Tree Sparrows amidst the seabird pandemonium.
The other highlight of my day was the majestic sight of a Barn Owl hunting at dusk. There’s something eerily beautiful about the sight of a Barn Owl in flight, like a ghostly apparition gliding through the twilight sky. A rather dramatic end to a day filled with flapping wings, constant chirping, and the pleasant headache of birdwatchers!
So, folks, that’s how my day panned out – a sensory overload of bird-related antics, punctuated by delightful sparrow encounters and a twilight owl sighting. As a Lancashire lad who has a penchant for birds and a questionable sense of humour, I’ve never had a day as exciting as this. As they say, the early bird catches the worm, but in this case, it was the bloke with the Nikon and a bag of sweets.
Remember, even in a crowd of thousands, there’s always something to appreciate in the silent ones. It’s like they say, “the best things come in small packages.” And in the case of Bempton Cliffs, it couldn’t be truer – Tree Sparrows, I salute you.
Stay tuned for more exciting bird tales – who knows what feathered friend we’ll be laughing with next time!
Till then, keep birdwatching!
