Bempton Cliffs RSPB best day (1 Viewer)

[Nikon Kid]

I am going to make a day out to Bempton Cliffs RSPB it will take 3.5 hours
to get there going to leave early morning 3 factors to my visits must have sunshine,
Pick best day least people, and of cause the delivery of my 400mm
f5.6 lens. Does it get very busy in the week Monday to Friday least traffic on
the roads Tuesday,Wednesday & Thursday basically in the next 2 weeks

I want pics of Guillemots Gannet Kittiwakes Puffin & Razorbills which are all a
tick for me any particular place along the cliffs for these or are they everywhere

Any advise or comments welcome to help me

 

[Marmot]

I would say anytime Monday to Friday and really the earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon the better.From about 1030 to 300 it can get busy. {We were there at the begining of last month and it was even starting to get a little crowded then]} Remember as well the schools will be breaking up soon and this can vary when, so as you pointed out the sooner the better.

If you take the main path down and go to the right and walk for a few hundred yards you have the main viewing area for the gannets with the odd Puffin amongst them. The main path to the left there are viewing points on the way down. If I remember right there is one really scenic one which has a sign with dangerous cliffs where most people get photos of the whole area with the birds [keep an eye out as not far down there is a little hole in the rock which is like an arched door and a Puffin lives in this and comes out once in a while] .But if you go to the other side of this you get some really good views of the Razorbills and Guillemots {There is a few bridled Guillies amongst them].

Hope the above makes sense. If you are after a good meal there is a pub in Flamborough called The Ship [near to the Post Office] nearby there is a restaurant called Copperfields the meals are cheap plentiful and tasty.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

I was there yesterday oddly enough. Here are tips.

The cliff faces slightly north east so you will unlikely to get the evening sun on many perched birds, but it makes flying birds a joy. The gannets that everyone photo's on birdguides etc are taken from the viewing section furthest West - Jubilee. there were some pretty accessible auks on the way before, but by far the best opportunities for birds in flight are at Jubilee. This will get you Gannet, kittiwake and Razorbill. This is also where the gannets are at your level and you can get the intimate shots.

To the East there are more birds, but you will not get the point of view required for the shots, because you are above the birds. The best puffins I saw were at Barlett, but not really ideal. Bempton (IMO) is not good for puffins, and you would be better spending time on gannets. The exposure settings could take you an hour to get right if the sun is on!!

There was a posse of camera guys a the west end, and some big lens boys so it seems to be well known as the best spot. In total I saw about 50 people so it was quiet. I think if you set up at a spot you will have plenty of time to get snaps. I also think overcast conditions should not be poo pooed. If you fancy the evening light you want to visit Wykeham for the honey buzzards - they should be up 11-3ish and you should get other raptors, crossbill, turtle dove and siskin besides, then when the light softens get to Bempton.

 

[Lawrie]

The cliffs are OK, but if you take the seabird cruise out of Bridlington then you get within metres - http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawriephipps/sets/72157600301393816/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawriephipps/sets/72157594176551727/

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

The cliffs are OK, but if you take the seabird cruise out of Bridlington then you get within metres - http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawriephipps/sets/72157600301393816/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawriephipps/sets/72157594176551727/

Agree Lawrie, the boat trips are brilliant.

 

[Nikon Kid]

Thanks Marmot & Marcus for your replies.

That's been very helpful, Its packed lunch for me got to save the penny's,
because of the Petrol etc, where will it all end ?

I think I might walk straight to Jubilee and start there, snapping any flying
birds on my way, How far is it Jubilee Corner to Staple Newk, and is it level or
up & down as to say.

Like your shot Marcus of the Gannet was that with the 400 did it fill the frame.
What was your settings.

I have tale of woh about my 400, on 6 July I bought one on ebay paid by
paypal, waited for delivery no sign, emailed them no stock, they refunded after
3 emails and telephone call. Then paypal put temporary hold on the money,
because it was a transfer out of my bank into paypal, this is a normal current
account, so now I have to wait maybe 7 to 9 days for them to put it back into
my Paypal account. I have now got my order in with Ian Kerr, as soon as
money back in account, will pay him then I can go to Bempton. The Lesson here
is with a high value items check they have it in stock before you pay them.

 

[James Thomas]

I'd also try and factor in a visit to Filey, park at the North Cliff carpark and get onto the brigg for a bit.

The fbog site is fairly up to date, http://users4.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g42-00247-ab

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Like your shot Marcus of the Gannet was that with the 400 did it fill the frame.
What was your settings.

I managed to lose a memory card and 400 shots at Bempton, so this one I salvaged from a gutting trip home.

Settings were aprrox, Apperture priority 7.2, ISO 200 and then took the white balance down a notch of two, spot sensing. around there anyway

Another one I managed...

 

[Nikon Kid]

I managed to lose a memory card and 400 shots at Bempton, so this one I salvaged from a gutting trip home.

Settings were aprrox, Apperture priority 7.2, ISO 200 and then took the white balance down a notch of two, spot sensing. around there anyway

Another one I managed...

I bet you were a little mad at that..................
I don't lose memory cards I just delete the best pics by mistake.......
I will have to start thinking about WB, ain't I got enough to think about.....
So Puffins and Razorbills instead up, must be down on the WB.........

So much to learn.........

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

I bet you were a little mad at that..................
I don't lose memory cards I just delete the best pics by mistake.......
I will have to start thinking about WB, ain't I got enough to think about.....
So Puffins and Razorbills instead up, must be down on the WB.........

So much to learn.........

yeah that's right, but don't foget they have white on them too! :-O

it's all good fun though innit!

 

[bitterntwisted]

I think I might walk straight to Jubilee and start there, snapping any flying birds on my way, How far is it Jubilee Corner to Staple Newk, and is it level or up & down as to say.

Jubilee Corner to Staple Newk is about a mile and about a twenty minute walk on a reasonable path - although it's not metalled and can get muddy. Going that way it's very gently downhill all the way, falling about 25 metres of elevation with no ups and downs you'd notice.

Graham

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Jubilee Corner to Staple Newk is about a mile and about a twenty minute walk on a reasonable path - although it's not metalled and can get muddy. Going that way it's very gently downhill all the way, falling about 25 metres of elevation with no ups and downs you'd notice.

Graham

That's correct.
It was muddy this week, and the grass on a raised bank is being trampled (pemissive) to avoid the largest puddles

 

[IanF]

'Horses for courses' I guess!

Jubilee is pretty good for views but I much prefer the eastern end for photos of Gannet and Fulmar as they glide along the cliff face just a few yards away - sometimes too close to get them in the frame with a 400mm lens. Depending on weather conditions sometimes they're below you, sometimes above and quite often at eye level so you get views from above and below.

I dare say which location gives the best views maybe down to the conditions on the day rather than one always being better than the other.

Early morning until early evening the sun shines onto the birds and the cliffs. The Puffin was taken 9:05am from Grandstand. This was also a good spot for Guillemot and Razorbill both in flight and on the cliffs if you position yourself 20' to the west (left) of Grandstand and look directly below the viewpoint - afternoons were better for them.

I wouldn't worry too much about the sun - bright overcast conditions are better for photos of birds on the cliff and in flight. White birds against a dark sea and black birds against white cliffs can be difficult to expose for in bright sunshine. Even on an evening I was having to use around -1.00EV for birds in flight so as not to burn out the feather detail.

The spread of viewpoints is about 1km from west to east so none are that far from the central path from the visitor centre. Everything is pretty flat - you can see each viewpoint from each other. There's a few rolling undulations but nothing major - pushchairs were common place and even a few wheelchairs when we were there.

These were all with the Canon 40D and Canon 400mm f5,6. A mixture of mornings and afternoons though I preferred the afternoon light.

Gannets and Fulmars can fill the frame - Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwake 20%-30% in flight and Puffin 10-15%. Perched on cliffs you can achieve around 40%-50% with most of them.

 

[James Thomas]

Well,if this is your best Bempton photos here'sa couple with a canon S5,sod the DSLR's

 

[Jaff]

Did a boat trip to Bass Rock many moons ago. I think my nose is still recovering, one drawback of seabird colonies. Meant to go to Bempton this year but it never happened, pity. Always next year though.

 

[Nikon Kid]

Great pics, I just can't wait to get there, but wait I will until the 400mm turns up.

I just found this BCC website link that was very informative on Bempton RSPB.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/nature/walks/wing_water/index.shtml

I think it will be an all day Job anyway, Was there anywhere at the view Points that you
wished you had your tripod with you, I don't want to lug the tripod around all day,
it will be enough with 400 x 450d Bins and camera bag

 

[IanF]

The 400mm f5,6 is light enough to hand hold and shutter you get very high shutter speeds on the cliffs in decent weather. Whether sat on the cliffs or in flight you shouldn't need a tripod. Plenty of fences to rest on if you do feel the need for some extra support.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Great pics, I just can't wait to get there, but wait I will until the 400mm turns up.

I just found this BCC website link that was very informative on Bempton RSPB.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/nature/walks/wing_water/index.shtml

I think it will be an all day Job anyway, Was there anywhere at the view Points that you
wished you had your tripod with you, I don't want to lug the tripod around all day,
it will be enough with 400 x 450d Bins and camera bag

I took my monopod, and after the first five minutes an took if off and let it roll in the mud. As Ian says no need. Even the guys with the big 500 primes took them off to try and hand hold for some shots.

 

[Nikon Kid]

I'd also try and factor in a visit to Filey, park at the North Cliff carpark and get onto the brigg for a bit.

The fbog site is fairly up to date, http://users4.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g42-00247-ab

Thanks Jim

I will have to see how the time goes, I dont want to rush and miss some good shots.

 

[Nikon Kid]

I was getting mixed up with terminology of White Balance and Exposure Compensation
I will keep my WB on Auto For EV in general white/light birds EV -2 For black dark birds EV +2
and anything in between ? Is the only way to tell if you got it right, to zoom into your image and check.

I took this image of a Linnet to-day, Male & Female I had to give it some brightness adjustment because
it looked dark would it have been a better image if I had given it EV +1
I have not used these adjustments in the past, but now I can see it will improve the image