Cliffhangers

Between Bridlington and Filey on the Yorkshire coast lies Bempton Cliffs, a RSPB sanctuary.  We decided to take a two hour drive to pay it a visit and view the spectacular coastline for ourselves. Even though it was July we were prepared for windy weather but as it turned out the sun was shining and the expected cool breeze was none existent.

The RSPB have done an excellent job in preserving the clifftops and the cliffs themselves,  A warden informed us that there were still some puffins nesting on the cliffs but unfortunately we did not get to see any, despite a man trying to impress his friend that a flock of puffins were bobbing around on the sea (not unless they had grown pointed beaks, changed colour and size!)  There are several viewing platforms and you can hire binoculars from the visitor centre to watch the action.

The sheer number of birds was a surprise, mostly Kittiwakes and Guillemots but  there were still Gannet chicks huddled on precarious ledges awaiting the return of a parent where one miss-step would result in almost certain death.

Be warned, when you have that many birds gathered together, you can smell them before you see them!

Kittiwakes high above the North Sea

A Gannet chick about to be fed by it's parent.

Rock of Ages

  

For years, driving around the surrounding area we've seen signs pointing the way to Creswell Crags and haven't given it a second thought.  Last month, we eventually got round to checking it out.

Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge riddled with caves formed during the last ice age.  There have been a number of animal bones and other archaeological objects  found on the site over the years and you can arrange a guided tour of the caves (we didn't realise that you had to book for this).  Helpful signs inform you of where such creatures as hyena bones were found.  The thought of them roaming across Nottinghamshire does seem hard to imagine.

The visitor centre is an impressive structure with cafe, conference and exhibition spaces. It sits nicely in the landscape and with the silvering wood exterior designed to soften its impact.

The Visitor Centre

The gorge itself, on a warm Sunday afternoon was beautiful and surprisingly free of visitors.

 The paths are accessible for wheel chairs and not to demanding.  The crags are a haven for bird life.  When we visited, jackdaws that where nesting in holes in one of the limestone rockface where fighting with each other for possession.

Park Life

 By the time you read this post, we'll hopefully have moved into our new home (I'm doing the cheat of actually writing this post the weekend before it will publish).  We were wanting some ideas for an artwork that we could hang on the walls and had taken a drive out to Thoresby Hall to look at the art gallery there.  Unfortunately we timed it badly as it was a textiles exhibition on display.  I then remembered reading on the internet that Rufford Abbey Country Park had an art gallery. As it was just a few miles away we decided to take a look.

As the trip was unscheduled, I had no camera with me so took these on my trusty iphone.  I'm quite pleased with the results and I should really experiment with it a little more.

We took the long route to the country house and abbey ruins by taking the lakeside walk.

The ducks where keen to follow us

 The country house was built next to the remains of the 12th Century Abbey.  There is a popular restaurant as well as a cafe and The Orangery also plays host to art installations like the one below.

The remains of the abbey and the amazing oak tree.

Watching the world go by

Jeepers, Creeper

Occasionally, we get visitors to the garden that we don't see very often.  The last time we saw a Treecreeper was more than two years ago.  Last week Terry spotted one motoring around the silver birch tree outside the kitchen window.

The speed in which it ascended the tree is quite startling.  The vertical surface doesn't present much of an obstacle for this beautiful little bird.  The curved bill is an ideal tool for discovering insects and spiders, it's main diet.  

Water Bed

Last weekend, our friend Ian stayed for a few days.  Ian is a great amateur photographer and he was one of the voices that persuaded me to start this blog.  He lives in northern Spain with his partner and his blog, Tales from Toriello is a great read. 

We opted to pay a visit to Whisby Nature Reserve as Ian had never been there before.  I managed to snap these photos in a quiet corner of one of the lakes.  What surprised me was how the swans pretty much ignored us and settled down despite the racket from the various gulls close by.