I Love Gannets - Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve.

In retrospect, it probably wasn't a good idea to take what were, at the time, the two littlest members of the Clan to to Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve to see the puffins.


Bempton Cliffs

Firstly, it was 24C when we set off from Wykeham Forest, hot and humid, and the kids were hot and hungry for ice cream.

When we got to Flaborough Head, it was draped with Frett, mist swirling around the cliffs and over the headland. The temperature dropped to a chilly 15C and the coats were retrieved from the boot of the car.


Frett over Bempton Cliffs

A massive wooden puffin sits waiting for unsuspecting children outside the visitors centre. Raising expectations somewhat.......

The ice cream freezer sits just by the visitor centre entrance...... "We'll get an ice cream after we've seen the puffins" ..... "No, the real ones !!"


Bempton Cliffs

With hindsight, expecting a four year old to disregard the pungent smell of guano was a particularly unlikely prospect. Plus expecting a two and a half year old to look for a bird, however endearing, sitting on a vertical cliff a good distance away, through binoculars, and remain a safe distance from the abyss, is even more unlikely.

And..... we didn't see any puffins !!

But we did see lots of gannets, and I love gannets (even more than puffins). Here you go........


Gannet nesting on Bempton Cliffs

Plus there were razorbills, kittiwakes, guillimots and common and herring gulls.


Bempton Cliffs

And the little ones enjoyed their ice cream when we got back to the visitors centre, even though we didn't see any real puffins !!

And WELCOME to their baby brother, born 6pm, Sunday, 27th May 2012.

Bluebells in Bluebell Wood - Wykeham Forest


It's been a bit of a Wykeham Forest Fest on Big Gorse Bush lately - mainly due to our impending move - but I thought that the bluebells, just a few hundred metre's from our home would be worth a quick look.....

Bluebells in Bluebell Wood, Wykeham Forest (SE951864)

The bluebells aren't as good this year - could it have something to do with the weather ??

But it still always feels like summer just might be around the corner........

Rafe and Hal in Bluebell Wood, Wykeham Forest (SE951863)

Spring at Last - Wykeham Forest

Halleykeld bridleway, Wykeham Forest (SE938870)

On Halleykeld bridleway, Wykeham Forest (SE938870)

Well, the house is on the market.....

The Camel Tree, Wykeham Forest (SE934870)

By Park Farm Road, Wykeham Forest (SE938876)

But last weekend was so beautiful, it makes me wonder what we might just be losing.

Rafe and Hal, The Charcoal Burners Track, Wykeham Forest (SE939877)

I'm really going to miss every last tree.... I know - I'm a bit of (a lot of) a tree hugger.

Still a bit muddy on Charcoal Burners Track
Wykeham Forest (SE939876)

Cow Slips.
They used to be a rarity in Wykeham Forest
- not any more

By Halleykeld Bridleway, Wykeham Forest (SE836870)

Middle Track, Wykeham Forest (SE944866)

The Sweat Box, Wykeham Forest
Where, in days gone by, men and horses brought in the wood harvest
- not mega machines (SE947866)

Blue skies at last over Wykeham Forest
(SE951863)

Hal by the old tree house at North Moor, Wykeham Forest (SE950863)

"I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do. They go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far!" John Muir

Oak and tumulus, Cairn Track, Wykeham Forest (SE949865)

April Deluge in Wykeham Forest

Not just the wettest April, but the wettest month since records began at the Forestry Commission weather station at the tree nurseries in Wykeham Forest (admittedly that was only in the mid 80's) 

Beech leaves in Elven Wood (SE945863)

170mm (6.7") of the wet stuff fell in the month, leaving a very soggy wood indeed.

Rafe - its a bit chilly underfoot - Beech Walk (SE946862)

I got the worst wetting of the winter and got cold to the bone in a sleety blizzard on 2nd April - typical, after such a lovely March.


Rafe on the largest of the Three Trembers (SE936878)

Hal and Rafe - slightly damp on Bee Dale Top (SE944868)

I am acutely aware that this will be our last spring in Wykeham Forest (our 28th) and I have been taking more photographs than usual - on days when I previously wouldn't have bothered, dull drab days that punctuate the days with more exciting weather of one sort or another. I seem to have been noticing more details: The first dog violet; unusual fungus; shadows and sunsets.....



Morning light - Halleykeld bridleway (SE936870)

Here are a few of my April photos for your delectation - make the most - there wont be many more.....

The Big Gorse Bush
first flush of flowers, with that wonderful coconut scent
(SE940875)

Ploughing near Northmoor with views to the Vale of Pickering (SE951862)

Hal and Rafe, Castle Head Flat, Wykeham Forest  (SE945874)

Wykeham Forest harvest (SE943874)



Hal and Rafe, earthworks in Wykeham Forest (SE941869)

Earthworks at North Moor, Wykeham Forest - yet to be investigated! (SE949861)



Blossom, Wykeham Forest



Dog Violets, Hallyeykeld bridleway
(SE936871



Sunset through Scot's Pine
Three Tremblers, Wykeham Forest(SE936878)



Fiery skies from Tumulus (SE939878) Wykeham Forest
the day before the chainsaws went in

Green and gold, Bee Dale Top
Wykeham Forest (SE946867)

Blue Bell Wood
The blue bells would have been out,
except for the "February" weather (SE951864)

The Twisted Wishing Tree, Wykeham Forest
(find it if you can !!!)



Evening sun - Wykeham Forest (SE939878)



Evening shadows - Tumulus, Wykeham Forest (SE939878)

Fungus - Wykeham Forest (any ideas ?)
(SE932871)

Spring moon over Wykeham Forest

Rafe and Hal, Wykeham Forest (SE939879)

Big Daddy - East Moor (SE943864)



The next generation - East Moor (SE943864)

Farndale Daffodils.

The wild daffodils just starting to flower. River Dove, Farndale

Another Voluntary Ranger day, this time at Farndale. The daffodils are just starting to come out - another week or two (Easter weekend I reckon !!) and they will be at their best. But they were still well worth a stroll along the Daffodil Walk from Low Mill to Church Houses.


Beck in Farndale (SE673955)

Farndale, north from near High Wold House

The daffodils are all the wild variety that pre date all the domestic daffs in our gardens. They are quite a bit smaller and don't flower until about a month later than domestic daffodils. Wonderful how they have colonised this remote dale on the North York Moors.

Low Blakey Moor, above Farndale

Even though it was a Monday in March, the sun was out and there were quite a few walkers about.


Farndale, north from near Cote Hill

Farndale, north west from near Cote Hill



Farndale, north west from near Bitchagreen

Wild daffodils by the River Dove, Farndale.



More wild daffodils by the River Dove, Farndale.

Route: Low Mill (SE672952), footpath to High Wold House, footpath to Cote Hill, footpath to River Dove, north to the Daffy Caffy (High Mill), return to start along River Dove footpath.

Statistics: Distance: 4.5km  Ascent: 70m  Time: 1 hour.