Bempton in the Autumn

A trip to Bempton this morning, before meeting with friends in the afternoon - despite the best efforts of the car! (Thanks to the RSPB staff and the AA for their help.) Usually we come in the summer, for the Gannets - there were a few flying around and nice to see the juveniles. We also spent 20 minutes looking at a sstretch of hedgerow, where there was a Yellow-browed Warbler - but it didn't show until later in the day....

It was good to see and hear geese piling into the stubble fields.

A spectacular chalk coastline.

Pigeons are now the most numerous birds on the cliffs. 

A solitary adult Gannet on the cliff. 

A fluffy juvenile.

..and older speckledy juveniles...

At this time of year you can see the true amount of plastic on the cliffs. 

Gannets out at sea...

..and closer in. 

Juvenile.

Barn Owl.

Patterns and textures in the cliffs. 

Robinhood's Bay to Ravenscar

 A walk along the clifftop while the tide was in and then along the beach as it went out. 

Boggle Hole.

Colourful Bryony on a dull morning.

Quality mud! 

The alum works.

The path up to Ravenscar ..and more importantly the National Trust teashop! 

Path paved with bespoke bricks....

..and the Ravenscar seals ....

It was great to be able to watch them playing in the surf...

Look at those whiskers! 

Ammonites.

Looking back towards Robinhood's Bay.

Sunshine! 

And back towards Ravenscar.

Whitby jet

A sunny walk along the beach at Runswick Bay; plenty of jet on the beach. Jet is basically fossilised wood and was formed during the Jurassic period(180mya), when due to flash flooding, large amounts of the Araucaria tree were swept into the sea. Today the closest 'relative' of the Araucaria is  the Monkey Puzzle tree. The trees became waterlogged and sank into the muddy seabed, where  they were preserved in the anaerobic conditions, compressed and fossilised. Jet is washed up along the coast near Whitby and is found on the strand line- often together with bits of coal and peat. The jet though looks different - it has a sheen to it and striations which stand out in the light. It also makes a brown (orange, if it is jewellery grade jet) mark when scratched on carborundum paper. 

It was nice to see some ammonites and oystershells as well as plenty of  septarian nodules. 

Runswick Bay ...

Happy dog! 

Designs and colours ....

Septarian nodules.

Colourful cliffs ....

Ammonites.

Oysters.

Jet...

Big bits! 

I still haven't found out what these 'holes' in the wave cut platform are ....

Good surf....

Saltburn by the Sea

On our way to Fylingthorpe, near Robinhood's Bay we stopped off at Saltburn. We've never been there before.....  With the last reamining pier in Yorkshire (1869) and a 'cliff tramway' (1884) and plenty of classic Victorian architecture it's a popular seaside destination. The surf was spectacular today; apparently Saltburn is a popular surfing destination too. 

Saltburn looking south.

The pier.

View from the pier....

I could have spent all day photographing the waves! 

Beach huts.

The cliff lift / funicular.

It's the oldest water balanced cliff funicular in the UK. Each car has a 1, 100L water tank.

The view from inside a car....

Walla Crag, Blaeberry Fell and High Seat

 A rather rushed walk, as rain was forecast for the afternoon. Said rain though didn't make an appearance until we were back home which was a bonus. Hazy dark skies, so not great photos ...and we had Ashness Bridge to ourselves on the way back - which was bizarre! 

Across Derwentwater from Walla Crag.

Keswick in the sun.

Looking down Derwentwater to Bassenthwaite.

Back towards Walla Crag.....

..and forwards to Blaeberry Fell.

Threatening skies.

Looking towards High Seat...boggy.

Moor Club (Clavaria argillacea).

A pleasant path down to.......

Ashness Bridge.