We found this event advertised a few months ago and decided it would be focal point of our visit to East Yorkshire. The RSPB run several such cruises on the MV Yorkshire Belle though the late summer, early autumn, with idea of getting good view of Puffins and Gannets (earlier events) and Shearwaters and Skuas on the later events.
We set sail from Bridlington harbour at nine in the morning and slowly worked a meandering path up the coast and further out in the North Sea, dispensing “Chum” from the stern to attract birds.
Quite quickly a good number of Gulls come in on the chum we saw Black-headed, Herring, Mediterranean and Greater & Lesser Black-backed. Soon a number of Gannets were off the ship and providing excellent photographic opportunities. Passing us, further away, were a number of Shags and Cormorants and the odd Kittiwake, Red-throated Diver and Eider.
In the water Harbour Porpoise, Grey and Common Seal were not too difficult to see and some lucky people saw a Sun Fish surface! However for the birders the best views were of an Arctic and Pomarine Skua in the middle distance.
Returning at about one in the afternoon, we can not recommend this experience enough. It is a great way of getting views you just can not achieve on land and so close to some of the species.
Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 240 Month bird count: 89
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