Puffins at Flamborough

Tuesday, 29th June 2004, East Yorkshire, page 1 of 3
Richard Bell's nature diary

1.10 p.m. hazy sun through stratocumulus

The water is so clear that we can see down into a greenish pool in a narrow inlet in the chalk cliffs near Breil Nook, Flamborough. Puffins are swimming around, buoyant and rounded; the shape of rubber ducks. Two swim into a sea cave. First one dives, then the other, and they swim around, 'flying' underwater just above the submerged jumble of chalk blocks.

They're so different underwater, making the change from cute rubber duck to to stealthy bird of prey.

One surfaces right next to a third puffin on the surface and snaps its beak at it.

Flamborough Head

A house sparrow dust bathes on a mole hill on the turf by Headlands Café, Flamborough Head.

The Old Lighthouse, made of chalk blocks, an unusual building material, stands near the coastguard station.

Richard Bell, richard@willowisland.co.uk