Bempton birds – coming in to land

Landing makes flying seem easy:

Guillemot - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I love the way this Guillemot is dangling its feet, like two paddles, to provide enough drag:

Guillemot - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This Herring Gull is spreading its tail to brake its flight:

Herring Gull - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I like the rotation of the body as it pitches itself:

Herring Gull - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This one is keeping its feet tucked in until the last minute:

Herring Gull - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A Razorbill comes in to land and has a widespread gait with amusing paddle feet just like the Guillemot:

Razorbill - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They have very stiff tail feathers to help brake their landing. They change their angle of attack to slow themselves down and then pitch themselves on the perfect spot:

The most elegant of all is the Kittiwake.

Kittiwakes have an uncertain future. They are now on the IUCN list of British birds facing global extinction. It’s been caused by plastic waste, pollution, global heating and overfishing.

It has a perfect tail fan and a glorious wing shape. There’s no need for it to paddle its feet. It has immaculate control:

Kittiwake - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I hope they’ll be around for people to appreciate for many years to come.

More birds at Bempton Cliffs

Displaying Gannets - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – Gannets displaying When two Gannets fall in love, they like to let each other know about it: I like the final one.… read more
Tree Sparrow at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Tree Sparrows on the edge I've only ever seen Tree Sparrows before at Tree Sparrow Farm. That's a sign, isn't it? If the place is… read more
Guillemot at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – when you know you’re being watched Many birds are perfect parcels of protein. There are plenty of predatory species which would treat them as a tasty… read more
Gannet at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – eyelids Blinking birds. Gannets are everywhere at Bempton Cliffs. I'm hoping to get a good look at their eyes. Gannets' eyes… read more
Gannet at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – staring at the sky Gannets look astonishingly alien, don't they? They're not inhabitants of this world. When they display to one another they point… read more
Puffin - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – nesting materials A Kittiwake flies past with some grass in its beak. It looks like its nest needs reinforcements: They sometimes carry… read more
Gannet fighting at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – violence and aggression It's not all mutual preening and sweetness and light at Bempton Cliffs. It's a difficult life, perched on a ledge… read more
Puffin at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – Gannets, Gannets, everywhere Try going to Bempton and getting a photograph without a Gannet in it. Try it. Go on. Here's a Puffin… read more
Razorbill with chick - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – eggs and chicks galore There are hundreds of thousands of seabirds here at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. I particularly love the Kittiwakes. They're such delicate,… read more

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