Black-browed Albatross: This bird is one of my all time sought after and hotly anticipated birds. Not only is it an astonishing bird, majestic and rare but after last year's debacle where I dipped it by 20 minutes and subsequently spent two days at bempton hoping it would come back to say I was keen to go once news broke would be an understatement.
Albatross that are found in the northern hemisphere are famously rare and non more than the affectionately named 'Albert Ross' who has been loitering in the North seas for several years.
Albert first appeared on the Bass Rock in 1967, then subsequently at Hermanness, Shetland almost annually from 1972 to 1995.
Since then he has been spending much of it time over near the west coast of Denmark and Germany but he does make the occasional visit to Bempton Cliffs.
Yesterday news suggested that it may have gone to roost within the gannates on the cliffs so with that in mind I had an early start.
The bird wasn't seen at fisrt light, or in the few hours proceeding, we waited and waited, with bated breath before the bird came flying into view, the bird glided over the arch at the furthermost cliff faces and spend the next few hours putting on a good show before alighting upon the cliff itself and settled down to rest.
Next to the gannet and the herring gulls this bird stood out, it was huge, with its massive wingspan and jet black back and wings.
That moment where the bird came around the corner and passed right by us Is one of thoses birding moments that i will never forget.
Brilliant bird, brilliant day!
