Bempton Bertie by BMW

This weekend I was on high alert to go at any time if the BBA turned up at Bempton, following our missing Bertie the Black- browed Albatross at Bempton RSPB the previous weekend. So this Saturday I stayed local, but Bertie wasn't reported all day. So, on Sunday 25th July, an early call at 7.15am from RoB H, stated Bertie had returned to Bempton & we were on and just 20 minutes before Rob H would arrive. I leapt in the shower and Jenny kindly got the provisions together and 20 minutes later I was all ready and Rob H very kindly drove us in his BMW car all the way up to RSPB Bempton, our second trip following our previous trip last Saturday. The news was good just 40 minutes from our destination, stating that the BBA was resting on the cliffs, but it was at least an hour old. We arrived at the overflow car park & we raced up to the first view point just right of the cliffs and a very kind birder let us see the bird through his 'scope. It was still about, not on the cliffs but it had flown far out to sea (probably about a 1.5 mile distance out) and he had his scope on it, it was very, very distant but through his 50X scope, we could see the large size, black back with white head and large bill. It was just about identifiable as a fantastic Black- browed Albatross!!! At last!! I had originally dipped Albert the BBA at Hermaness in Shetalnd on 8th August 1985, when Mum and I had tried to cross a field and we were dive bombed by the aptly named 15 Bonxies and 8 Arctic Skuas, still my scariest moment in birding, evoking Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds!" we had to give up, I should have tried the tripod above our heards trick but didn't know about it then! So after almost 36 years (to the day) of hurt, finally that sore could be lanced! But missing a bird several times really make you appreciate all the more when you do finally see it! I know that with the Red- eyed Vireo I missed in Oct 1989 and stormed back in the best possible way when Rob Wil & I found one on the 6th October 1991, still my best ever find. Back to the present and Bempton, I tried to pick out the bird with my 30X scope but it was just too distant and directions were vague, it was even difficult picking out the bouys people described. Another birder kindly let me look through his 50X scope when the bird was near a yellow bouy. The same birder said the bird was flying left then right disappearing behind the cliffs and then 5 minutes later the same birder shouted that it was heading straight for us just below cliff height, and then suddenlly wow! it was flying past showing its long pointed black wings above, white head with black brow, big orange bill, white below and pink legs, what a bird! A huge cheer went up amongst the assembled throng and Rob H and I fist bumped our appreciation! It then treated us over the next 30 minutes with fly bys flying around the sea flying right around the cliffs then wheeling around and then disappearing behind the cliffs. Several Puffins also seen in flight too. Sometimes it would appear to land with its pink legs and feet sticking out at right angles but it would then appear as if from nowhere flying out then around with its wings out like a gigantic black maltese cross and we enjoyed every minutes of observing this emnigmatic, peripatetic oceanic wanderer! It wasn't seen for about ten minutes, we caught up with Rob Wils and his wife and able to enquire how he was and good to see him out and about. Before an overflying light plane all the Gannets flew out including Bertie and he flew around again and then flew low and then far right behind the cliff. 5 minutes later, the best birding moment of this year so far, when we saw Bertie, the magnificent Black- browed Albatross fly just 20 feet over out heads giving grandstand views, no bins, no camera required just watch this incredible sight with your eyes and it disappeared behind the cliff to the left. This moment will be indelibly etched into my memory for ever, a wondrous moment, never to be forgotten. No further flybys and increased activity by those watching from the first viewpoint had us retracing our steps and we saw Bertie perched with Gannets nicely lit by the sun just 45 degrees about the arch. He sat to the right and his orange bill, black brow, white head and black back clearly seen. We decided to leave in order to get back home just after 9pm. We arrived back home at Lowestoft just before 9.30pm. Many, many thanks to Rob H for valiantly doing all the driving over these 2 weekends and also for his great company too, very much appreciated and 2 great trips to Bempton which taken together I thoroughly enjoyed! He even suggested the title for this post which I have adopted, top man!