Flamborough Headland is renowned for having the largest mainland seabird colony in Britain and a reputation for top drawer seawatching. Not least, the area is a fantastic place to witness bird migration and see small birds such as thrushes, chats and warblers making landfall after crossing the North Sea and it also has an impeccable pedigree in attracting scarcities from continental Europe and rarities from farther east.
Flamborough Bird Observatory (FBO) is one of only twenty bird observatories located at key migration hotspots in Britain and Ireland. It is run by a team of dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers whose aims include studying bird populations and and recording migration. FBO’s recording area is broadly the same as the Flamborough Headland Heritage Coast and encompasses the whole area east of Danes Dyke including the village of Flamborough and also, west of Danes Dyke, the neighbouring settlements of Bempton, Buckton and Speeton on the north side of the headland and and Marton and Sewerby on the south.
FBO is also involved in creating and maintaining habitats for wildlife, and promoting conservation in the local community. Our annual events include a Seawatching Festival over a long weekend in late August and a nine-day ‘Migweek’ in mid-October.
As a registered charity, FBO’s work is wholly reliant upon the help and goodwill of our Friends and volunteers. If you would like to support us, please become a Friend of Flamborough Bird Observatory. You can join online in seconds by registering your personal details and payment here!
Events
- Migweek 2024
Saturday 12th – Sunday 20th October 2024Events Programme Every day:Ringing demonstration Flamborough 8am-12pm at the Living Seas Centre – Come and meet FBO’s ringing team, see…
Daily Summaries
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Latest Sightings
- 17th October 2024
A bright, warm day, with prolonged sunny intervals and temperatures reaching 18 degrees C in light south-westerly winds. The highlight was a showy Radde’s Warbler that spent the day in the Bay Brambles below the lighthouse. Only a few metres away, the Pallas’s Warbler continued to show and a Red-rumped… - 16th October 2024
Overcast throughout, with occasional showers, a light/moderate south-easterly wind and a high of 13 degrees C. It was another cracking day headlined by the third Red-flanked Bluetail of the autumn and a Dusky Warbler at RSPB Bempton Cliffs and a Pallas’s Warbler (Lighthouse bushes) and Richard’s Pipit (west over Old… - 15th October 2024A relatively overcast day, with blustery south-east winds and a high of 13 degrees C. Conditions proved conducive for an arrival of passerines, dominated by 10,100 Redwings. A Great Grey Shrike was also ringed at South Landing, with subsequent sightings at Booted Gully and Hartendale. Additional new arrivals included three…
- 14th October 2024A perfect day to be out and about with very light winds and sunny throughout; temperatures reached 14 degrees C. Wildfowl interest included 1700 Pink-footed Geese over the outer head, a vocal Tundra Bean Goose that flew west and six Whooper Swans. Five Water Rails were in residence, along with…
