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 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!
Daily Highlights
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Latest Sightings
- 6th November 2024
The anticyclonic gloom continues. A very light south-westerly and a maximum temperature of 13°C. Three Dark-bellied Brent Geese, three Whooper Swans and a Pintail were the pick of the seawatch. A steady, if unspectacular, stream of immigrant Redwings and Fieldfares continued and included a Ring Ouzel in the Bay Brambles.… - 5th November 2024A very light south-westerly and gloomy, overcast conditions continued. The temperature was a constant 11°C. During the morning, seawatchers logged two Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 31 Eider, 80 Common Scoter, three Goldeneye and a Red-breasted Merganser,eight Little Gulls and a Great Northern Diver. Birds coming in off the sea included two…
- 4th November 2024Dull and overcast with patchy light drizzle with a light south-easterly. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Seawatchers logged the first Scaup of the year and one each of Shoveler and Gadwall as well as 42 Common Scoter and two Red-breasted Mergansers. Single Pomarine Skua, Great Northern Diver and Little Egret were also…
- 3rd November 2024A rather dull and cloudy morning with occasional drizzle in a light southerly. Feeling cooler than of late with the temperature never exceeding 11°C. There was a steady flow of inbound thrushes throughout the day. While numbers were never great there were frequent flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares passing over.…
