- Flamborough Bird Observatory

Welcome to Flamborough Bird Observatory’s new website
If you have arrived here via fbo.org.uk, please change your links and bookmarks to flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk

COVID-19
Please take time to read the latest Observatory update in relation to COVID-19

The area surrounding Flamborough is renowned for having the largest mainland seabird colony in Britain, a reputation for having top drawer seawatching and not least it is a fantastic place to witness bird migration and see small birds such as thrushes, warblers and chats making landfall after crossing the North Sea.

Flamborough Bird Observatory 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. The Observatory’s recording area encompasses the village of Flamborough and the neighbouring settlements of Bempton, Buckton and Speeton. In addition, the Observatory is also involved in creating and maintaining habitats for wildlife, and promoting conservation in the local community.

As a registered charity, the Observatory’s work is 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. Joining instructions can be found here!

News & Events

Migweek 2020

September 11, 2020

Migweek is an annual event open to the public, celebrating the amazing world of bird migration! Because of the ongoing pandemic, we’re doing things differently this year and running our programme virtually – thanks to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, who are kindly hosting us (online this time!) so we can continue to celebrate and share the wonders of…

Click here for full details of recent daily highlights

Recent Daily Highlights

26th September 2020

Northerly gales for the second day running resulted in another great seawatch. A dark-bellied Brent Goose, 40 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 82 Common Scoter, a Black-throated Diver, two Storm Petrels, 1078 Sooty Shearwaters, 232 Manx Shearwaters and a pale morph juvenile Long-tailed Skua flew north. A total of 35 Bonxies and ten Arctic Skuas headed south.…

25th September 2020

Gale force northerly winds and heavy rain showers ensured all attention was justifiably focused on the sea. The highlight was a Flamborough record 302 Bonxies that flew south during the course of the day. Other notable sightings included 16 pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Blue Fulmar and 814 Sooty Shearwaters flying north, the latter the second…

24th September 2020

Winds were light and variable in direction throughout a day where a best of 12 degrees C indicated they essentially originated from the north. Generally overcast, with sunny intervals late afternoon followed by a spectacular electric storm at dusk. Birding interest was split between the sea and land: seawatching was rewarded with 53 Sooty Shearwaters…

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