Some years ago I was lucky enough to capture some photographs of Albie the Albatross as he was named by RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
This wonderful, stately seabird had been seen at Bempton on and off since 2017 when he first appeared, having been present in the Baltic from 2014. He was absent for a few years after 2017 but also visited in from 2020 to 2022.
I first saw him in June of that year but, after a long day photographing puffins at North Landing, my camera battery gave out just as he put in an appearance. Not to be outdone I invested in a couple of spares and revisited a few weeks later.
The crowds were significant but I was lucky enough to catch sight of him not only where most were gathered near the main Gannet colony, but just a little further north along the clifftop where he put on a spactacular show just for me.
The normal range for the Black Browed Albatross is in the southern ocean, around remote islands including the Falklands, the Chilean islands and South Georgia in the breeding season (September – April) and at sea the rest of the year.
They are a medium sized albatross with a 2-2.4m wingspan and and length of around 90cm.
As with all Albatrosses they are adapted to gliding on the wind, which they rely on for lift. They do not often cross the equator where winds are usually calm or non existant, it is thought Albie will have been blown off course and into the northern hemisphere during a storm. Once here it would be difficult for the bird to return south for the same reason they do not normally venture north. Albatrossed posses a specialised bone structure between the wings on their backs, this allows them to “hang” the bones of the wings on a small hook meaning that they do not need to consume energy to keep them extended.
Sadly Albie disappeared, from both the UK and his normal winter range in the Baltic, after 2023 and it is presumed he died. We were privileged to see such a magnificent bird around the shores of north yorkshire.
I saw, and was able to photograph, several other species of Albatross on a visit to New Zealand – more of that later.
