MICHAEL NORFOLK

It was Tuesday 20th May, and we had arrived at Wold Farm Caravan and Camping site in our campervan earlier that afternoon. After settling in and sorting ourselves out we set off walking down the private path from the site towards the cliffs in search of Puffins. It was a lovely sunny evening with a very light breeze, however, by the time we reached the path leading up to the Visitor Centre at RSPB Bempton Cliffs we were still waiting to set eyes on one of those stunning little sea birds that we had come especially to see.

As we peered out over the cliffs there was suddenly a cry of "Barn Owl" from one of the group standing alongside us and we promptly turned around to see a Barn Owl gliding across the grassed field between us and the visitor centre. It was only just after 6pm, the sun was still quite intense, and the photographs I managed to take were of poor quality due to atmospheric haze. We watched on as the Barn Owl disappeared into the distance.

Shortly afterwards I had finally located my first Puffin and taken some distant photographs when I noticed the Barn Owl once more. It was flying across a field towards the cliff edge and back again seemingly scanning the whole area of the field.

Barn Owl above the fields near RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 20th May 2025. Canon R5, Rf200-800mm

Barn Owl near RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 20th May 2025. Canon R5, Rf200-800mm

By now the sun was lower in the sky and the light was almost perfect, especially when the Barn Owl passed close to the edge of the cliffs and the sea beyond gave the photographs a beautiful blue background.

For a time all thoughts of photographing Puffins were forgotten as my attention focused fully on the Barn Owl. I have photographed Barn Owls previously but it has always been closer to dusk when the light had faded and not while the sun was still shining brightly. On this occasion I was still able to shoot at 1/2000 second with the RF 200-800mm lens set at f11. I continued taking photos until the Barn Owl became too distant.

With a smile on my face I made my way back in the direction of the Wold Farm campsite, my wife having gone ahead with our little dog, leaving me to search out some more subjects.

I hadn't walked much further along the cliff path when there was sight of another Barn Owl, or perhaps it was the same one? I really don't know. I was sure that the first one made off in the direction of the Bempton visitor centre and yet this one appeared from the opposite direction. My photographs reveal both birds had a metal ring on the right leg so perhaps it was indeed the same bird.

A man and a woman heading along the path towards me with their cameras saw it fly past them but they were walking into the sun and were unable to get any photographs at the time. Fortunately for them it then turned around and came back again and we stood together as a group snapping away. I remember at one point the Barn Owl flew directly towards us making eye contact for a short time before gradually veering away to my right.

Barn Owl near RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 20th May 2025. Canon R5, Rf200-800mm

Barn Owl near RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 20th May 2025. Canon R5, Rf200-800mm

And then it was over, the Barn Owl disappearing into the distance after putting on a wonderfully enjoyable display.

Over the following two days of our stay at Wold Farm the weather turned extremely windy and although we took the same path towards RSPB Bemptom Cliffs at approximately the same time each night we never came across the Barn Owl again. We knew Barn Owls were regularly seen at RSPB Bempton Cliffs but on this occasion that wasn't what we had planned to see.

It just goes to show that in nature you can never take anything for granted and you should always be prepared for the unexpected. The Puffins would wait until tomorrow because today belonged to the Barn Owl.