BELLE OF THE BALL

This is the Yorkshire Belle, winner of the Sunday Times Best Boat Trip in Britain 2008.
Based in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, today the boat hosted the final Bird Watching tour of the season. I received an invite last night and set off early. Travelling off Flamborough Head, there are also views of the Bempton Bird Reserve, the only onshore gannetry in the UK.

Top views today were one Great Skua (obstructed view), 3 Manx Shearwater, 2 Eider Ducks, Purple Sandpiper, Red-Throated Divers and about 400 Pink-Footed Geese, flying in skein formation.

The original Yorkshire Belle arrived in Bridlington on 19th May 1938, her first time at sea. Sadly, she was destroyed during the Second World War when she hit a magnetic mine in the Humber and was lost with all hands. This replacement Yorkshire Belle was built in 1947 and is registered as No. 793.