For today's mailing we are returning to my favourite Bempton bird cliffs. You may have seen Bempton on BBC's 'Springwatch' last week? A magical place.

If you saw my writing from around three weeks ago you will know that the pair of gannets I specifically follow had very sadly lost the egg they'd produced earlier in May. I have continued to pay regular visits to the nest to see how they are faring. And of course hoping that the female may lay again.

My time by the nest has been very moving. Most of the time when I have been watching, a single adult has been there. On a few occasions though I have been fortunate enough to see them both on the nest together. It's been wonderful to witness the relationship between them and their behaviours. I feel enormously privileged and so grateful to have this intimate window into the life of these magnificent birds.

I read that after losing an egg, if a second wasn't laid within 6-32 days, the pair were highly unlikely to breed that year. And the clock has been ticking! Every time I visit I wonder if I may find an egg. Waiting for whichever adult is sitting on the nest to stand up so that I could see. The weeks have been going by with an empty nest. And the nearer we came to the end of the 'laying window', the more tension I felt about whether or not an egg would be forthcoming, holding hope in one hand and loss in the other.

The pair clearly have been trying to produce another chick. I've seen them mating on a couple of my visits. The male has been bringing back fresh nesting material on a regular basis. His arrival back to the nest usually involves a noisy greeting between the two and them both adjusting the nest to accommodate the new vegetation. Sometimes it appears that the male is presenting the female with a gift, deliberately placing his bounty on her back. Their bonding behaviours are beautiful to watch. One involves pointing their heads skyward and gently fencing their bills, with bowing and curving their necks adding to the display. At other times they tenderly preen each other's head and neck. Stunning.

With one week of the 'laying window' to go, I decided to squeeze an evening visit in at the end of a busy day. If the pair were to produce another egg, I wanted to track the laying date as closely as I could. I arrived to find the male sitting peacefully on the nest, bathed in evening sunshine. I settled to watch, happy to be there again. I didn't have to wait long. Within a few minutes of my arriving he shuffled his position slightly, and to my absolute delight I spotted a new egg in the nest! How marvellous. After all their efforts, they were parents again. I was thrilled. I felt a deep sense of celebration for this new life. May this egg stay safe and all go well.

Gannet pair. Bempton June 2026. Barbara Payman.

Gannet pair. Bempton June 2026. Barbara Payman. 2

New egg, June 2026. Barbara Payman.

This week's self-kindness invitation is to nurture any ideas you may have for new creative ventures. And to ask for any help you may need to help them come to fruition. Following our creativity is great self-care. Good luck!

Go well.

In warmth and kindness

Barbara