Cliffhangers

Between Bridlington and Filey on the Yorkshire coast lies Bempton Cliffs, a RSPB sanctuary.  We decided to take a two hour drive to pay it a visit and view the spectacular coastline for ourselves. Even though it was July we were prepared for windy weather but as it turned out the sun was shining and the expected cool breeze was none existent.

The RSPB have done an excellent job in preserving the clifftops and the cliffs themselves,  A warden informed us that there were still some puffins nesting on the cliffs but unfortunately we did not get to see any, despite a man trying to impress his friend that a flock of puffins were bobbing around on the sea (not unless they had grown pointed beaks, changed colour and size!)  There are several viewing platforms and you can hire binoculars from the visitor centre to watch the action.

The sheer number of birds was a surprise, mostly Kittiwakes and Guillemots but  there were still Gannet chicks huddled on precarious ledges awaiting the return of a parent where one miss-step would result in almost certain death.

Be warned, when you have that many birds gathered together, you can smell them before you see them!

Kittiwakes high above the North Sea

A Gannet chick about to be fed by it's parent.