Bempton Cliffs

[Siskin]

Hi there

I was thinking of heading up to Bempton Cliffs this summer. I was just wondering which is the best month to visit? I would mainly be going for puffins, but would also love to see gannets and fulmars. Are all these species present here? And would June be a good time to see them?

Many thanks

Natalie

[BillyPilgrim]

I've been to Bempton a few times and the only time I saw Puffins was a year ago today so they might be around now. They can be difficult to pick out amongst all the other birds though.

There should be plenty of Gannets about too.

[Siskin]

Aw that's a great picture thanks for sharing Hoping to go early May time, I've been looking on the RSPB website and apparently they do "Puffin Patrols" where you go looking for them with a staff member. Well I know nothing in nature is guaranteed but it would be lovely to see some

[glsammy]

I was at Bempton last Monday. Lovely day, and yes, we saw Puffins although not exactly close up. Saw loads flying low towards the cliffs. The best I could get was this one:



That one was one heck of a large crop as well. A bit too much really, but at least the birds are there now.
The Gannets are of course nesting and mating:





The Fulmars were displaying well:



One point which may be of interest. The food van is there Thursday to Monday, and NOT as displayed on the RSPB site. They do some fantastic stuff and I wouldn't go if that van wasn't there!

[solus]

Originally Posted by glsammy

One point which may be of interest. The food van is there Thursday to Monday, and NOT as displayed on the RSPB site. They do some fantastic stuff and I wouldn't go if that van wasn't there!

Which just goes to further prove that the way to a birder's heart is through his stomach!

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by solus

Which just goes to further prove that the way to a birder's heart is through his stomach!

Absolutely! We really did make sure that van was there before we went!

[RKB]

May-July are the best months for Bempton, when you'll see all species. Never had any problem finding Puffins, although they're outnumbered by almost everything else so you do have to look for them. Look out for porpoises out to sea, too.

Re food, you can always drive a couple of miles down the road into Bridlington and have good fish & chips on the harbour wall (the traditional spot), from one of the chip shops in surrounding steets. Brid' also has a pretty good beach (South beach).

[BillyPilgrim]

One other thing that may or may not be of help as this happened last year. When you emerge from the RSPB centre you can either walk diagonally across the grass or head straight down towards the nearest cliff edge where there is a viewpoint. When I saw the Puffin I did the latter and went to this viewpoint. There was an area at the clifftop where lots of birds were collecting both grass and mud for their nests. They were very close and didn't seem to mind me being there at all.

[Siskin]

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful. Sounds as though I have a decent chance of seeing a puffin, though I seem to have good luck with birds, the first (only) time I went to Old Moor hoping to see a kingfisher one came and sat right outside the hide for ten minutes

It sounds lovely anyway, and I'd love to take a wander up and down the coastline as I've heard Flamborough (?) is also good, but I'm going up on the train so this may not be an option.

Natalie

[Bobby D]

Siskin, if the boat trips from Bridlington to Benton are still running I can recommend a trip they go close in under the cliffs heaving to so as anyone who wishes can take photographs I have done this trip several times.