Bempton Cliffs

A blue sky and warm weather takes us to the cliffs of the RSPB nature reserve, Bempton Cliffs. The reserve includes not only the high chalk cliffs overlooking Filey Bay and Speeton sands, but also fields next to them, which today were covered with a pink carpet of Red Campions (Silene dioica). Buttercups and Gorse were also flowering. Nettles are very abundant, and we see a few peacock butterflies. The main reason to visit Bempton cliffs are the nesting seabirds and May and June are the top months to see them nesting. There are eight breeding species: Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Guillemots, Gannets, Fulmars, Puffins, Herring Gulls and Shags. Today we see them all except for the Shag (the rarest breeder, also tends to nest at the base of the cliff). Kittiwakes make the background noise at the cliffs.

A group of Kittiwakes pulling grass to line their nests.

We have a picnic on a meadow watching a Kestrel hovering over the cliffs.

A Kittiwake, a Razorbill and a Guillemot, the most common breeding seabirds in Bempton Cliffs

Herring gull

A view of the cliffs, at the bottom of the photo a group of nesting Gannets can be seen

The 'What's About' poster at the reserve visitor centre.

Links
RSPB Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve


Birds of the day

1. Fulmar flying
2. Gannets on nests and flying.
3. Kestrel hovering over the cliffs
4. Pheasant calling
5. Herring gull on the cliffs and flying
6. Kittiwake collecting grass in groups and on the cliffs
7. Guillemot on cliffs and flying
8. Razorbill on cliffs and flying
9. Puffins on flight
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared dove
12. Rock dove, nesting in the cliffs
13. Swift
14. Skylark
15. Swallow
16. House martin
17. Dunnock
18. Blackbird
19. Whitethroat singing
20. Rook
21. Jackdaw, everywhere, nesting in the cliffs
22. Crow
23. Magpie, one in Bempton the other chasing a couple of starlings (one could be a fledgling)
24. Starling
25. Tree sparrow
26. House sparrow
27. Greenfinch
28. Goldfinch
29. Chaffinch
30. Linnet
31. Yellowhammer
32. Pied wagtail

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