Bempton Cliffs

Bempton Cliffs are located north of Flamborough Head on the Yorkshire coast, only a 20 minute drive from Scarborough.  There is parking (free for RSPB members) and a small visitor centre with a shop and refreshments.

 On a busy day it is best to just park in the overflow car park to save time hunting for a place to park.

 Bempton cliffs are very high and have a sheer drop to the sea.  They are Cretaceous white chalk and have narrow ledges which allow the sea birds to perch in safety from most predators.  The clifftop walk is a hardcore path which has fencing and a number of viewing platforms.  RSPB guides will be on some of the platforms to point out any interesting events.

 My intention was to see puffins and take a few photographs.  Their numbers are not high at Bempton, but there were many of them on the cliffs when we visited.

I particularly like this picture of a puffin poised to fly.  In the event it turned around and settled down just after the shot was taken.
We saw many seabirds including; Puffin, Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets, Herring Gulls, Kittiwakes, and a Great Skewer.

On the land side, there were; Jackdaws (above), Tree Sparrows, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Rock Doves.  An excellent day out for anyone who is interested in birds of all kinds.