On our second day of our mini-break we tried a variation on something we have done many times before. RSPB Bempton cliffs is a magnificent reserve with towering cliffs filled with seabirds. We even visited it on our honeymoon many, many years ago! However we have never seen it from below, so we booked a trip on the Yorkshire Belle to look at it from below.
A one hour or so drive got us to Bridlington, a very old-fashioned seaside resort with groynes on the beach and funfairs and amusements arcades on the promenade.
From my point of view one of the highlights were the kittiwakes. These are gulls which like to nest on cliffs and had a hard time through the 80's and 90's. Since then they seem to have collectively worked out that buildings are cliffs and window sills are ledges. In Bridlington alone there are hundreds of pairs nesting in and around the town, their onomatopoeic call echoing around. The only downside is the mess and not looking upon when you walk down alleyways!
Eventually we headed down to the quay to get onto our boat, the Yorkshire Belle, tied up in the harbour.
To be honest, it's not that big a boat but by god they crammed you on -about 280 on the boat!
We lucked out and managed to find a seat right by the bow where we could stand up and have half-decent chances of getting some photos. We set off and cruised firstly towards to Flamborough Head, following the coast line .
Fortunately for us the weather was perfect, no wind, no swell and clear skies, not even too hot! As we rounded the head we started to see the seabirds. Firstly they were on the sea as the cliffs were too low for nesting.
Mainly the birds were guillemots and razorbills with a sprinkling of puffins. Mixed in were our friends the kittiwakes as well as gulls and terns. As we cruised along towards the RSPB reserve the cliffs got higher and we found the birds nesting on the ledges. The sounds and the smells were overwhelming and you didn't know which way to look, although mostly it was up!
By the time we reached Staple Newk on the reserve there were loads of gannets wheeling around. They are very large and rather than nesting on ledges they use flat areas of the fallen cliff to build their nests. From the top you see them riding the thermals, from the sea you see them mooching around and trying to avoid the large boat annoying them!
By the time we reached Staple Newk on the reserve there were loads of gannets wheeling around. They are very large and rather than nesting on ledges they use flat areas of the fallen cliff to build their nests. From the top you see them riding the thermals, from the sea you see them mooching around and trying to avoid the large boat annoying them!
After watching the birds we turned round and headed back for Bridlington, a bit further out but still having great views of the coastline and the birds.
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