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Bempton Cliffs

East Riding of Yorkshire  >  United Kingdom

The UK's largest mainland seabird colony. Sea cliffs with nearly half a million seabirds, including Jan-van-gent, Papegaaiduiker and Alk.

Geplaatst* door Maurice de Graaf
Meest recente update 1 juni 2023

Beschrijving

Sea cliffs with a number of observation platforms to observe Jan-van-gent and also Zeekoet, Alk, Noordse Stormvogel, Drieteenmeeuw and Papegaaiduiker. Around half a million seabirds gather here between March and October on towering chalk cliffs which overlook the North Sea.

Bempton is also famous for a Wenkbrauwalbatros that was first seen here in 2017 and spent most of the summer of 2021 and 22 here; unfortunately it has not returned for 2023. There are thought to be only two birds in the Northern Hemisphere so its presence was enough to draw thousands of birders from all over Europe. It could be elusive, often spending days away from the cliffs, but has also delighted many visitors with fabulous close flights along the cliffs.

Apart from the Jan-van-gent, which stay until October, most of the auks leave the cliffs in July and form rafts on the sea before moving out to sea as the months progress. Seabird migration in autumn can also bring shearwaters and skuas, as well as Minke Whale and Bottlenose and White-beaked Dolphins.

Away from the cliffs the site has grassland, scrub, hedgerow and farmland habitat adding to the diversity of birds here, especially in periods of migration when warblers and flycatchers feed up before moving on, but also attractive to scarce and declining breeding species like Gele Kwikstaart and Grauwe Gors.

Winter birding can be very rewarding with Velduil often hunting the clifftop grassland while Blauwe Kiekendief and Smelleken are often passing. Sneeuwgors and IJsgors often feed on the short grass or stubble along with flocks of Kneu and Geelgors. The auks are often on the cliffs early morning, and then disappear out to sea in winter.

Bempton is a year round destination with a constantly changing cast of avian characters in a truly spectacular location. A café provides refreshing or warming comforts and the shop has gifts, books and memorabilia.

Details

Toegang

There is a car park and a RSPB visitors center. Entrance March to October is £7 adults; November to Feb £3.50, free for RSPB members. There are six viewpoints along the cliff top path, three fully accessible to wheelchair users. All terrain mobility vehicles can also be hired for mobility impaired access to the rest. The Seabird Centre is open from 9.30am - 5pm in summer and 9.30am - 4pm in winter.

Bempton rail station, on the Hull - Bridlington - Scarborough line, is only 2.5 km away, making the site accessible by public transport.

Terrein en leefgebied

Zee , Kloof/klif , Verspreide bomen en struiken , Grasland/weide , Landbouw

Omstandigheden

Vlak , Rotsachtig , Geen schaduw , Open landschap

Rondlopende wandeling mogelijk?

Ja

Telescoop meenemen?

Kan handig zijn

Wanneer hier vogels kijken?

Het hele jaar

Toptijd voor dit gebied

Lente , Zomer

Route

Breed pad

Zwaarte wandeling

Gemakkelijk

Toegankelijk via

Te voet , Fiets , Auto

Vogelkijkhut aanwezig?

Ja

Links

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Kaart

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