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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 Corb de mare, Pufin and Alcă atlantică.

Added* by Maurice de Graaf
Most recent update 24 decembrie 2025

Description

Sea cliffs with a number of observation platforms to observe Corb de mare and also Alcă nordică, Alcă atlantică, Fulmar, Pescăruș cu trei degete and Pufin. Around half a million seabirds gather here between March and October on towering chalk cliffs which overlook the North Sea.

Apart from the Corb de mare, 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 Codobatură galbenă and Presură sură. Also Strigă is often spotted here.

Winter birding can be very rewarding with Ciuf de câmp often hunting the clifftop grassland while Erete vânăt and Șoim de iarnă are often passing. Pasărea omătului and Presură de tundră often feed on the short grass or stubble along with flocks of Cânepar and Presură galbenă. 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

Access

The Bempton Cliffs reserve is a 30 minute drive from Scarborough and around 10 minutes from Bridlington. Follow the brown signs from the main roads. There is a car park and a RSPB visitors center. Press P on the map for directions. Entrance March to October is £ 8 adults; November to Feb £ 4, 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.

Terrain and Habitat

Sea , Canyon/cliff , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Agriculture

Conditions

Flat , Rocky , No shadow , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring , Summer

Route

Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Extra info

Bempton is also famous for a Albatros cu sprânceană neagră that was first seen here in 2017 and spent most of the summer of 2021 and 2022 here. Its presence was enough to draw thousands of birders from all over Europe.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

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