Tom, one of our seabird monitoring volunteers, is turning his binoculars from focussing on the cliff tops next week and onto the sea as we join in the National Dolphin and Whale Watch.
"Here at Bempton we have an amazing colony of seabirds, from tiny comical puffins to enormous majestic gannets. Every summer thousands of these enigmatic animals flock to the cliffs and form a spectacle that is not to be missed, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
The seabirds are part of a much greater marine ecosystem; they depend on the sea for food, snatching fish from the surface and even pursuing them beneath the waves. These same schools of fish also provide food for another group of amazing animals - whales and dolphins.
With its high cliffs and excellent views out over the North Sea, Bempton is a great place to look for these mysterious denizens of the deep: harbour porpoises are a common sight and in the last few weeks we have had some excellent views of minke whales!
Next week is the National Whale and Dolphin Watch, in which enthusiasts across the country will be scouring the seas for signs of these majestic marine mammals. Here at Bempton we have a dedicated team of volunteers who will be onsite every day from Saturday the 27th of July to Sunday the 4th of August, 10am till 4pm. Why not join them and see if you can spot a whale or dolphin for yourself? It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or a novice, anyone can join in, and our team will do their best to answer any questions you may have. "
Tom and the team look forward to seeing you - and hopefully lots of dolphins and whales too.
Harbour porpoise and calf off Bempton Cliffs