It seems that we're really on the world map.  We've had another bumper month of visitors from across the globe. We're thinking of putting up a map with pins in it showing all the different places that our visitors hail from just so we can keep track.  

Meanwhile, our cliff top reporter, Chris, has been out and about chatting with some of them:

'It's not often the chance arises to discover what other volunteers think of Bempton but that's exactly what happened when Laurie Sachtleben from Indianapolis in the USA (home of the legendary 500 mile motor race) popped into the centre as part of her holiday.

She said: “I'm in this country for 10 days and four days in Yorkshire. I have a private guide who comes from Hull and he often uses the reserve. He said it was well worth a visit and he's right.

“I do some wildlife volunteering back home but our centres are not like this. I'd like to learn to work with raptors but I don't think I'm brave enough.

“The centre here is well managed, beautiful and having people to greet you outside the front of the centre on a lovely day was just great.”

And after taking time out for a quick chat Laurie was on the move again, this time to spend an afternoon seeing what wildlife could be found on the North Yorkshire moors.

  Laurie Sachtleben from Indianapolis USA, home to the famous motor race.  

Visitors to the rugged coast of East Yorkshire take a look at the reserve for a variety of reasons.

Leaving the best until last is maybe one of them and certainly recent visitors have included a trip to “birdland” as late items on their agendas.

Kat Wacheter and Brian Johnson popped in from Florida having been tipped off about the centre by a friend who lived in the York area.

Most of their break has been spent in the London area but eight days have been here in Yorkshire and the visit to Bempton was taking place before the couple headed back to London and then back home. 

Said Brian: “We were told this was a wonderful place to visit and from a first look it seems we have been given the correct information. We are looking forward to seeing the seabirds and it seems we might have picked a good day as we have been told there are some Puffins around.”

From the long trip to America to somewhere closer to home was Lien van Sinay. And cutting it fine is one way of describing her arrival.

Lien, who lives in Belgium, had been working on an excavation at the Roman site of Vinlandia in Northumberland for two weeks and was on her way to Hull to catch the overnight ferry to Zeebrugge and home.

“But I was a little early for the ferry and then saw the signs for the reserve and decided to come and have a look and see how good the attraction was.  I am looking forward to exploring very much. I know the weather is much better than when I left Northumberland and that makes the visit even better.”

And the residents on the clifftops were on their best behaviour so Lien managed to see a fantastic display of seabirds and even those elusive creatures - the Puffins - made an appearance too.'   

And whether you're from Brussels or Bradford, that's sure to make your day.  

 Image: Kevin Groocock