Hi everyone, needless to say Bempton holds a big place in my heart. Last year I decided that I would get my Puffin shots in and with Skomer and Bempton about equidistance made Bempton the choice.
I found a great caravan site, on of the Caravan Club 5 sites just a few miles away right in the middle of open country and booked for a week ~ it was going to be spent getting some of those awesome photographs ~ right on the edge with bill full of food!
To cut a long story short I had arrived too late or the birds had left too early as I only saw two puffins hanging low down on a cliff. Oh I have got some classic shots of the Gannets and a load more beside but no Puffins.
So, when do I book to come this year? What is the best date?
Thanks, DavidM
Hi David,
Can i just ask what time of year you came to Bempton Cliffs last time?
Thanks,
Rachael
Rachael Tulloch (Warden Intern, RSPB Fairburn Ings)
Hi Racheal,
Thanks for coming back to me on this. Last year we came around the 7th July and as I mentioned there were just TWO lonely Puffins visible each day over the five days we stayed.
We had a fabulous time and I have some amazing Gannet pictures as we visited the reserve every day looking for those elusive Puffins.
Your information is going to be so acceptable as I shall base a weeks visit to Bempton on it get those [for me] elusive Puffins.
Have a good day, David
I would suggest a slightly earlier visit this year, definitely in May or June. I can't suggest a specific week because nature, as i'm sure you know, isn't that predictable, but the gannet and puffin cruise dates are:
Saturday 7 May 4.00 pm
Sunday 8 May 9.30 am
Saturday 14 May 11.00 am
Saturday 28 May 4.00 pm
Sunday 29 May 4.00 pm – FAMILY
Saturday 4 June 4.00 pm – FAMILY
Saturday 11 June 9.30 am
Saturday 18 June 4.30 pm
Saturday 25 June 9.30 am
Sunday 26 June 9.30 am
Saturday 2 July 4.00 pm
Saturday 9 July 9.00 am
Sunday 10 July 9.30 am
Saturday 16 July 4.30 pm
The website below gives you a good idea of what to expect from the cruises but still has last years dates on at the moment.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/puffincruise/index.asp
We also run puffin patrols during the days and the evenings from May but the dates of these will not be decided for a little while yet. They are likely to be once a week however and will be led by a member of staff or a volunteer.
It's amazing how peoples puffin experiences can differ at Bempton. I was speaking to a man today who told me he thought that last year was a particularly good one for puffins and that he saw a group of 8 together at the east end of the reserve. In contrast to this, some people came back reporting that they had seen none. With any luck though, this year will be your year!
I hope this helps,