I Love Gannets - Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve.

In retrospect, it probably wasn't a good idea to take what were, at the time, the two littlest members of the Clan to to Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve to see the puffins.


Bempton Cliffs

Firstly, it was 24C when we set off from Wykeham Forest, hot and humid, and the kids were hot and hungry for ice cream.

When we got to Flaborough Head, it was draped with Frett, mist swirling around the cliffs and over the headland. The temperature dropped to a chilly 15C and the coats were retrieved from the boot of the car.


Frett over Bempton Cliffs

A massive wooden puffin sits waiting for unsuspecting children outside the visitors centre. Raising expectations somewhat.......

The ice cream freezer sits just by the visitor centre entrance...... "We'll get an ice cream after we've seen the puffins" ..... "No, the real ones !!"


Bempton Cliffs

With hindsight, expecting a four year old to disregard the pungent smell of guano was a particularly unlikely prospect. Plus expecting a two and a half year old to look for a bird, however endearing, sitting on a vertical cliff a good distance away, through binoculars, and remain a safe distance from the abyss, is even more unlikely.

And..... we didn't see any puffins !!

But we did see lots of gannets, and I love gannets (even more than puffins). Here you go........


Gannet nesting on Bempton Cliffs

Plus there were razorbills, kittiwakes, guillimots and common and herring gulls.


Bempton Cliffs

And the little ones enjoyed their ice cream when we got back to the visitors centre, even though we didn't see any real puffins !!

And WELCOME to their baby brother, born 6pm, Sunday, 27th May 2012.