TA2073 : Looking towards Scale Nab from New Roll-up Lookout Platform
taken 2 years ago, near to Bempton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Wonderful for nesting sea birds, and exciting coastal scenery - but not for those who suffer with vertigo.
The RSPB Reserve at Bempton Cliffs, near Flamborough Head, is home to massive numbers of nesting seabirds in spring. Gannets, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Razorbills, Guillemots and Puffins breed in large numbers. It has the highest population of nesting Kittiwakes in Europe, 37,000 pairs when last counted. The sight and smell(!) of all these seabirds in late May is very memorable, as is the sight of so many keen birdwatchers with massive lenses on their cameras.
See the RSPB website for more information Link
Scale Nab is an outcrop from the cliffs at the south-eastern end of the RSPB Reserve. There is a viewing platform on the cliff above it, called Staple Newk.
This end of the cliffs is particularly favoured by Gannets as a breeding site, although they can be found in large numbers throughout the cliffs - there were about 6000 pairs at the last count.
Gannets don't breed until their 4th or 5th year, and can live up to 20 years. Some of the juvenile birds return to the nest sites after winter migration. Adults are primarily white, the juveniles have black or grey plumage, which is gradually replaced by white as they mature.