Guillemots make early return to East Coast site

Hundreds of distinctive black and white guillemots have reappeared at Bempton Cliffs, a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds site between Bridlington and Filey.

The birds, which would not normally be expected at the site for several weeks, are only providing fleeting glimpses, however.

Site manager Ian Kendall said: "It almost feels as though they are playing a game with us, but the truth is they probably leave the cliffs as the weather changes.

"When it gets round to the breeding season proper they'll stay exactly where they are, looking after their chicks whatever the weather."

He added: "It's unclear what has brought about this early return. It may be that there is plenty of food in the wild wintry seas off Bempton or the constantly changing weather could be the reason.

"Whatever it is that drives them to do this, we think these occasional early visits in large numbers somehow help bond the colony together and it certainly makes a for a fantastic wildlife spectacle."

Up to 60,000 adult guillemots and their chicks can be seen along the dramatic chalk cliffs in spring and summer.

In June the young birds, which cannot fly, offer a bizarre sight by tumbling off the cliffs on a 400ft drop to the water below. They do not return to land until it is time to breed.

Gannets are another species that have begun flocking in numbers at Bempton again, ready to raise their chicks in spring and summer.

Mr Kendall said: "It really feels like the reserve is getting ready for its annual wildlife miracle.

"Bempton Cliffs is amazing at any time of the year. But come the seabird season, with the sight, sound and smell of a teeming mass of 200,000 birds such as gannets, kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills, it becomes an even more special place to visit."

Last year it was announced the site is to be upgraded to become the national seabird centre for England.

The RSPB is to spend more than 1m over the next five years developing its site, which already attracts 45,000 visitors a year from the UK and Europe.

The facilities are to be improved. New features will include catering facilities and space for exhibitions and events. More jobs will be created at the reserve, which is run by five full-time staff and 40 volunteers.