Gannets at Bempton

The gannets have arrived at Bempton RSPB reserve in huge numbers.

The reserve near Flamborough is always a great place to visit and at this time of year it is at its busiest. I visited to see if I could spot puffins, but there were none about that day. The sheer numbers of gannets made up for the lack of puffins though.

This stretch of coastline is home to the only mainland gannet colony in the UK and these elegant birds are among thousands of sea birds that come to breed on the spectacular chalk cliffs here.

It is mesmerising to watch them as they jostle for nesting sites.

The sites are just a pecking position apart - which makes it also a very noisy place!