Best site for Puffins, Anglesey or Bempton? (1 Viewer)

[mu0ljk]

Hi,
It's my mum's birthday on Monday and she has been saying for ages how she would love to see a puffin, so I thought it might be a nice surprise and a good day out if I could find somewhere with puffins.

I have done a little research with the help of google and have come up with the South Stacks at Anglesey and Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire. Which would you reccommend? My mum is not too great on boats which is why I was looking for somewhere you could get to without a boat.

Some people seem to have said that the views at the South Stacks are not that great? What do you think?

Many thanks!

 

[carlj]

From experience neither site will give you close views so good bins will be a must. Bempton tend to have a RSPB scope trained on them. Also they could be heading out now.

 

[Xenospiza]

I visited Bempton on Saturday. Plenty of Puffins flying/swimming around, but most birds on the cliffs are distant and require some searching. No problem if you have a scope (or can find someone who has one), but without one it could be somewhat disappointing!
I found that the best opportunity to see them up close (binoculars still handy) is at the first viewing point from the entrance: there are a few holes nearby where they breed. Just to the left of the viewpoint is a narrow crack in the cliffs which also has a few nest holes. You may need some patience for them to turn up though.

Of course, Skomer or the Farne Islands offer much closer encounters, but Bempton has plenty to offer (the Gannets are just spectacular).

 

[chris butterworth]

Depends on how active your mum is. Puffins are "guaranteed at Bempton but I went on the Puffin Island Cruise, out of Beaumaris the other Saturday and we got cracking views of Puffin an Black Guillemot down to c10 foot from the boat. The skipper was more than happy to slow down, and even stop, so we could get very good views.
Chris

 

[DorsetDude]

Shame she doesnt like boats because the Farnes are magical for close ups of Puffins, Shags, Kittiwakes and Arctic terns.
Puffins wandering about about 10 yards away from the path marker tape and shags on nests within touching distance almost. Plus arctic terns "bombing" you on inner Farnes. Excellent.
Mind you, end of July now, not sure when they all depart again.

 

[mu0ljk]

Well if the sea is calm she would probably be ok but if not she probably would have other things on her mind other than puffins! ||

Are they starting to leave now then? ||

 

[joannec]

What a nice birthday surprise! Another vote for Bempton, though I haven't been to Anglesey. There are many many thousands of nesting seabirds at Bempton, it's quite spectacular and don't forget the Razorbills and Guillemots. Just up the road at Flamborough Head, last year I had close views of Puffins as well.

 

[ta brandreth]

Anglesey is good - if your both OK with heights and can ident auks from quite far off, you should also get Chough - quality bird giving it the edge over Bempton for me!!

 

[Himalaya]

There are not many Puffins at Anglesey as I discovered 3 weeks ago. I cant remember if there were 6 pairs of 12 or 24.....thats not a lot when you look at hw many other birds are present. Once you get to South Stack and the watchpoint walk on towards the light house. You will come to some stairs and then walk maybe 1/3 ofthe way down until you can look across and see grassy ledges/small slopes and you will find Puffins flying to and from there. They are small birds with a rapid flight. Although the views you will get are distant even with a binocular.

 

[Cyclops]

Hmmm I've only been to Anglesey and onoly once (1988) but I saw puffins up pretty close. Of course thats over 20 years ago (oh I do wish I hadnt typed that!) so things might have changed

 

[Rob Smallwood]

South Stack is a fantastic spot, but Bempton wins if it's Puffins that you are after, the views will be better.

 

[Bill19]

I got great views of puffins back in April when I went, so good i got some decent pictures with my 400mm lens and not masses of cropping

If your going to go, go soon, as I think they start to leave in August